January 8, 2010

Rheinard tops opening day of 2010 DHI Cup

Rheinard-LR

Having struggled in early practice, defending DHI Cup Champion Marc Rheinard put himself back in the driving seat by setting the fastest run in the final practice session here today in Odense, Denmark. The World Champion said his Speed Passion powered Tamiya TRF416X was much better than earlier, all thanks to a simple change of tyre additive. Originally drivers were scheduled to have just four rounds of practice today followed by the first round of qualifying, but race organisers decided that due to the reseed that competitors should be given a chance to practice in their new heat order and the qualifier, run exactly like a heat, was declared a practice run.

Posting a run of 19-laps in 5:08.521, Rheinard topped the session from Ronald Volker by just 2/100th. Seeded No.1 for qualifying after setting the three fastest consecutive laps, 2007 winner Volker said his car was really good for the first half of the run but then started to lose traction.  The German said he is not quite sure yet what needs to be changed to make the car more consistent for the full 5 minutes.

Third fastest for the run but once again the fastest man over a single lap, Teemu Leino was happy with his day despite a crash which cost him over a second. The only driver so far to break into the 15 second lap times, with a 15.973, the Finn said his Xray T3 was really good but he plans some small set-up changes for the morning track conditions.

Ending the final run of the day in fourth Steen Graversen is very happy with his Tamiya TRF416X chassis, the Dane saying his plan for tomorrow is to just focus on his driving. Alexander Hagberg wasn’t as complimentary about his Xray saying the car lacks corner speed.  Top Qualifier here last year, the Swede said he just cant push the car and will make a number of changes ahead of the opening qualifier.

In Pro Stock Tommy Bergfeldt continued his reign at the top of the time sheets recording a run of 18 laps in 5:12.485 along with a new fastest lap time of 16.748 for the 13.5 turn class.  Behind the Swede it was local driver Thomas Larsen at the controls of a Tamiya who posted the second fastest time with Ola Westholm’s TOP Photon completing the Top 3. Alexander Stocker didn’t have a good run and could only manage fourth.

Tomorrow the drivers will have five rounds of heats with the best three to count towards the placing for Sunday’s finals. Our coverage from the 10th running of the DHI Cup, which is supported by Yokomo and LRP, will continue with a report from the morning’s opening qualifier.

Modified class top 10 after practice
1. Marc Rheinard (DE) – 19L in 5:08.521 (Tamiya/Speedpassion)
2. Ronald Völker (DE) – 19L in 5:08.544 (Yokomo/LRP)
3. Teemu Leino (FI) – 19L in 5:09.529 (Xray/Team Orion)
4. Steen Graversen (DK) – 19L in 5:10.969 (Tamiya/Team Orion)
5. Alexander Hagberg (SE) – 19L in 5:12.219 (Xray/LRP)
6. Yannic Pruemper (DE) – 19L in 5:12.745 (Tamiya/Speedpassion)
7. Magnus Vässmar (SE) – 19L in 5:15.050 (Xray)
8. Jonas Kaerup (DK) – 19L in 5:15.385 (Tamiya/GM)
9. Simo Ahoniemi (FI) – 19L in 5:15.754 (Corally/GM)
10.Viktor Wilck (SE) – 19L in 5:16.782 (Tamiya/Speedpassion)

Pro Stock class top 10 after practice
1. Tommy Bergfeldt (SE) – 18L in 5:11.646 (HB)
2. Thomas Larsen (DK) – 18L in 5:12.485 (Tamiya)
3. Ola Westholm (SE) – 18L in 5:13.445 (TOP)
4. Alexander Stocker (DE) – 18L in 5:17.741 (HB)
5. Carsten Madsen (DK) – 17L in 5:01.150 (Tamiya)
6. Henry Salmén (FI) – 17L in 5:02.756 (Tamiya)
7. Tony Streit (DE) – 17L in 5:08.330 (HB)
8. Alexander Roeleveld (NL) – 17L in 5:08.476 (Tamiya)
9. Bastian Hennig (DE) – 17L in 5:08.672 (Xray)
10.Marcus Horn (DE) – 17L in 5:09.479 (Xray)

View our event image gallery here.

