Saturday, February 12, 2011
Q3 Update Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
Ronald Volker produced his fastest qualifying run to top the penultimate round of heats here in St.Polten, Austria, putting him on target to maintain his perfect record in the 2010/11 ETS. The Yokomo driver said he was much more comfortable with his car this time round after prepping his tyres differently. His BD5 had a lot more steering and the rear end was also more stable following the changing. The only driver who can now deny Volker pole position for tomorrow’s finals is Andy Moore who set the pace in the opening qualifier. The British ace was fourth fastest on this occasion but his Q1 time is the fastest off the weekend so far meaning if he was to top the final qualifier this evening he would take his first ETS pole on tie break. Having changed the front springs on his Hot Bodies, Moore said it made little difference. Happy with the car in the middle part of the run the 2006 World Champion said there are four different things he would like to try ahead of the finals but with only one run left he does not know which one to choose.
Marc Rheinard enjoyed his best run in terms of placing as he set the second fastest time. The German said trying the tyre prep used at the World Championships had helped a little but he is still too far off mounting any serious challenge for a win here tomorrow as his Tamiya is just not fast enough. Ivan Laptev is ejoying one of his best ever events and continues to make a big impression with the Awesomatix setting the third fastest time despite a number of small driver errors during the run.
One of the happiest drivers at the end of Q3 was former 1:10 Nitro World Champion Daniele Ielasi. Driving a Yokomo, the Italian who is working very closely with Volker and now getting to grips with the BD5. Setting the 11th fastest time just behind Kyosho team driver Christopher Krapp, Ielasi is on target to make the B final but more importantly for him is ahead of his great 1:8 Onroad nitro rival Robert Pietsch who was 17th for Q3. Good friends off the track, the pair are clearly both really enjoying the ETS experience even with the lack of engine noise.
In Pro-Stock Martin Hofer took another TQ run with his Schumacher becoming the only car so far to make a 19-lap run. The German thinks he can go even faster in the final qualifier and will change the rear hubs on his Mi4CX so he can run a shorter camber link which should give him more on power steering. Tony Streit enjoyed his best round taking his Xray to the second fastest time. Setting the fastest lap Swiss driver Sandro Kuriger’s Tamiya was third. Q1 top qualifier Laptev could only manage 4th. In the Speed Passion Hobby class Oliver Günther, winner in Kastellaun, wrapped up pole position with his third TQ run of the event.
Xenon Modified Qualification Ranking after Q3
1. Ronald Völker (DE) – 310 – 3:155, 2:155 [1:153]
2. Andy Moore (GB) – 306 – 1:155, 3:151 [2:150]
3. Marc Rheinard (DE) – 305 – 3:153, 1:152 [2:152]
4. David Ehrbar (DE) – 302 – 2:153, 3:149 [1:147]
5. Yannic Prümper (DE) – 301 – 2:151, 3:150 [1:149]
6. Juho Levanen (FI) – 299 – 1:151, 3:148 [2:146]
7. Keven Herbert (CA) – 298 – 1:150, 2:148 [3:143]
8. Ivan Laptev (RU) – 297 – 3:152, 2:145 [1:136]
9. Martin Hudy (SK) – 295 – 2:149, 3:146 [1:145]
10. Michal Bok (CZ) – 295 – 1:148, 3:147 [2:147]
Xray Pro-Stock Qualification Ranking after Q3
1. Martin Hofer (DE) – 310 – 3:155, 2:155 [1:141]
2. Ivan Laptev (RU) – 308 – 1:155, 2:153 [3:151]
3. Tony Streit (DE) – 306 – 3:153, 1:153 [2:152]
4. Sandro Kuriger (CH) – 302 – 3:152, 2:150 [1:149]
5. Oliver Franke (DE) – 301 – 2:151, 3:150 [1:115]
6. Radek Flek (CZ) – 300 – 1:152, 2:148 [3:145]
7. Marco Kaufmann (DE) – 300 – 1:151, 3:149 [2:147]
8. Michael Koch (DE) – 299 – 1:150, 2:149 [3:146]
9. Philip Tschupp (CH) – 296 – 3:148, 1:148 [2:146]
10.Dai Sakaguchi (DE) – 290 – 3:147, 2:143 [1:117]
Full results can be found here.
