Rheinard on pole for Czech final
Marc Rheinard will start tomorrow’s A-Main on pole position after he TQ’d the final qualifier for the third Round of the ETS here in the Czech Republic. The Tamiya Racing Factory driver put in the fastest 5 minute run of the weekend just missing out on breaking into the 17 laps with a time of 5:00.663. The German claims his first Top Qualifier honours of the 2009/10 Series ahead of team-mate Viktor Wilck who set the fourth fastest time for the round.
The big star of the final round of qualifying was Czech driver Zdenek Hamak. Topping free practice yesterday ahead of some of the world’s best touring car drivers, the Xray driver went in the wrong direction with set-up this morning but reverting back to his practice settings for Q5 he showed he could run with the best. Fastest in his heat it was only the World Champion who was running in the top heat who could better his time. The result will see Hamak start fifth on the grid, something he admits he is a little nervous about.
Also putting in an impressive final heat was Slovak teenager Zdenko Kunak who too was at the controls of Xray’s T3 chassis. Setting the 3rd quickest run Kunak will start 7th on the grid one position higher than he achieved at Round 2 in Budapest. Sandwiched between Hamak and Zdenko on the grid will be Xray’s factory driver Martin Hudy who failed to finish the last qualifier.
Juho Levanen was the only driver that could deny a Tamiya car from carrying the Number 1 plate in the final here in Hrotovice. TQ’ing the penultimate qualifier, the Finn went all out in an attempt to put his Associated on the front of the grid but it didnt work. Afterwards he said he had nothing to loose and took big risks to try and better Rheinard’s time but it didn’t pay off as he only managed sixth following a number of errors.
Andy Moore didn’t have a good final heat saying track conditions had changed from earlier causing his Cyclone TC to feel very loose. With strong runs in Q4 & 5 the former World Champion will line up 4th on the grid and his best international showing for quite some time. This weekend has seen a marked improvement in Moore’s competitiveness and the Brit has a real chance of challenging for a podium here tomorrow.
Completing the grid for the triple A-Mains are Associated Team UK driver Olly Jefferies, TRF’s new signing Elliot Harper and Steen Graversen. The Dane climbed onto the back of the grid at the expense of Czech Grand Prix winner David Ehrbar thanks to fifth fastest time in the final round of heats.
Modified top 10 qualifiers
1. Rheinard Marc (DE) – 310pts (Tamiya TRF416X/Speedpassion)
2. Wilck Viktor (SE) – 308pts (Tamiya TRF416X/Speedpassion)
3. Levanen Juho (FI) – 308pts (Associated TC5R/LRP)
4. Moore Andy (GB) – 305pts (Hot Bodies Cyclone/Team Orion)
5. Hamak Zdenek (CZ) – 303pts (Xray T3/LRP)
6. Hudy Martin (SK) – 303pts (Xray T3/LRP)
7. Kunák Zdenko (SK) – 301pts (Xray T3/LRP)
8. Jefferies Olly (GB) – 301pts (Associated TC5R/LRP)
9. Harper Elliott (GB) – 299pts (Tamiya TRF416X/Speedpassion)
10.Graversen Steen (DK) – 296pts (Tamiya TRF416X/Team Orion)
In Pro Stock Daniel Wohlgemuth wrapped up pole position by taking his fourth TQ run of the day. The German was much happier with the handling of his Hot Bodies in the final qualifier having lowered his front shock positions. The German’s only challenger for the Top Qualifier’s spot was Alexander Stocker who switched to a Yokomo chassis in a effort to claim his third pole of the 2009/10 series. Rolling the car at the first corner the switch didn’t pay off and the championship leader will start 2nd tomorrow. Behind the two Hot Bodies drivers on the grid will be impressive local driver Jiri Mara. Driving an Xray T3, the 17-year-old Mara hasn’t been outside the Top 4 on the time sheets all day and is in with a real chance of ensuring local representation on the podium come tomorrow evening. Defending ETS Champion Balint Rajki will start fourth.
Pro Stock top 10 qualifiers
1. Wohlgemuth Daniel (DE) – 310pts (Hot Bodies Cyclone/LRP)
2. Stocker Alexander (DE) – 308pts (Hot Bodies Cyclone/LRP)
3. Mara Jiri (CZ) – 306pts (Xray T3/LRP)
4. Rajki Balint (HU) – 304pts (Hot Bodies Cyclone/LRP)
5. Laptev Ivan (RU) – 304pts (Tamiya TRF416X/LRP)
6. Schmidt Martin (DE) – 302pts (Serpent S400/GM Racing)
7. Ashton Chris (GB) – 300pts (Schumacher Mi4LP/GM Racing)
8. Madsen Carsten (DK) – 300pts (Tamiya TRF416WE/Tekin)
9. Fadtke Dennis (PL) – 297pts (Tamiya TRF416WE/Speedpassion)
10. Klöckner René (DE) – 296pts (Tamiya TRF416X/Speedpassion)
Full results can be found here.
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