July 30, 2009

New in the Pits – Part 1

Seen for the first time at the Euro Touring Series race in Andernach, 2 weeks ago, the new Speedpassion Competition 3.0 motor is making its public debut at this race. Tested by a number of the Speedpassion team drivers, the new motor features a shorter can that sees the cables from the speed controller connected to the motor using 3 plugs that are plugged directly into the rear of the motor. This is said to be more efficient as it connects directly to the internal wires and not through a circuit that brings the power to the conventional tabs on one side of the motor. Drivers who have used the new motor say that it gives a much smoother power delivery than the current motor. Expect it to be released at the end of August.

View our event image gallery here.

July 30, 2009

Electric Touring Euros underway in Luxembourg

It may be one of the smallest countries in Europe but Luxembourg is this week playing host to the biggest 1:10 Electric Touring Car event of the year, the EFRA European Championships, at the massive Mini-Circuit “Ville de Luxembourg”.  Overcast weather conditions have greeted the 140 plus competitors on today’s opening day which will see the drivers, who represent 22 nations, each get four 5-minute practice runs to learn one of the world most unique tracks with it Laguna Seca style corners and elevations.

Heading the entry is defending champion Marc Rheinard.  The factory Tamiya driver, who since winning the crown last year in Spain has added the World and Indoor European titles to his CV, is pretty confident going into the event having conducted a number of successful test days around the quick but technical track. Tamiya are the team to beat right now in touring cars and won the Warm Up race with Jilles Groskamp but they are not resting on their laurels with the TRF416 designer Kiyo Suzuki making the trip from Japan to support their four factory drivers here. Groskamp, who two weeks ago tied up his second Euro Touring Series title, is very hungry for his first EFRA European title having been a runner-up in the past. The Dutch ace is suffering from a cold but says once he starts driving its not a problem. Fresh from competing last week at the 1:10 nitro Euros in Gubbio, Italy, where he was racing for Serpent, Groskamp has been using his early runs to readjust his driving back to the style required for electric.

With little or no presence in Spain last year Yokomo are serious contenders now in Luxembourg. The Japanese company has aquired the services of 2007 Champion and last year’s Top Qualifier Ronald Volker. The German has already notched up a big win for his new team with victory at the Reedy Race in the US and is feeling pretty confident here with his BD5 and LRP combination and is being backed up by Robert Itoh and Umino from Yokomo have travelled to Luxembourg to support him. Also on the Yokomo team is Martin Hofer who showed at the ETS race in Apeldoorn the potential of the new car on asphalt.

2006 Champion Andy Moore described the track as ‘very cool’ but said it’s a lot harder to drive than it looks. Having built two fresh Hot Bodies Cyclones for the event, the former World Champion thinks it is going to be a very close race and making 5-minutes will be down to getting the car to get the most from the LRP controlled tyres. Finland’s Teemu Leino heads a very strong Xray team. The 2005 Champion, who has been a Euros finalist 10 times, likes the track and enjoyed a good pre event test here. Also strong for Xray will be European Junior Champion Elliot Harper and Sweden’s Alexander Hagberg who on Sunday finished second at the 1:10 nitro Euros.

Heading the Team Associated challenge is Juho Levanen. Runner-up to Volker at the Reedy Race, this is only the Finn’s second asphalt race of the year and having sampled the ‘cool’ track for the very first time this morning he feels maybe now he should have come here for pre event testing. Team-mate Christer Andersson did come for testing two weeks ago which he said went well. The 17-year-old, who has been enjoying a strong run recently claiming both the Finnish Touring Car and 4WD Off Road National titles, is aiming to make his first Euros A-Main this week but is concerned about run time, something he has not had to worry about back home where LiPo is permitted. The switch to LiPo has been a common talking point here this morning with many drivers hoping EFRA with adapt them for 2010.

Carrying the hopes of UK manufacturer Schumacher is Chris Grainger who currently leads the British championship with the Mi4. In Spain Grainger had to withdraw from the event due to illness but is today feeling fine and looking forward to driving on this ‘great track’. The multiple British Champion, who took part in the Warm Up race, said the circuit is a real challenge and very tough as there is no point in a lap where you can rest. 2008 Finalist Marc Fisher heads the Corally challenge along with Finland’s Simo Ahoniemi. Fisher’s GM electrics are known for their high end power and the German should be strong here but he aired caution about making run time, however the current cool condition should be a help.