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Volker fastest in Q2 Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
Ronald Volker has TQ’d the second qualifier for the Austrian round of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series topping the time sheets from David Ehrbar and Marc Rheinard. The Yokomo/LRP driver said a change to the Protoform LTC-R bodyshell gave his BD5 more steering but he didn’t make the most of it, making too many small mistake during the five minute run. Chasing his third consecutive overall TQ honours, the European Champion thinks with the LTC-R his set-up is good and any extra pace will come from how he prepares his tyres. Volker’s Yokomo team-mate Yannic Prumper also made a switch to the LTC-R which resulted in a big improvement for the German teenager. Setting the fourth fastest time Prumper was not happy with Associated’s Juho Levanen, who was 9th fastest, feeling the Finn had held up him up and cost him a Top 3 time.
Ehrbar, who ran a TQ round last season in Heemstede, said his Xray has been fast all weekend but this was the first time he managed to be precise with his driving. The German, who finished 7th overall in last season’s ETS standings, set the fastest lap for Q2 being the only driver to run a sub 16 second lap.
Reigning Xenon Modified Champion Marc Rheinard said they are running out of things to try after setting the third fastest time well off the pace of his big rival Volker. The TRF team are unable to get their cars to turn in with set-up changes making little or no difference. Rheinard said as a last resort they will try the same tyre treatment used at last year’s World Championship when he took the win and Elliot Harper joined him on the podium.
Having TQ’d the opening round of qualifying Hot Bodies Andy Moore set the fifth fastest time in Q2 after changing the rear camber links. The former World and European Champion said the changes made the car push along with making the back of his Moorespeed powered TCX very loose. Reverting to the set-up on the rear of the car back to that used in Q1 he will try something different with the front shocks.
Martin Hudy completed the Top 6. The factory Xray driver said sixth was an OK result considering how his car felt. Having run his second T3′11 in the morning’s free practice session and been happy with the handling he adjusted the toe for more steering but in the qualifer it left him with no traction. Over in the Team Associated pits, team drivers Keven Hebert, who was 7th fastest, and Levanen put their lack luster performance down to a bad choice of set-up.
In the Xray Pro-Stock class Schumacher’s new signing Martin Hofer TQ’d the round from Q1 pace setter Ivan Laptev. Only 14th fastest yesterday, Hofer ran the same set-up on his Mi4CX but cleaned up his driving allowing him to top the times by over one second. The German will try a harder front spring for the next qualifier as he tries to improve his corner speed. Laptev is also looking for better corner speed from his Awesomatrix and will stiffen the unique damping on the A700. Tony Streit was third fastest with his Xray ahead of ETS race winner Oliver Franke.
Xenon Modified Qualifying – Top 10 times for Round 2
1. Völker Ronald (DE) – 19L 5:09.681 [Yokomo/LRP]
2. Ehrbar David (DE) – 19L 5:11.251 [Xray/Speed Passion]
3. Rheinard Marc (DE) – 19L 5:11.555 [Tamiya/Speed Passion]
4. Prümper Yannic (DE) – 19L 5:12.041 [Yokomo/Speed Passion]
5. Moore Andy (GB) – 19L 5:12.826 [Hot Bodies/Moorespeed]
6. Hudy Martin (SK) – 19L 5:13.148 [Xray/LRP]
7. Herbert Keven (CA) – 19L 5:13.384 [Associated/LRP]
8. Bok Michal (CZ) – 19L 5:13.769 [Yokomo/Speed Passion]
9. Levanen Juho (FI) – 19L 5:14.004 [Associated/LRP]
10.Ivan Laptev (RU) – 19L 5:14.261 [Awesomatix/Speed Passion]
Xray Pro-Stock Qualifying – Top 10 times Round 2
1. Martin Hofer (DE) – 18L 5:00.574 [Schumacher]
2. Laptev Ivan (RU) – 18L 5:01.865 [Awesomatix]
3. Streit Tony (DE) – 18L 5:02.501 [Xray]
4. Oliver Franke (DE) – 18L 5:05.669 [Hot Bodies]
5. Kuriger Sandro (CH) – 18L 5:05.855 [Tamiya]
6. MichaelKoch (DE) – 18L 5:06.265 [Hot Bodies]
7. Flek Radek (CZ) – 18L 5:06.975 [Yokomo]
8. Kaufmann Marco (DE) – 18L 5:08.014 [Xray]
9. Tschupp Philip (CH) – 18L 5:08.017 [TOP]
10.Wiessmann Felix (CH) – 18L 5:08.633 [Hot Bodies]
Full results can be found here.
