Volker sets pace in controlled practice
Ronald Volker is the pace setter here at the end of controlled practice with the LRP/Yokomo driver posting a fastest lap of 16.55 to top the time sheets from Marc Rheinard who was on a 16.70. The World Championship runner up switched from an LTC-R to the Speed 6 body for his last run and felt it made his BD5 easier to drive. Volker is running a new chassis, top deck and harder suspension arms on his Yokomo, which are designed to make the car more suitable for European traction levels, and the German is very happy with the results. Slighlty concerned about the weather, he is confident that if it stays dry he is in good shape for qualifiying.
Finishing the day in second, Rheinard felt he could have run a faster time if he had taken more risks through the chicane. The World Champion said his Tamiya is getting better with each run and he plans no change for now, preferring to let the traction come up before making any adjustments. Rheinard along with defending champion Jilles Groskamp, who was fourth fastest, are running the latest motor offering from Speed Passion which is due for release next month. Both driver said the totally new creation, which features a short body and unique wiring, feels very smooth.
The third fastest lap time came from Martin Hofer despite running old tyres. One of the stars of the ETS encounter in Apeldoorn, the German is running the same car as Volker and is very happy with his early pace saying the new parts have really improved the feel of the car. Running the fourth fastest time but 4/10th adrift of Volker, Groskamp said it will be impossible to close the gap on Volker and Rheinard on such a track. Having changed his set-up for the last run so as to get more rear traction the Dutch ace said the grip levels came up and his car suffered bad understeer. The factory Tamiya driver will now revert to the set-up used in the second practice. Topping off the Top 5 was Viktor Wilck. The Swede said he increased the drag brake on his speedo for the last run but it was too aggressive and he will revert back to the earlier setting.
In Pro Stock Daniel Wohlgemuth was surprised to be at the top of the time sheets. The Xray driver said his T2 009 is very inconsistent and hopes heavier shock oils as well as switching to the LTC-R will cure the problem. Behind him Rob Jansen, the run away winner in Apeldoorn, was also not happy with his current set-up. The Corally driver said he can not push hard and the car feels different in left and right turns. He suspects the problem may be his rear diff and feels he can go a lot faster than his current 17.79 lap time. Third fastest was SMI Motorsport’s Matthias Lang. For defending Champion Alexander Stocker the day didn’t go well. Having run old tyres in the first two sessions the Hot Bodies driver put on new tyres for the last run but two laps in he took a front corner off the car. The German reported that the car felt improved over the very short stint and that tomorrow’s qualifying will be a nice fight.
Due to the wet start to the day here in Germany, the organisers of the Muchmore backed Euro Touring Series have now switched to open practice to allow the large entry, many of whom are making their first visit to Andernach, to get in some extra mileage ahead of tomorrow’s four qualifiers.
Apologies for our reduced coverage today, we were left with no internet in the middle of the day when our mobile box decided to quit, meaning a few hours delay as we worked to fix the problem.
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