Widmaier holds overnight 2WD TQ at MIBO International

Sworkz’s Micha Widmaier holds the overnight TQ in 2WD Buggy at MIBO International with today’s four rounds of qualifying producing TQ runs from four drivers all representing different manufacturers.  Having opened the second edition of the Czech event with a TQ run, Widmaier holds a 1 point advantage over the Xray of Martin Bayer who topped the time sheets in Q4.  Equal on points with Bayer, having taken max points for Q3, is Schumacher’s Daniel Kobbevik for whom a last lap error cost him a potential second TQ result as he finished just 2/10ths back from Bayer.  Setting the pace in Q2, Team Associated’s Joona Haatanen is one of four drivers in contention for the overall TQ in Sunday mornings fifth & final qualifier.

Reacting to his overnight TQ status at the Sports V Hotel in Hrotovice, Widmaier said , ‘It’s a great feeling, I’ll try for another in Q5 tomorrow and try to stay at the front’.  Describing Q2 and Q4 as ‘both good’ he said Q3 was challenging being on third run tyres and having many mistakes.  The German’s debut at MIBO International he said irrespective of the final qualifying outcome he feels the ‘finals are going to be very interesting’ adding everyone is ‘super close’.

On his 2WD TQ, adding to the two he had already posted in 4WD, Bayer said he made a’ big push for the last four laps’ adding he ‘surprised myself with the performance.  Responsible for the design of Xray’s Offroad vehicles, the Czech driver added, ‘I have not been changing anything on the car since coming here.  I am trying to better myself driving and just enjoy the day and being with friends’.  Asked about tyres, he said the difference between new and used is significant and tyre strategy could be important tomorrow.

On second run tyres in Q4, Kobbevik said he lost out by not adjusting his Schumacher’s set-up for the tyre wear.  The 19-year-old explained that is car is normally good on second run tyres without any set-up adjustment on this occasion he found himself ‘fighting for (his) life not to drift on the last laps’.  The Norwegian is excited about the final qualifier saying it ‘Q5 should be fun.  Four guys get take the (overall) TQ’.

On his Q2 topping run, Haatanen said, ‘it was the first time the car felt fast and easy to drive.  It was a comfortable run’.  The Finn was not too happy with his follow up performance in Q3 explaining, ‘I was on old tyres but I was giving up because of that so the result could have been better’.   Starting out Q4 on new tyres and noticing a lot of other drivers did the same, the 20-year-old said after an early mistake he pulled up to save the tyres for Q5.  Confident he will have better tyres than his rivals and happy with how his car is working he said Q5 will be ‘me rather than the car now’.

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