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Friday, February 11, 2011
Moore tops opening qualifier in Austria Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
2006 World Champion Andy Moore has topped the opening qualifier for the third round of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series in St.Polten, Austria. The factory Hot Bodies driver recorded 19 laps in 5:05.010 and becomes only the third driver this season to post a TQ run beating championship leader Ronald Volker and defending champion Marc Rheinard who are the only other drivers to have achieved the feat. After a disappointing performance at Round 2 in the Czech Republic, Moore looked strong throughout practice on the indoor asphalt track and ends Day 1 of the event in the provisional pole. The British ace was pleased with his run but thinks there is more in the car as he struggled with the Moorespeed powered TCX at the start of the run, something he believes is down to his tyre prep as the car feels good by the end of the 5 minutes.
Volker, for whom this was only the second time in 11 rounds of qualifying that he has not posted a TQ run, said he knew having watched him in practice that Moore had a stronger car in the latter half the run and that it would be a close call. In the end the factory Yokomo driver, who has so far dominated the 2010/11 season, lost out by 4/10ths.
Having not really featured in practice Tamiya’s Marc Rheinard managed to pull off the third fastest time but the German is frustrated by his lack of pace finishing 1.4 seconds off Moore’s time. The three time World Champion said he can only get his Speed Passion powered TRF417 to work for the first three laps after which the car just wants to push. Rheinard said he has changed pretty much everything on the car but the same problem persists. It wasn’t a good first day for the TRF squad with Elliot Harper only managing the 16th fastest time and Viktor Wilck pulling up early after a mistake ended any chance of a competitive qualifier.
Juho Levanen got the better of his Team Associated team-mate Keven Hebert with the TC6s stopping the clock in the 4th and 5th fastest times respectively. Levaven said adjusting the rear toe made his car feel fast but that didn’t transfer into extra speed. Herbert regretted his descision not to change the set-up for Q1 feeling a drop in front shock oil would have prevented the front end pushing on.
Former ETS race winner Yannic Prumper completed the Top 6 followed by Team Yokomo team-mate Michal Bok who is driving really well here this weekend, the Czech driver setting a new fastest lap of 15.735 for the track.
In Pro-Stock it was a big day for Awesomatix as Ivan Laptev took a very popular TQ run. The Russian driver has been the talking point all day here mixing it with the best in the world with the unique A700 in both Pro-Stock and Modified. Running the set-up from his modified car on his Pro Stock chassis for Q1 he said it worked really well and he was delighted with the result for those involved in the exciting new Russian project. Having set the pace in practice Martin Hofer had a difficult qualifier with a number of rolls leaving his Schumacher only 14th fastest. German Xray driver Tony Streit set the second fastest time with Czech Yokomo driver Radek Flek completing the Top 3.
Xenon Modified Qualifying – Round 1 Top 10
1. Moore Andy (GB) – 19L 5:05.010 [Hot Bodies/Moorespeed]
2. Völker Ronald (DE) – 19L 5:05.429 [Yokomo/LRP]
3. Rheinard Marc (DE) – 19L 5:06.480 [Tamiya/Speed Passion]
4. Levanen Juho (FI) – 19L 5:07.667 [Associated/LRP]
5. Herbert Keven (CA) – 19L 5:08.760 [Associated/LRP]
6. Prümper Yannic (DE) – 19L 5:09.550 [Yokomo/Speed Passion]
7. Bok Michal (CZ) – 19L 5:10.291 [Yokomo/Speed Passion]
8. Ehrbar David (DE) – 19L 5:11.192 [Xray/Speed Passion]
9. Krapp Christopher (DE) – 19L 5:11.725 [Kyosho/Orion]
10.Hudy Martin (SK) – 19L 5:12.178 [Xray/LRP]
Xray Pro Stock Qualifying – Round 1 Top 10
1. Laptev Ivan (RU) – 18L 5:02.927 [Awesomatix]
2. Streit Tony (DE) – 18L 5:05.245 [Xray]
3. Flek Radek (CZ) – 18L 5:06.257 [Yokomo]
4. Kaufmann Marco (DE) – 18L 5:06.797 [Xray]
5. Koch Michael (DE) – 18L 5:11.301 [Hot Bodies]
6. Kuriger Sandro (CH) – 18L 5:11.875 [Tamiya]
7. Tschupp Philip (CH) – 18L 5:12.386 [TOP]
8. Klöckner Rene (DE) – 18L 5:13.086 [Tamiya]
9. Stangl Toni (AT) – 18L 5:13.150 [Tamiya]
10.Stutz Beni (CH) – 18L 5:13.422 [Tamiya]
Full results can be found here.
