May 26, 2019

Volker & Wilck eliminate one another in penultimate Reedy Race encounter

It was a dramatic start to the final day of action at the 22nd running of the Reedy Race of Champions as title rivals Ronald Volker and Viktor Wilck went head to head from the front row because a clash while battling over the lead eliminated both drivers on the spot. With the expected overnight rain staying at bay, drivers arrived to a dry but cold and windy track making for difficult conditions with traction at an all time low.  Winning each of their final encounters yesterday meaning they would be gridded in the same heat, it was Volker on pole with Wilck alongside.  Initially it was Volker who had the better start, Wilck making a number of mistakes over the opening laps but soon he was in his groove and quickly back on the rear bumper of Volker.  With 5-laps to go it looked like Wilck had found a way through in the front chicane but a slide saw Volker’s Yokomo shoot across into the side of the Infinity driver with both cars spinning off into the barriers before Volker’s car was collected by Akio Sobue.  Both cars broken, they were both out and with one race remaining it is all to play for in Round 12 as Volker holds onto a 1-point lead over his rival.  With the two drivers out Meen Vejrak took the win while the other encounter saw outgoing champion Marc Rheinard cement his podium finish with his 3rd win of the event.

Giving his reaction to the race, Volker, who retired with a broken front spool cup, said, ‘It started off fine and there was more grip than the practice session but eventually Viktor was quicker and caught up.  In the hairpin he tapped me from behind and I got out of shape on the exit. It was not a fair move.  He went inside me but overshoot it a bit. I didn’t want to give up my lead but as the grip is low today my car spun in the chicane when I was side by side with him and we made contact’.

Asked his thoughts on the incident, Wilck said, ‘In the beginning I had a few mistakes, it was super loose but then I got comfortable with the car and closed in on Ronald. I went on his inside and actually passed him but he decided to punch us both off the track.  Suffering a broken turn buckle and arm pin, the Swede concluded, I have to see the video to see exactly what happened’.

View the event image gallery here.

May 26, 2019

Volker & Wilck match each other with 10th round wins

The tenth round of racing at the Reedy Race of Champion saw title rivals Ronald Volker and Viktor Wilck match each other as they both came through the field of their respective heats to add another race win.  Separated by 1-point going into the final round of Day 2’s action at Steel City RC Speedway that is how the gap remains in the overnight standings with 2 rounds to go but whether they go ahead is in the hands of mother nature.  With the general conscious from various weather apps being that no racing will happen tomorrow due to forecast overnight rain, should that be the case Volker will be crowned Reedy Race Champion for a fourth time but if racers wake up to dry conditions in Fontana tomorrow morning its all to play for for Wilck. While Volker is sure to be doing his best rain dance and Wilck wishing for a dry day, for defending champion Marc Rheinard which ever way it swings he is set to give up his title with 3rd place on the podium.

Not comfortable with congratulations given to him by members of the Infinity team, asked about his latest race Volker said, ‘I took a hard hit going into the first corner but somehow the car stayed rubber side down and I was able to recover.  This time was the best the car has been all day so I was able to close the gap and make some moves to eventually get the win’.  Asked about the possibilities of a fourth title, he replied, ‘tomorrow there is a high chance of rain so we will have to wait and see how things look but I’m ok with the weather forecast being correct’.

Contesting his first Reedy Race with reigning manufacturers champions Infinity, Wilck said, ‘It was a perfect race again.  I just feel I needed to get more races against Ronald’.  With four wins compared to Volker’s five and accepting defeat to his rival, he continued, ‘Congrats to him. He made the most of his car. It was not perfect, our’s was better but we didn’t maximise our results.  The big one was this morning when I hit the two cars’.  With a small number of people reporting that their weather app was showing a dry morning Wilck said, ‘It would be nice if its dry tomorrow but on my phone it does look good, let see’.

View the event image gallery here.

May 26, 2019

Reedy Race Champion set to be decided in Round 10

This year’s Touring Car Reedy Race Champion looks set to be decided this evening in the 10th round of racing at new venue Steel City RC Speedway.  Originally scheduled to run over 12 rounds of racing, rain is looking increasingly likely to wash out Sunday’s 2 remaining rounds meaning the Champion of the 22nd running of the legendary race will be decided between former champion Ronald Volker and Viktor Wilck in today’s final round of heads up racing.  Just one point separates Wilck from longtime points leader Volker after the former finished 2nd in front of his rival in the Round 9 encounter – Brandon Clements winning the heat from the pole as the big battles happened behind the American.  With Marc Rheinard finishing second in the other encounter behind second time heat winner Nicholas Lee, and Akio Sibue only fourth, the 7-time defending champion now looks almost certain relinquish the Mike Reedy perpetual trophy with a podium finish.

Needing nothing but a win to try to regain the title he won back in 2012, on his Round 9 performance Wilck said, ‘the car was really good but I just took too long to get to the front’.  The Infinity driver continued, ‘the (grid) system is the problem because for the last round Ronald will drive alone again’ – the Swede meaning that his rival is in the easier of the two heats. He added, ‘It really a shame what happened in the morning run because with that result I would have already won overall. I will try my best in the last one but it’s a big ask as even if I win Ronald only needs a second and he will win on the tie break’.

Commenting on his race, Volker said, ‘At least Viktor didn’t get the win.  When I was passing a few guys he got by me. I was still lacking steering so I couldn’t fight back and now it comes down to the last one’.  The Yokomo driver concluded, ‘I hope we can improve the car and fight for the single point’ – 1 point awarded for a race win.

View the event image gallery here.