Rheinard wins opening Andernach final
Due to the record entry competing at the Yokomo Euro Touring Series season finale in Germany, the opening leg of the finals took place directly after qualifying on Saturday evening with Top Qualifiers Marc Rheinard and Ivan Laptev pulling off easy wins, leading from start to finish.
In the Xenon Modified class Rheinard won by over a second from the Yokomo of Yannic Prumper even after reverting to cruise mode for the final three laps. Expecting a strong challenge from Ronald Volker who started second on the grid, the outgoing champion was never really pressured by the Yokomo ace. Struggling with his car’s handling the 2010/11 champion elect had an off on lap 6 allowing the Tamiya driver to take full control of proceedings.
Holding second despite the off, another error in the final minute would ultimately end Volker’s race as he dropped into the pack getting tagged from behind by Jilles Groskamp as they battled for fourth. Groskamp waited following the contact but with the body tucked on the Yokomo, the Tamiya driver resumed racing resulting in a Stop & Go penalty which the two time former champion felt was not justified. With no chance of a strong finish Volker pulled his BD5 WX to save the tyres for tomorrow’s remaining two finals while Groskamp went on to finish 6th.
While Prumper made a great early pass on Groskamp for third, Viktor Wilck didn’t want to risk contact with his team-mate in the opening laps but said afterwards it cost him a chance of second position. With his TRF417 working better than Groskamp’s, by the time he made the pass on the Dutchman the gap to Prumper was too large to claw back.
Hot Bodies’ Andy Moore finished a distant fourth with the British ace saying it was only because he managed to stay out of trouble as those ahead of him made mistakes. Summing up his race by saying he was ‘just hanging on’ to his TCX he said he needs a major rethink in terms of his set-up for tomorrow’s action. Team-mate Atsushi Hara didn’t complete a full lap as he lost a front wheel as the pack went through the Hudy esses for the first time.
Although he has been a Top Qualifier in the ETS’ largest class before, Laptev has yet to win an event overall but in Leg 1 of the Pro Stock A-Main he looked very much like he is on target to set that record straight this weekend. Starting from pole the Awesomatix team driver won by 3-second from the No.2 Xray of Tony Streit who was no match for the Russian with René Klöckner finishing third. For Martin Hofer, who is more used to starting at the front end of the grid it was a tough race and despite setting the fastest lap of the race the Schumacher driver finished last.
Xenon Modified A-main Leg 1 result
1. Marc Rheinard – 18L 5:13.689
2. Yannic Prümper – 18L 5:14.921
3. Viktor Wilck – 18L 5:15.969
4. Andy Moore – 17L 5:03.184
5. Steen Graversen – 17L 5:03.328
6. Jilles Groskamp – 17L 5:03.822
7. Christopher Krapp – 17L 5:04.364
8. Eric Dankel – 17L 5:04.502
9. Ronald Völker – 14L 4:15.037
10.Atsushi Hara – 1L 0:10.712
Xray Pro Stock A-main Leg 1 result
1. Laptev Ivan – 16L 5:01.131
2. Streit Tony – 16L 5:04.281
3. Klöckner René – 16L 5:05.962
4. Leinburger Steffen – 16L 5:06.755
5. Bruins John – 16L 5:07.269
6. Wohlgemuth Daniel – 16L 5:08.862
7. Schäfer Andre – 16L 5:10.154
8. Spiering Michael – 16L 5:11.710
9. Kiesewetter Michael – 16L 5:12.113
10.Hofer Martin – 16L 5:16.026
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