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Volker ends practice top of the pile Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
Ronald Volker continues his domination of the Xenon Modified class in the Yokomo Euro Touring Series and once again topped the first order of business with the fastest three consecutive laps in free practice meaning he will start No.1 in the top group for qualifying. The Team Yokomo driver failed to improve on his FP3 time after a switch from Protoform’s Speed 6 shell to the P32 made the car fast but nervous resulting in him spinning out, two heavy impacts from pursuing cars causing the spur gear to strip.
Taking second in the ranking is ETS debutant Keven Hebert who set the fastest lap of the entire practice in the final run, taking his Reedy powered Associated TC6 around the track in 15.822 seconds. The Canadian set an identical average for three consecutive laps with former World Champion Andy Moore who is looking very competitive here on the asphalt track. Hebert said adding rear camber had improved his car but he would still like to still find a little more steering however he plans to play it safe for the opening qualifier and leave the car as it is.
Understeer is a common complaint from drivers today with some struggling more than others. Moore tried the Ride Legacy B4 body to give him more steering but said he wasn’t sure if it was the new tyres or the shell change that made his Hot Bodies TCX slightly better. The best we have seen the British perform so far this season he plans to stick with it for the opening qualifier which takes place later this evening.
Just 3/1000ths off Hebert & Moore in the final practice Juho Levanen ends up fourth fastest, the Associated driver pleased with how things have gone so far. Running a totally different shock set-up to team-mate Hebert the former multiple European Champion plans to improve his TC6 by running less rear toe.
Defending ETS Champion Marc Rheinard had his best run in the last practice but the Tamiya Racing Factory driver is really struggling with understeer. The German ace, who must beat Volker this weekend to keep his title defense hopes alive, said his TRF417 was marginally better in FP4 for cruising but once he tries to push for a time it suffers chronic understeer.
The big surprise in St.Polten has been Ivan Laptev driving the unique Awesomatix chassis. Sixth fastest in Modified and second fastest in the Xray Pro-Stock class the Russian said his plan is to just drive a clean opening round of qualifying and work from there but in terms of the car he is very happy with his set-up.
In the battle between 1:8 nitro onroad stars Robert Pietsch and Daniele Ielasi is too close to call with Pietsch having a 5/100th advantage with them claiming 19 & 20th respectively in the final practice ranking.
In Pro Stock Martin Hofer and Schumacher’s newly formed partnership has enjoyed a great start with the combination topping the practice ranking from Laptev and Oliver Franke.
Full results can be found here.
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FP3 throws up Russian surprise Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
Ivan Laptev has got everyone talking here in St.Polten after taking the little known Awesomatix chassis to the second fastest time in the third free practice behind Ronald Volker. No one was more surprised by the pace of the Russian designed car than Laptev himself who said with better driving by him he could have actually run faster. Benefiting from a fresh set of tyres, the Russian Champion said a few small set-up changes and the removal of the sway bars had given the A700 more steering making the already easy to drive car even better. As a result of his time, which could see him place in the top group for qualifying, Laptev’s pit table has been getting some interesting visitors keen to seen what is definitely the most unique electric touring car chassis around.