Another former Champion competing here is Jonas Kaerup who is this year driving a Tamiya. His first asphalt race of the year the Danish driver had four days testing here which he said was made easy by the fact that Rheinard was in attendance and he just ran his set-up.

View our event image gallery here.

January 11, 2009

World Champion adds DHI Cup to tally

He’s a two time World Champion, a double European Champion and now he is a two time champion of the race which kicks of each new season of international touring car action – the DHI Cup.  Holder of the title in 2006, the Tamiya Racing Factory driver took the win over Top Qualifier Alexander Hagberg with Teemu Leino completing the podium at the 9th edition of the famous Danish race.

Going into the final leg of the A-Main three drivers were still in contention for the title but Hagberg and defending champion Vicktor Wilck both had a difficult race.  Hagberg’s Xray got loose on the opening lap allowing Rheinhard to pass him on the first drag down the straight, forcing the Swede wide at the first corner.  This resulted in Hagberg getting swallowed up by the pack and coming out of the chicane contact with Jilles Groskamp dropped him to last position.  Hagberg eventually recovered to finish fourth, enough to secure his first ever international podium finish.  Wilck first had an incident with Associated team driver Christer Andersson and then Hagberg before making a driver error that resulted in a broken car and retirement after just six laps.

Having tried to stay with Rheinard in the early part of the race Leino was on the limit making a number of mistakes which allowed Groskamp to take up second in the running order while the No.2 car broke clear up front.  It was now a three car battle for second with Corally driver Marc Fisher in the mix.  Leino had the faster car but couldn’t find a way past his former Dutch team-mate and half way into the race made a rather forceful move at the chicane pushing the Tamiya driver out of his way.  Let away with just a warning for the incident by the race director afterwards Groskamp was clearly annoyed that no penalty was given for the move which cost him a possible podium finish as he crossed the finish line in sixth.  Taking his second Top 3 finish of the day Fisher was very happy with the debut of the new Corally RDX Phi 2 which claimed fourth overall.

So the curtain has closed on the ninth running of this superbly presented indoor event that once again is a credit to Kim Bendiksen and his team.  2010 will mark the 10th Anniversary of the event and already the organisers are working on plans to mark the big occasion.  We look forward to returning to Denmark next January to bring you coverage of what is sure to be another great DHI Cup.

Modified A-main Leg 3 results
1. Marc Rheinard – 21 Laps in 310,54
2. Teemu Leino – 21 Laps in 311,17
3. Marc Fischer – 21 Laps in 313,70
4. Alexander Hagberg – 21 Laps in 308,36
5. Jilles Groskamp – 21 Laps in 313,41
6. Yannic Prumper – 20 Laps in 306,26
7. Steen Graversen – 20 Laps in 312,60
8. Christer Andersson – 20 Laps in 303,08
9. Jonas Kaerup – 20 Laps in 307,00
10. Viktor Wilck – 10 Laps in 154,96

Modified Overall results
1. Marc Rheinard – 20pts
2. Alexander Hagberg – 17pts
3. Teemu Leino – 17pts
4. Marc Fischer – 16pts
5. Jilles Groskamp – 13pts
6. Viktor Wilck – 10pts
7. Christer Andersson – 9pts
8. Yannic Prumper – 9pts
9. Steen Graversen – 6pts
10. Jonas Kaerup – 5pts

View our event image gallery here.

January 11, 2009

Bergfeldt is Champion

He was the class of the 111 strong Pro Stock field here in Denmark and now Tommy Bergfeldt is the very deserving 2009 DHI Cup Champion.  The Hot Bodies driver dominated qualifying to take the TQ honours from where he continued his reign, the only glitch of the perfect weekend being a problem which was outside of his control.  A motor problem messing up his Leg 2 race.

Four drivers had a chance of the title going in the final leg but once the Red Bull supported driver got into his rhythm the rest were fighting for the second spot on the podium. Bergfeldt didn’t let the earlier drama get to him and repeated his crushing Leg 1 victory to lift his first international title and he was clearly delighted. ‘This is the biggest win for me and I am really delighted.  Last year I finished fourth here and I said to myself I really want to win next year.  Now I have and I cant believe I did it.’  While he will enjoy the glamour of winning the coveted title as he steps up to the podium to collect his huge trophy, its quickly back to reality as he faces a 1,000km drive home to Sweden tonight.  One good thing is that his friends have offered to do the driving so he can hold & admire his DHI Cup.

Second in the final Pro Stock encounter at the Odense Conference Centre was Leg 2 winner Henry Salmen, the result securing the runners up spot for the Finnish Tamiya driver.  Meik Niemann took third but the final step on the podium goes the way of his SMI Motorsport team-mate Bastian Hennig.

