Izsay & Lauter share spoils in Open Brushless qualifying

Xray’s Adam Izsay and Awesomatix’s Simon Lauter shared the spoils on Day 1 of qualifying for the Open Brushless class at the TITC.  The biggest class at the iconic Asian race with over 120 entires, the two Europeans have been in control of the time sheets in Bangkok.  A class that is hugely popular with electronics manufacturers due to its less restrictive rules, an IR check the only rule for the 13.5T motors, it was the Hobbywing equipped Lauter who took the first honours.  When the event official got underway yesterday he secured the Top Seed status for qualifying ahead of fellow German Thomas Bemmerl with Izay completing the Top 3.  In the first qualifier it would be Izay who would take maximum points, an over cautious drive by Lauter leaving him 2/10ths of a second down on the Hungarian.  Having posted the fastest lap of Q1, Lauter would make amends for his ‘tactical error’ securing the TQ on his second attempt with his cause helped by Izay having an off as he came across traffic.  With the track hotter and therefore slower for Q2, it is currently advantage Izay as he has the faster time but with a P5 to replace on total points it is European Stock Champion Lauter who holds the advantage as Awesomatix seek a fourth consecutive win.

Summing up his qualifying efforts, Izsay said, ‘Q1 I had a slow start but at the end I did not have such a drop off as the others and I could win from Simon.’   He continued, ‘conditions were hotter for Q2 so we changed a few things on the car but that gave more steering and made the car harder to drive’ but his problems were to get bigger.  Coming up on lapped car in the chicane he said in trying to avoid hitting the car he touched the curb which sent his car off into the tyres.  Asked his plans for Day 2 of qualifying, the Open Brushless class completing their two runs in the second half of the day having opened the action today, he said, ‘we will wait and see how the track conditions are and see if we need to change the car but I will try to fight for the TQ.’

‘I’m quite happy’ was Lauter’s response when asked how he felt about his performance today.  He added, ‘The car is great all week but I made a tactical mistake in Q1.  I was a little too safe to not make mistakes.  I thought I was in front so maybe if I knew it was so close I could have pushed a little harder at the end’.  His first time attending the TITC, he said, ‘everyone tells you how difficult this race is and you can think you are prepared for it but you have no idea.  When you actually drive here you realise it is super difficult but challenges are there to overcome.’  Describing his Q2 topping run as ‘super good’ he said, ‘With a P1 & P2 nothing bad can happen so I will fight for the TQ for sure tomorrow’.

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