Andy Moore once again set the third fastest time with his Moorespeed powered Hot Bodies TCX. Having run the Protoform LTC-R so far, the 2006 World Champion will run the new Legacy B4 shell from RIDE which he found gave increased steering when he tested in Thailand back in December. The British driver who is chasing his first ever ETS podium finish also plans to run a new set of tyres for the final practice.
The Associated team are still looking competitive with Juho Levanen and Keven Hebert setting the fourth and fifth fastest time respectively over three laps – the format that will be used to seed the heats. Levanen said his TC6 was not as good this run but is not sure if that is down to a change of additive or the tyres getting worn, the same set having been run in the opening three practices. He will run a fresh set of rubber in FP4. Hebert swapped the gear diff for a spool on his car and was pleased with the result. The Canadian said while his outright lap times are not the fastest he believes he has a strong pace for the full 5-minutes.
Team Yokomo’s Yannic Prumper completed a Tamiya free Top 6 for the Xenon Modified class. Viktor Wilck was best of the Tamiya Racing Factory drivers in 10th position while Elliot Harper and Marc Rheinard struggled with the 16th and 21st fastest times. Rheinard not helped by missing the start of the run. In the battle of nitro aces Robert Pietsch has the upper hand over Daniele Ielasi setting the 15th fastest time five place ahead of the Italian.
In the Xray Pro Stock class Schumacher’s Martin Hofer continued to set the pace over fellow German Oliver Franke and Swiss driver Sandro Kuriger.
Full results can be found here.
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Volker resumes position in second practice Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
Ronald Volker has resumed his role of being the ‘man to beat’ by setting a new fastest lap time of 15.876 in the second practice session for the Austrian leg of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series. ETS debutant Keven Hebert set the pace in the opening practice but with over 200 cars running on the indoor asphalt track conditions where much faster for FP2 and Volker got the most out of them to break under the 16 second lap times. The current leader of the 2010/11 Xenon Modified standings, Volker said while his BD5 feels like it could do with more steering it is not pushing as much as his rivals, in particular the Tamiya of his big rival Marc Rheinard.
Juho Levanen set the second fastest lap time being the only other driver to run below 16 seconds with a 15.996. The Finn, who is desperate to score his first podium finish with the TC6 having finished fourth in the opening two races, said the car is working really well and he wants to just focus on his driving. Levanen is running a gear diff in the rear and spool in the front and team-mate Hebert plans to adapt that combination for FP3. Running gear diffs front and rear on his car it worked well in FP1 for the Canadian but with traction up in FP2 it left him struggling with understeer and so he will switch to the spool for the next outing.
Third fastest was Andy Moore. Having changed additive for the run, the British ace said it was not as good as the morning practice with his Hot Bodies TCX only coming good at the end of the run when he did his best lap of 16.182. Michal Bok took his Yokomo to the fourth fastest time with a 16.278 second lap with David Erbhar the fastest Xray in fifth.
In Pro-Stock Martin Hofer gave his shock signing with Schumacher a big boost by setting the fastest lap time by a considerable margin over last season’s Dutch ETS winner Oliver Franke. Hofer, who only recieved his Mi4CX on Wednesday, is loving the track conditions saying he prefers asphalt over carpet anyday. Very happy with the base set-up on his new car, the German said he just plans a few minor adjustments for the third practice. Franke, who is also racing in the Xenon Modified class for the first time this weekend, was happy with his Hot Bodies having switched to LRP additive. Also driving a Hot Bodies, young German Felix Wiessmann set the third fastest lap time. Fourth fastest was well known Russian driver Ivan Laptev at the controls of the Russian designed Awesomatix A700. A regular front runner in the Pro Stock class driving a Tamiya, he is now the official lead driver for Awesomatix and is running pre-production versions of the unique chassis in both Pro-Stock and Modified this weekend. Laptev said he is very pleased with how the car is working with it being very easy to drive.
Full results can be found here.
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Hébert tops opening practice in Austria Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
Factory Team Associated driver Keven Hébert has got his Euro Touring Series debut off to an impressive start with his TC6 setting the fastest lap around the indoor asphalt track here in St.Polten, Austria. The first Canadian to take part in an ETS event, Hébert managed an 16.285 second lap on a track which he described as being a lot bigger than he was used to racing on in US racing scene. Pleased with his lap time, the 22-year-old said he needed to be more consistent but feels a second run should help him settle in better to the unfamiliar settings in particular the height of the drivers rostrum which by American standards towers above the track. Team-mate Juho Levanen also enjoyed a competitive start to Round 3 of the series setting the fourth fastest time. The Finn said running on asphalt again took a bit of getting used to but the traction was really good and he is excited about the weekend as the track bring something new to the racing.
