January 8, 2010

Volker gets No.1 spot for qualifying

VolkerNaoto-LR

Ronald Volker has claimed the No.1 spot for qualifying after he set the fastest super pole pace here in Denmark in the fourth round of practice for the 2010 DHI Cup. Originally set to be the last round of free practice, the organisers have decided to the move the first round of qualifying to the morning and instead give drivers the chance to run in their new reseeded groups.

Volker took his Yokomo to an average of 16.252 over three consecutive laps to top Xray’s Teemu Leino but in terms of outright pace it was still the Finn who was quickest, setting a new fastest lap of 16.088.  Although not a member of the Tamiya team it is former factory Kyosho driver Steen Graversen who completes the Top 3 in the reseed ahead of last years Top Qualifier Alexander Hagberg.  Next up are two current World Champions with the 1:12 title holder Naoto Matsukura and his Yokomo getting the better of Touring Car title holder and defending DHI Cup champion Marc Rheinard whose average of 16.446 puts him sixth. Christer Andersson is the top Associated in seventh.

Armed with only his car and transmitter, which he luckily carried in his hand luggage, Corally team driver Marc Fisher is doing a good job and was classified ninth in the super pole run.  The German has been running around the pits all day borrowing bits and pieces from fellow racers after his main luggage was lost by his airline.  Having to paint up a new bodyshell for practice, Fisher, who finished 4th here last year, is hopeful the missing bag will be here in time for the first round of qualifying in the morning.

In Pro Stock Tommy Bergfeldt was again the class of the field but the defending champion was unable to improve on his Practice 3 time.  His closest rival Alexander Stocker, who has been switching between his regular Hot Bodies chassis and a Yokomo today, produced his best lap of the event last time out with Cyclone but the man who has become accustomed to dominating Pro Stock racing on carpet is still not 100% happy with his pace.

View our event image gallery here.

January 8, 2010

Leino fastest for Xray

LeinoP3-LR

After three rounds of free practice for the 2010 DHI Cup it is Team Xray’s Teemu Leino who is at the top of the time sheets here in Odense with his Team Orion powered T3 recording a best lap time of 16.559.  The former European Champion says he has done little with the set-up on his car and is just waiting for the traction levels to come up on the brand new carpet.  Asked about the track design for the 10th Anniversary of the famous Danish race, the Finn said that it was very tight compared with last year but it was the same for everyone.

Second fastest is 2007 winner Ronald Volker who managed a 16.623 lap time with his LRP powered Yokomo.  The German has been playing with a number of little set ups on his BD5 and plans further changes for the final round of practice as he would like to make the car a little easier to drive. Behind Volker it is the very much on form young Finnish driver Christer Andersson.  The winner of the warm-up race for the up coming European Indoor Championships in Finland and the Italian Grand Prix, the young Associated driver is running a self modified chassis which has the motor positioned more towards the centre line than the standard TC5.

Last year’s Top Qualifier Alexander Hagberg is fourth fastest with his Xray.  The Swede struggled in the opening two sessions but said the third run was OK and that he is confident better is to come.

Running his privately entered Tamiya which features a self designed motor mount, local star Steen Graversen said the car was running fine.  Having conducted some extensive testing over the last few weeks the Dane who was a podium finisher here in 2008 said he will remove some screws for the fourth and final practice to get more flex in the car. Former champion Viktor Wilck completed the Top 6 with a best time of 16.924.

Defending DHI Cup Champion Marc Rheinard lies a rather lowly 19th on the time sheets but the German is not too worried yet! The World Champion said the set-up on his Speed Passion powered Tamiya TRF416X is for sure not brilliant but he feels he is heading in the right direction with the set-up.

TommyBergfeldt-LR

In Pro Stock defending Champion Tommy Bergfeldt again set the pace improving to a lap time of 17.214, topping fellow Hot Bodies driver Alexander Stocker.  The Swedish driver, who enjoys support from Red Bull, made the slightest of changes to his Cyclone for the last run shimming out the top mounting point for the rear shocks which he said made the car a little more stable.  Fellow countryman Ola Westholm driving a TOP Photon is third fastest on a 17.776.

View our event image gallery here.