Steen tops Q5, Groskamp secures TQ
Kyosho factory driver Steen Graversen became the fifth different driver in as many rounds to TQ a qualifier here in Apeldoorn but it is defending ETS Champion Jilles Groskamp and his Tamiya that will start from pole. Dane Graversen recorded the fastest 5 minute run of the weekend with his Orion powered Stallion thanks to a fresh set of tyres and cooler track conditions. Having changed motor for the run Graversen is now much happier with the top speed of his car and said he tried to drive safely so as to not punish his tyres too much as he will have to run them again in the A Main. Lining up fifth on the grid his aim is to try and hold station in the final for a Top 5 finish.
Heading a Tamiya 1-2 at the front of the grid, Groskamp was second fastest for the round but more importantly he was faster than his team-mate Marc Rheinard who he feels is going to be his toughest opponent. Groskamp won the Dutch round last year at the MACH track and is keen to repeat a home victory here at Apeldoorn so we can expect a great duel between the Tamiya/Speedpassion pairing.
The big surprise of the weekend is Martin Hofer who is enjoying a superb international race debut with the new Yokomo BD5. The factory supported driver will line up 3rd on the grid and crucially has two sets of fresh tyres at his disposal. The German GM powered driver has the potential to take the fight to the Tamiya drivers but says he will sit and wait to see how the race plays out as he does not want to jeopardise finishing on the podium. Winner of the third round of the ETS in Poland, 15-year-old Yannic Pruemper will line up fourth on the grid but, like Graversen and former World Champion Andy Moore, has only one set of new tyres for the 3 legs of the final which puts him at a distinct disadvantage.
Yesterday Marc Fischer saw his main race car basically destroyed when it shut down just after the finish of the fourth qualifier resulting in his car being collected by Michal Bok’s Xray. Fischer who will line up 6th on the grid had a late night as he prepared a new chassis for today. The factory Corally driver said the new car is OK but doesnt feel quite as good as the much modified car he was using yesterday which featured a different top deck and lower bulk heads. On the bright side the German does have two fresh sets of tyres and he thinks a podium could be on the cards. Also with two sets of fresh rubber for the triple A Mains is Kyosho’s Christopher Krapp. The young German feels it will be hard to overtake but has set himself a target of a Top 5 finish.
In Pro Stock Rob Janssen, who had already secured TQ honours yesterday, once again crushed his rivals. Racing for Dutch manufacturer Corally, Janssen has been joined today at Apeldoorn by Joeri Bal the man responsible for creating the RDX PHi chassis. Tamiya driver Daniel Wohlgemuth took second for the round and will line up on the number 2 spot on the grid but the German has said he will be focusing on maintaining his position rather than challenging the Top Qualifier who is proving the class of the field here on his home track. Thomas Musial and defending ETS Pro Stock Champion Alexander Stocker make up the second row.
In the supporting Pro 10 category the super fast prototype of Tim Altmann will start on pole with Rene Fischer second. Altmann is lapping in the 14 second lap bracket and his 5-minute run is a lap more than that of the Modified Touring Car Top Qualifier Jilles Groskamp.
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