Setting the second fastest lap time was local racer Patrick Gollner who has previously enjoyed strong ETS showings including making the A-Main in Poland last season. From Vienna, he has the benefit of having run some practice laps here last weekend. Although a track layout was different, the experience of the track conditions have allowed the 18-year-old to find a good set-up for his Tamiya TRF416X.
Championship leader, after dominant performances at the opening two rounds, Ronald Volker set the third fastest time in the opening practice with an 16.318 lap. The Team Yokomo driver who is without his regular mechanic Umino this weekend said the track felt strange at first but once he settled in he liked the grip level but with a lot of hairpins his LRP powered BD5 could have done with more steering. Its going to be a busy weekend for Volker as he has a number of novice team-mates this weekend in the form of top international 1:8 Onroad nitro racers Daniele Ielasi and Patrick Schaefer, the owner of nitro chassis manufacturer Team Shepherd. Ielasi has run in the ETS once before competing in the Czech Republic last season but is running a Yokomo due to Volker’s recently signed agreement with Team Shepherd to race 1:10 Onroad nitro. Ielasi couldn’t make much comment about the track as he only managed 1 lap before breaking the steering servo horn but the former 1:10 Nitro World Champion thinks the asphalt track should suit him better than the carpet he made his debut on. Schaefer said electric touring cars have evolved a lot since he last tried his hand at it and he is going to be looking for a lot of help from Volker. Team Shepherd pitman Armin Weihert is also racing, competing in the Xray Pro Stock class.
Austria has seen a bit of an invasion of nitro drivers with 1:8 European Onroad Champion Robert Pietsch also taking part. The 1:10 and 1:8 Onroad World Championship Top Qualifier, who is the chief designer at Mugen is racing a Schumacher due to his Contact RC tyre contract, a brand which is owned by the British company. Pietsch said the driving style is completely different to what he is used too but he is enjoying the experience. Pitting just behind Ielasi the pair are focused on beating one another rather than aiming to mix it with the electric touring car regulars. We will keep you posted on the ETS Nitro Challenge throughout the weekend.
Team Xray’s Martin Hudy, who became an uncle during the night, set the fifth fastest time followed by Hot Bodies Andy Moore and ETS Champion Marc Rheinard. Having been busy at the Toy Fair in Nurnberg last week where he had to cover for his brother Mario who was on standby for the birth of his first child, Martin said he didn’t get to practice as much as he had hoped ahead of the event. Xray have their own indoor asphalt test track but due to his busy schedule he only managed to run a few batteries yesterday before leaving for Austria.
Marc Rheinard said the asphalt took a bit of getting used to but was pleased with the traction. Having finished second to Volker at Rounds 1 & 2 the World Champion said he has really got to get the job done this weekend if he is to have any chance of retaining his ETS title and hopes the change of surface will allow him to get the better of his fellow countryman.
Drivers have three more rounds of practice to dial both themselves and their cars in before the opening round of qualifying brings Day 1 of the third round of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series to a close.
Top 10 fastest lap times – Practice 1
1.Keven Hebert (CAN) – Associated/Reedy – 16.285
2.Patrick Gollner (A) – Tamiya/Speedpassion – 16.313
3.Ronald Volker (D) – Yokomo/LRP – 16.318
4.Juho Levanen (FIN) – Associated/Reedy – 16.325
5.Martin Hudy (SLO) – Hudy/LRP – 16.339
6.Andy Moore (GB) – Hot Bodies/Moorespeed – 16.354
7.Marc Rheinard (D) – Tamiya/Speedpassion – 16.376
8.David Ehrbar (D) – Xray/LRP – 16.380
9.Michal Bok (CZ) – Yokomo/Speedpassion – 16.429
10.Viktor Wilck (S) – Tamiya/Thunder Power – 16.457
Full results can be found here.
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