Super Stock A-main Leg 3 results
1. Tommy Bergfeldt – 20 Laps in 313,95
2. Henry Salmén – 19 Laps in 303,49
3. Meik Niemann – 19 Laps in 305,50
4. Tony Streit – 19 Laps in 305,97
5. Thomas Mirke – 19 Laps in 306,96
6. Matthias Lang – 19 Laps in 307,49
7. Christoph Thiele – 19 Laps in 307,83
8. Carsten Madsen – 19 Laps in 309,92
9. Marcus Horn – 19 Laps in 311,35
10. Bastian Hennig – 19 Laps in 312,43

Super Stock final results
1. Tommy Bergfeldt – 20pts
2. Henry Salmén – 19pts
3. Bastian Hennig – 17pts
4. Christoph Thiele – 16pts
5. Meik Niemann – 13pts
6. Thomas Mirke – 13pts
7. Matthias Lang – 12pts
8. Tony Streit – 10pts
9. Marcus Horn – 9pts
10. Carsten Madsen – 5pts

View our event image gallery here.

January 11, 2009

Hagberg converts it in Leg 2

After a rocky opening Leg Alexander Hagberg converted his TQ into victory which will take the 2009 DHI Cup title down to the final Leg.  A far more relaxed Hagberg fended off an early challenge from Leg 1 winner Marc Rheinard but the German made a mistake giving the Swede the break he needed. Teemu Leino completed the Top 3.

Having switched to new scrubbed in tyres for Leg 2, Hagberg was much happier with the handling of his Xray which he said felt again like it did yesterday.  Admitting to nerves getting the better of him first time round he said he kept his head this time and hopes he can repeat this in the all important third final.

Rheinard said his Tamiya was very good in the opening part of the run but starts to get very loose as the race runs.  Managing to just hold off Leino, a change of additive is on the cards for the third Leg which will determine the 9th DHI Cup Champion.  That battle is between just three drivers – Rheinard, Hagberg and defending Champion Viktor Wilck who was forced to retired from Leg 2 with radio interference.

Jilles Groskamp held off Corally’s Marc Fisher for fourth while 17-year-old Christer Andersson completed the Top 6.

Modified A-main Leg 2 results
1. Alexander Hagberg – 21 Laps in 308,36
2. Marc Rheinard – 21 Laps in 310,54
3. Teemu Leino – 21 Laps in 311,17
4. Jilles Groskamp – 21 Laps in 313,41
5. Marc Fischer – 21 Laps in 313,70
6. Christer Andersson – 20 Laps in 303,08
7. Yannic Prumper – 20 Laps in 306,26
8. Jonas Kaerup – 20 Laps in 307,00
9. Steen Graversen – 20 Laps in 312,60
10. Viktor Wilck – 10 Laps in 154,96

View our event image gallery here.

January 11, 2009

Salmen wins 2nd Pro Stock encounter

There was a dramatic start to the second Leg of the Pro Stock A-Main as the car of Leg 1 winner Tommy Bergfeldt hesitated at the start leaving the Swede last after the opening lap.  Continuing in the race the Red Bull supported driver tried to work his way back up the field but would end the run classified 10th.  With the Top Qualifier out this allowed Finland’s Henry Salmen to take the win meaning the 2009 title will be decided in the final leg.  Bergfeldt’s poor start has been attributed to a motor problem and race organisers have issued the talented Pro Stock racer a new hand out unit for the final leg.

Having found his car tweaked after the opening leg Salmen said his Tamiya was now working perfect and believes he can take the challenge to Bergfeldt.  The only other two drivers in with a chance of overall DHI Cup honours are SMI Motorsport pairing Christoph Thiele and Bastian Hennig, Thiele taking second in Leg 2 ahead of his team-mate.

Super Stock A-main Leg 2 results
1. Henry Salmén – 19 Laps in 300.85
2. Christoph Thiele – 19 Laps in 302,07
3. Bastian Hennig – 19 Laps in 304,15
4. Thomas Mirke – 19 Laps in 304,37
5. Matthias Lang – 19 Laps in 304,62
6. Marcus Horn – 19 Laps in 306,08
7. Meik Niemann – 19 Laps in 307,25
8. Tony Streit – 19 Laps in 309,26
9. Carsten Madsen – 19 Laps in 311,14
10. Tommy Bergfeldt – 20 Laps in 313,61

View our event image gallery here.