January 9, 2010

Leino fastest in opening Qualifier

LeinoQ1-LR

Formula One may have lost its Iceman but 190mm Touring Car racing hasn’t and in the opening round of qualifying here at the 10th Anniversary of the DHI Cup it is Team Xray’s Teemu Leino who has set the pace with a 19 lap run in 5:07.111.  Leino, who prefers to do his talking on the track, described his run as good and other than looking over his 5.5T Team Orion motored T3 chassis, plans no changes for the next round. Closest to the Finn was defending champion Marc Rheinard.  The German was very happy with his Tamiya in terms of the set-up but a loose rear belt meant he was not able to drive at 100% for fear of stripping it.  Chasing his third DHI Cup win Rheinard, apart from fitting a new belt, plans no changes to his 416X for Q2.

Steen Graversen was clearly delighted about his run to the third fastest time.  Also running a 416X chassis but fitted with a self designed motor mount, the former factory Kyosho driver said his car was very easy to drive, maybe too easy to drive.  The Dane feels he could have probably pushed hard and maybe that second for the round would have been possible.  His first international race with the 416X, Graversen said he is still learning the car and runs a very different set-up to that of Rheinard and Wilck but that he is very exited about the potential of the car.

WilckQ1-LR

Top Swedish touring car driver Alexander Hagberg was much happier with his Xray T3 this morning. Having improved the corner speed he lacked in practice yesterday he said it now feels a little nervous and will make some small changes to the suspension geometry ahead of the second round.  Behind last year’s Top Qualifer was fellow countryman and 2008 Champion Viktor Wilck.  The Tamiya Racing Factory driver was not happy with his car which is very nervous and is also unsure what direction to take in terms of changing the set-up.

Sixth fastest was another of the four former winners competing in the 2010 race, Ronald Volker. Part of a major presence by Japanese manufacturer Team Yokomo, he said his BD5 was quick but difficult to drive and as a result he made a lot of mistakes.  The German will run less droop next time to try and make the car easier to drive.

StockerQ1-TC

In Pro Stock the opening round of qualifying was the first time we haven’t seen Tommy Bergfeldt’s name at the top of the time sheets as German ace Alexander Stocker set the pace with an 18 lap run in 5:06.213.  Stocker struggled yesterday in practice but a complete change of set-up last night on his Hot Bodies Cyclone, better gearing to suit his prototype LRP SXX Stock Spec speedo and a change to CS tyre additive have made the former Euro Touring Series Champion a real contender for the 2010 DHI Cup title. Stocker says his car is still not perfect but he is going in the right direction now in terms of his set-up and is hoping to find even more speed.

Bergfeldt, who is also running a Hot Bodies but fitted with an Advanced Electronics Black Diamond speedo, said his car was suffering from understeer this morning, something he hopes can be cured with a change of roll bars. The Swede also admitted to a few driver mistakes, one of which cost him over 3 seconds. Third fastest was 18-year-old local driver Thomas Larsen who was the only other one of the 88 runners to record 18 laps.  Driving a Tamiya TRF416WE he said he was happy to open qualifying with a Top 3 run but hopes a diff rebuild will give him a better car for the second of the five qualifiers and allow him to close on the gap to Stocker and Bergfeldt.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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January 8, 2010

Leino fastest for Xray

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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.

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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.

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