January 8, 2010

New in the Pits – Part 1

New in the Pits - Part 1

As mentioned in an earlier report, racers at this year’s DHI Cup are using the new LRP VTEC CPX control tire. Specifically design for carpet racing, this pre glued tire features a low profile design aimed at preventing traction roll on medium to high grip tracks. Another neat feature is that because the supplied rim is semi transparent, the scrutineers here who are checking the cars after the runs can easily see if any illegal or treated inserts are being used. To spice up the look of the wheel, LRP also offer decals in two different styles, giving them a BBS or spoked wheel finish.

New in the Pits - Part 1

Also new from LRP in the pits is the SXX Stock Spec speedo, which is so new that the examples that the drivers are using here are still prototype versions making this the debut race for this ESC. Being used by Alexander Stocker, Thomas Larsen, Carsten Madsen and Henry Salmen, the Stock Spec has been created specifically for this class and features dual ADPCmax Software that allows the driver independent adjustment of the feel and power delivery from the speedo. There are also some optional capacitors available for the SXX, which offer lower resistance resulting in more power.

View our event image gallery here.

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

DHI Cup celebrates 10th birthday

Past-Winners-LR

10 years ago a guy by the name of Kim Bendiksen decided that instead of chauffeuring his friend Jonas Kaerup around Europe all the time that maybe it would be possible to get the top international drivers to come to Denmark for a change.  Naming the event after his r/c distribution business, Dansk Hobby Import, the DHI Cup was born in 2001. The entry for the inaugural event was not what Kim had hoped for but he didn’t give up on the idea of Denmark having an annual international race. Instead he made a promise to the drivers that if he got over 100 entries for the 2002 event he would make trophy girls a feature of the event.  The incentive worked and the event has gone from strength to strength to become one of the major touring car races in the World.

The previous 9 running’s of the DHI Cup have produced seven different winners and four of them are back here this weekend as serious contenders for victory of the 10th Anniversary race.  Heading that line up is defending champion Marc Rheinard who is one of only two drivers to have won the event twice.  He is joined by Tamiya team-mate Viktor Wilck who took his first ever international race win here in 2008. Ronald Volker, Champion in 2007, is here as part of a very strong Yokomo line up with 2003 winner Juho Levanen the other past winner present here this weekend at the impressive Odense Congress Center.

As always all the big teams are present but one team out in force this weekend is Yokomo.  The Japanese company have a real quality line up with Volker being joined by current 1:12 World Champion Naoto Matsukura, former 1:10 Off Road World Champion Hayato Matsuzaki and the latest recruit to the team, former European Championship Top Qualifier Steven Weiss. Yukijiro Umino who showed great speed on his last visit to Europe when he finished second at the Euro Touring Series race in Hungary will carry the hopes of the Yokomo team in Pro Stock.

Heading the entry for the 94-strong field of Pro Stock drivers is defending Champion Tommy Bergfeldt.  The Swede dominated proceedings here 12 months ago winning from pole position and after the opening two rounds of practice finds himself at the top of the time sheets ahead of Alexander Stocker and last year’s runner up Henry Salmén.

Track-LR

New for this year’s event is the new pre-glued controlled VTEC CPX tyre from LRP which has been specially developed for indoor carpet racing.  With two rounds of practice just completed, and a racing line starting to appear on the brand new carpet, we can expect to get a good indication of who is at what and who has a little more to do ahead of the first round of qualifying which will bring Day 1 of the 2010 DHI Cup to a close.

View our event image gallery here.

