Orlowski Top Qualifier at MIBO International
Based on recent form there was never much doubt he’d be a force on his MIBO International debut and in a dominant performance that is exactly what Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski has done securing the overall TQ in Modified Touring Car. Starting the day in the Czech Republic with a TQ run, the Pole continued to make the top of the times sheets his own locking in pole position with a third TQ run in Q3 but not done he would cap off the day with a fourth in the day’s final onroad action. Shadowing the 1:12 World Champion every run but never close enough to mount a challenge, defending inaugural MIBO International Champion Ronald Volker will start 2nd on the grid with one final qualifier on Sunday morning to determine how the rest of the grid will line up behind the World Champions.
Reacting to his TQ, his third at an international race already this year having started with the GP3F in France and then the ETS in Germany, Orlowski said, ‘I am happy to seal the TQ early. The new car is good as always and we have shown it works well. I haven’t changed much on it because I want to see if the grip changes but it seems to be staying consistent.’ With the first job of the weekend done after 3 rounds, Orlowski had the luxury of the remaining two rounds ‘to test a few things’ and see if he can further improve the car on a few specific points on the track. Still on the same set of tyres, having matched his two sets for the opening qualifier, he said ‘Pekko (Iivonen) has more experience with these tyres and says they last long and tend to get better and better. After a strong start to qualifying Iivonen finds himself P7 going into Q5 after suffering a battery issue in round 3. Copying Orlowski set-up on to his example of Schumacher’s upcoming new chassis release for the final run of the day the Finn said it was better but contact with the boards meant he pulled up early but he used the opportunity to watch Orlowski drive and said his brake set-up is different and that is something he will adjust for Q5.
Having gone too safe with his Mugen for Q1, Volker said a change of tyre additive for Q2 meant he started better than Orlowski but then the performance faded and so he returned to his previous additive. Putting more steering lock on his MTC2R for Q3, the German said it was better but added ‘Michal is on his A-game so I need to find something extra but I am enjoying him being this competitive.’
Holding P3 overnight ahead of the man responsible for designing his car Martin Hudy and the Yokomo of Christopher Krapp, Jan Ratheisky said changes he made after Q1 was too much of a step so he reverted back for Q3 to claim his first Top 3 run. Changing to a softer top deck for Q3 to get more steering the German would register his fastest time of qualifying once again posting a P3 run. Also racing in 17.5 Stock Ratheisky secured the overall TQ when he posted his third TQ in a row in the Q4 with Xray team-mate Stefan Schulz having taken Q1. Schulz will start the FWD class on pole after getting the job done early as he topped the opening 3 rounds.
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