Top Qualifiers get job done in first A-Main
Top Qualifiers Viktor Wilck and Matthias Lang got the job done in the first leg of the A-Mains here in Germany converting their No.1 starting positions into victories. Thankfully the very mixed weather conditions cleared for long enough to dry out the track for the top finals.
Pro Stock produced the better of the two finals with a number of lead changes but in the end it was pole sitter Lang who came out on top from current series leader Daniel Wohlgemuth with Balint Rajki putting in great drive to finish third having started ninth on the grid. ‘Strange’ was how Lang described the first final after getting spun out of the early lead. Recovering from his touch with defending Champion Alexander Stocker, the Xray driver recovered to eventually win by 1.5 seconds with the Top 7 covered by less than five seconds. Wohlgemuth was very happy to finish second, his main focus this weekend being the overall series title. Currently holding the points lead his target was to finish ahead of the two drivers, Rajki & Stocker, who can deny him his first international touring car title. For defending Champion Stocker, the move on Lang on lap 2 cost him dearly as he spun into the barriers losing around five seconds and dropping to last. Very happy with his new Xray ride, having destroyed his Hot Bodies chassis in Friday practice, the 2008 Andernach winner worked his way back up to fourth, setting the only 18 second lap of the final. Having led the race for a number of laps, Dutch ETS dominator Rob Janssen finished a disppointing 5th.
In Modified Viktor Wilck took victory in a less frantic final, leading from start to finish. The Swede only had to contend with a brief challenge from team-mate Marc Rheinard after getting off line but he pulled clear again as the World Champion started to struggle with rear traction on his Tamiya. The big battle then was for second between Rheinard and Jilles Groskamp but that became a three way battle when on lap 13 the Speedpassion team-mates touched at the end of the straight. Carrying more speed Groskamp tried a move down the inside but Rheinard closed the door and the pair touched with Rheinard’s rear bumper tucking under. Groskamp waited allowing the Yokomo of Ronald Volker, who started eight, to close right up but the showdown wasn’t to be as Volker and Groskamp touched on the last lap. Allowing Groskamp to retake position, this meant Rheinard cruised to second with Groskamp making it a Tamiya 1-2-3.
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