August 2, 2009

Groskamp finally Europe’s No.1

‘I have been second so many times, finally I am first’, was how your new European Electric Touring Car Champion Jilles Groskamp summed up his victory here in Luxembourg. Having been a Top Qualifier on two previous occasions at the EFRA Championships, the factory Tamiya/Speedpassion driver made it third time lucky, converting his pole position into victory with wins in Leg 2 & 3. Starting the third leg, with four drivers still in contention for the 2009 title, the Dutch ace lead from start to finish but said another bad set of tyres had made his car loose. Still managing to set the fastest lap of the race, Groskamp believes he would have had his work cut out if outgoing champion Marc Rheinard and 2007 Champion Ronald Volker had not controversially come together on lap 6.

One of the hardest working drivers in the sport, Groskamp’s win was a very popular one and just after the race he said it was going to be cool to be on the top step of the podium joined by both the World and Vice World Champions. Relocating to Asia next week the win was a nice way for Groskamp to end his time in Europe but he has vowed to return to defend his title in France next year.

Coming to Luxembourg with both the World and European titles to his credit Marc Rheinard was forced to settle for the runners-up spot, not something he is accustomed to. The factory Tamiya/Speedpassion driver won the opening leg of the final and had a very fast car again in the third but a clash with Volker while battling over second earned him a stop go penalty. Accused by some of team driving the German replied by saying, ‘there was no team plan for this race I had the same opportunity to win as the other three and I was out to win for myself.’ The German hit his fellow countryman exiting the Laguna Seca style corner that leads onto the back straight. Waiting for the Team Yokomo driver to regain position, Volker’s LRP powered BD5 ended up on the grass. Rheinard resumed as he was swallowed up by the pack, serving his Stop Go penalty next time round, eventually finishing fourth for the Leg.

One had to feel sorry for Volker, the former Champion was clearly gutted by the incident. Changes to his Yokomo chassis had provided him with the best set-up he had all week and the German felt confident he could make a clean battle to challenge for his second European title.  Recovering from the incident to finishing the Leg in second the third step of the podium offers some small consolation for this very unassuming factory driver.

Benefitting from all this was 15-year-old German Yannic Pruemper. Starting from eight on the grid the Tamiya Junior driver was elevated to second following the clash of the title protagonist. Eventually passed by Volker in the dying moments of the leg third place was enough to see Pruemper crowned the new Junior European Champion and finish sixth overall in his first European Championship final. Fourth for the leg was the other of the title contenders Hupo Honigl who ended his touring car career with fourth overall, equalling his previous best at these championships. The Austrian driver was pleased with his performance and is now looking forward to the 1:10 Off Road European Championship in two weeks time where he is confident of claiming a title for both Tamiya and LRP.

Taking fifth overall, the 2009 Championships will be one Viktor Wilck will want to forget.  The Swede was super fast, recording the fastest lap of the event, but with the exception of the fourth round of qualifying always ran out of luck. In the third Leg he was all over teammate Groskamp until his Tamiya veered off the track with radio interference.

So after years of coming so close Jilles Groskamp, one of the top electric touring car drivers in the World, returns to the Netherlands this evening with his biggest trophy yet. Heading home with the biggest smile and as the proudest father in Europe right now is his dad Frank who has supported his son since he started out in the sport 16 years ago.  A well run event we would like to thank everyone that made use feel so welcome here at the Mini-Circuit “Ville de Luxembourg”. We hope you enjoyed our coverage this week, which was brought to you in association with Team Orion and LRP, and we hope you will join us for our next live event, the 1:8 Onroad World Championships which takes place in Switzerland in two weeks time.

Final Result
1. Groskamp Jilles – Tamiya/Speedpassion – 2 pts
2. Rheinard Marc – Tamiya/Speedpassion – 4
3. Völker Ronald – Yokomo/LRP – 4
4. Hönigl Hubert – Tamiya/LRP – 7
5. Wilck Viktor – Tamiya/Speedpassion – 8
6. Prümper Yannic – Tamiya/Speedpassion – 9
7. Graversen Steen – Kyosho/Team Orion – 12
8. Krapp Christopher – Kyosho/Team Orion – 13
9. Urbain Lucas – Losi/GM Racing – 13
10.Hagberg Alexander – Xray/LRP – 15

Full results from the event can be found here.

View our event image gallery here.