Völker snatches Q2 from Rheinard
Ronald Völker has TQ’d the second round of qualifying for the Euro Touring Series finale snatching the fastest time on the last lap of the 5-minute run from Marc Rheinard. Having failed to complete even a lap in yesterday’s opening qualifier due to a drive shaft failure, the champion elect started Q2 from 10th and didn’t appear to be in contention on the timing screen until the very last lap on which he set his fastest lap of the run. The only other driver to record 18 laps, Rheinard set the outright fastest lap, setting a time of 17.286 on his third lap a full 1/10 faster than Völker’s best.
Surprising himself yesterday when he topped the opening round of qualifying Jilles Groskamp set the third fastest time. The former ETS Champion said traction was much higher this morning and his TRF417 set-up may not have been best suited for the conditions but otherwise described his run as ‘decent’. The TRF driver will change to his base set-up for Q3 which he said should make the car better suited to the more grippy track. He also plans to try a different additive which other members of the TRF squad have already tried and found better.
Setting the fourth fastest time Hot Bodies’ Atsushi Hara ran a new front diff on his TCX but felt it was too hard. Filling it with cleaning putty he said the car had understeer for the early part of the run but as the putty softened it started to improve. Happier with his driving today, having made a costly mistake while on a TQ run in Q1, the former World Champion will run a mixture of putty and oil in the diff for Q3. Team-mate Andy Moore, second fastest in the opening qualifier, could only manage 14th this time round saying he just drove exceptionally bad.
Failing to finish the opening qualifier Tamiya’s Viktor Wilck was fifth fastest just ahead of Yannic Prumper. Prumper said his driving was below par at the beginning of the run but his Yokomo felt good if maybe a little down on power. Planning on changing the power program on his speedo he said his main aim for the next outing is to put in a mistake free run.
Elsewhere Corally team driver Marc Fisher put in a strong run to take 7th for the Dutch company ahead of France’s Loic Jasmin. German Yokomo driver Patrick Pasch enjoyed a good showing with 10th just behind World Championship podium finisher Elliot Harper. Once again Eric Dankel was the fastest Xray in 16th just ahead of Poland race winner Juho Levanen who is struggling for traction on his Associated TC6.
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