Volker takes second A-Main
After the excitement of the first leg of Xenon Modified final here in Poland the anticipated battle didn’t materialize when an early move by Juho Levanen on Ronald Volker resulted in the Associated driver rolling out of contention. This left Top Qualifier Volker to take a tone to tone victory meaning the winner of the fourth round of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series will be decided in the third and final race of the day.
One of racing’s most sporting drivers Volker said he felt sorry for his coming together with Levanen as the Finnish ace tried to pass him around the outside. Levanen was quick to call it a racing accident and point the blame more on himself for trying such a move saying ‘maybe I was a bit stupid trying to overtake where I did’. Playing a waiting game in the opening leg which he won in the thrilling last lap battle, the former European Champion said because Volker was so slow he was under pressure from Tamiya Elliot Harper which forced him into making his move. Rejoining the race last on the wrong part of the track, the incident cost Levanen a massive 7 seconds but such was the blistering pace of his TC6 he worked his way back up to sixth setting a new fastest lap of 12.890 to cross the finish line just over 4 seconds behind winner Volker.
Volker said his lack of pace was due to his car having ‘zero’ traction in the opening laps and with no confidence in it he now plans to run his second chassis in the events deciding race. The reigning European Champion said running the second car, which has a different chassis plate, is a huge risk but needs to be taken if he is to have any chance of securing his fourth consecutive ETS victory.
Finishing second, Harper was happy with his result but said his TRF417 is still not fast enough and he is not sure why. Glad to be competitive this weekend after ending up in the B-Main in Austria, the TRF driver will try a different set of tyres in the third leg as he looks to secure his first ETS podium finish.
Andy Moore enjoyed a good run to third but was annoyed he had not capitalized on an ‘epic’ start which saw him get by Yannic Prumper. The recent TITC winner said his Moore Speed powered HB TCX was really good but after throwing away his great start there was little he could do to challenge at the front as the pack is so closely matched. In the end Moore benefited from Prumper and Alexander Hagberg coming together, Hagberg dropping from third to 8th as a result.
In Pro Stock Ivan Laptev looked like giving Awesomatix their first international win but in the final laps he made a mistake allowing Martin Hofer to find a way passed. Laptev came back at him and the pair made a dash side by side to the finish line with Hofer’s Schumacher getting the win by just 19/1000th of a second. The Russian said afterwards the pressure got to him as challenging for victory at an international race is not something he is familiar with. Hofer said the close finish was what Pro Stock racing is all about and predicts an exciting third final. Third spot went to Oliver Franke.
Xenon Modified A-Final – Leg 2
1.(1) Ronald Völker (DE) – Yokomo/LRP – 24/5:12.292
2.(3) Elliot Harper (GB) – Tamiya/Speed Passion – 24/5:12.975
3.(6) Andy Moore (GB) – Hot Bodies/Moore Speed – 23/5:00.749
4.(5) Yannic Prumper (DE) – Yokomo/Speed Passion – 23/5:01.407
5.(7) Magnus Vassmar (SE) – Xray/Nosram – 23/5:02.800
6.(2) Juho Levanen (FI) – Associated/Reedy – 23/5:03.240
7.(8) Zdenko Kunak (SK) – Xray/LRP – 23/5:04.982
8.(4) Alexander Hagberg (SE) – Xray/LRP – 23/5:05.123
9.(9) Rene Klöckner (DE) – Tamiya/Speed Passion – 23/5:07.373
10.(10)Thomas Mirke (DE) – Xray/LRP – 23/5:08.035
Xray Pro-Stock A-Final – Leg 2
1.(2) Martin Hofer (DE) – Schumacher – 22/5:04.296
2.(1) Ivan Laptev (RU) – Awesomatix – 22/5:04.315
3.(4) Oliver Franke – (DE) – Hot Bodies – 22/5:07.794
4.(7) Sandro Kuriger (CH) – Tamiya – 22/5:13.236
5.(8) John Bruins (NL) – Tamiya – 21/5:13.763
6.(3) Zdenko Kunak (SK) – Xray – 21/5:01.455
7.(10)Beni Stutz (CH) – Tamiya – 21/5:03.399
8.(5) René Klöckner – (DE) – Tamiya – 21/5:04.897
9.(6) Vasco Christiaanse (NL) – Kyosho – 20/4:42.199
10.(9)Philip Tschupp (CH) – TOP – 4/0:54.533
View the complete results here.
View our event image gallery here.
