Levanen tops Q4 for Associated
Tamiya’s reign at the top of the time sheets here in Hrotovice has been ended with Associated’s Juho Levanen setting the pace in the penultimate round of qualifying for the third round of the Euro Touring Series. The Finn posted a time of 16 laps in 5:04.308 to TQ the round from Andy Moore with Martin Hudy third. Levanen said his TC5 is now working really well and apart from a roll right in front of the drivers’ rostrum he was happy with the run. The result means that he is now in contention along with Rheinard and Q2 winner Viktor Wilck for pole position in tomorrow’s triple A-Mains.
Stopping the clock just 3/10ths slower than Levanen, Moore once again came right into contention in the second part of the run. Loosing too much time to his rivals over the opening 2 minutes, the Hot Bodies driver said he needs to get the car more consistent as it changes too much through the run. Having also made a costly mistake in the heat the British ace plans to try a different additive in the fifth and final qualifier.
Having lowered the positions of the shocks on his Xray, Hudy said it was super easy to drive in Q4. Finishing only 7/10th off the fastest time for the round, the Slovak driver will try softer oil for the last run of the day to make his LRP powered T3 more aggressive and hopefully fastest.
Leading British Championship contender Olly Jefferies enjoyed a very strong round setting the fourth fastest time. The Associated driver found the steering servo twisted in its mountings during preparations for Q4. With the servo back in place and making no set-up changes to the chassis he said the car worked really well. Jefferies is hoping droop adjustments can further improve things. The star of practice yesterday Czech driver Zdenek Hamak took his Xray to fifth followed by Elliot Harper who was the best of the Tamiyas. Harper’s team-mates both failed to finish. Rheinard was mixing it with Levanen but pulled up after two rolls saying his car was not good after a switch to other oil. Viktor Wilck retired when the lead came off the battery following a roll.
In Pro Stock Daniel Wohlgemuth came a step closer to securing pole for tomorrow’s A-Main after taking his third qualifier. Afterwards he said his Hot Bodies was really loose but it didn’t appear to hamper the German from producing the fastest five minute run of the event with 16 laps in 05:12.169. Carrying local hopes of a podium placing, buggy regular Jiri Mara again put in a fine performance to set the second fastest time. Putting together a good clean run Tamiya driver Ivan Laptev completed the Top 3. The Russian said changes to his set-up had made it very easy to drive and keeping out of trouble was key to him knocking 6 seconds of his previous best time. He will go with that same formula for the final qualifier.
Full results can be found here.
View our event image gallery here and Live video stream here.
