Q3 Update
Ronald Volker produced his fastest qualifying run to top the penultimate round of heats here in St.Polten, Austria, putting him on target to maintain his perfect record in the 2010/11 ETS. The Yokomo driver said he was much more comfortable with his car this time round after prepping his tyres differently. His BD5 had a lot more steering and the rear end was also more stable following the changing. The only driver who can now deny Volker pole position for tomorrow’s finals is Andy Moore who set the pace in the opening qualifier. The British ace was fourth fastest on this occasion but his Q1 time is the fastest off the weekend so far meaning if he was to top the final qualifier this evening he would take his first ETS pole on tie break. Having changed the front springs on his Hot Bodies, Moore said it made little difference. Happy with the car in the middle part of the run the 2006 World Champion said there are four different things he would like to try ahead of the finals but with only one run left he does not know which one to choose.
Marc Rheinard enjoyed his best run in terms of placing as he set the second fastest time. The German said trying the tyre prep used at the World Championships had helped a little but he is still too far off mounting any serious challenge for a win here tomorrow as his Tamiya is just not fast enough. Ivan Laptev is ejoying one of his best ever events and continues to make a big impression with the Awesomatix setting the third fastest time despite a number of small driver errors during the run.
One of the happiest drivers at the end of Q3 was former 1:10 Nitro World Champion Daniele Ielasi. Driving a Yokomo, the Italian who is working very closely with Volker and now getting to grips with the BD5. Setting the 11th fastest time just behind Kyosho team driver Christopher Krapp, Ielasi is on target to make the B final but more importantly for him is ahead of his great 1:8 Onroad nitro rival Robert Pietsch who was 17th for Q3. Good friends off the track, the pair are clearly both really enjoying the ETS experience even with the lack of engine noise.
In Pro-Stock Martin Hofer took another TQ run with his Schumacher becoming the only car so far to make a 19-lap run. The German thinks he can go even faster in the final qualifier and will change the rear hubs on his Mi4CX so he can run a shorter camber link which should give him more on power steering. Tony Streit enjoyed his best round taking his Xray to the second fastest time. Setting the fastest lap Swiss driver Sandro Kuriger’s Tamiya was third. Q1 top qualifier Laptev could only manage 4th. In the Speed Passion Hobby class Oliver Günther, winner in Kastellaun, wrapped up pole position with his third TQ run of the event.
Xenon Modified Qualification Ranking after Q3
1. Ronald Völker (DE) – 310 – 3:155, 2:155 [1:153]
2. Andy Moore (GB) – 306 – 1:155, 3:151 [2:150]
3. Marc Rheinard (DE) – 305 – 3:153, 1:152 [2:152]
4. David Ehrbar (DE) – 302 – 2:153, 3:149 [1:147]
5. Yannic Prümper (DE) – 301 – 2:151, 3:150 [1:149]
6. Juho Levanen (FI) – 299 – 1:151, 3:148 [2:146]
7. Keven Herbert (CA) – 298 – 1:150, 2:148 [3:143]
8. Ivan Laptev (RU) – 297 – 3:152, 2:145 [1:136]
9. Martin Hudy (SK) – 295 – 2:149, 3:146 [1:145]
10. Michal Bok (CZ) – 295 – 1:148, 3:147 [2:147]
Xray Pro-Stock Qualification Ranking after Q3
1. Martin Hofer (DE) – 310 – 3:155, 2:155 [1:141]
2. Ivan Laptev (RU) – 308 – 1:155, 2:153 [3:151]
3. Tony Streit (DE) – 306 – 3:153, 1:153 [2:152]
4. Sandro Kuriger (CH) – 302 – 3:152, 2:150 [1:149]
5. Oliver Franke (DE) – 301 – 2:151, 3:150 [1:115]
6. Radek Flek (CZ) – 300 – 1:152, 2:148 [3:145]
7. Marco Kaufmann (DE) – 300 – 1:151, 3:149 [2:147]
8. Michael Koch (DE) – 299 – 1:150, 2:149 [3:146]
9. Philip Tschupp (CH) – 296 – 3:148, 1:148 [2:146]
10.Dai Sakaguchi (DE) – 290 – 3:147, 2:143 [1:117]
Full results can be found here.
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