Volker is Top Qualifier in Germany
Defending Yokomo Euro Touring Series Ronald Volker will start his title defense from the perfect position tomorrow in Germany after he secured the overall TQ honours with the fastest qualifying run of the weekend in the final round of qualifying ahead of Marc Rheinard and Juho Levanen, the latter set to line up second on the grid having failed to make an A-Main cut last season.
Having dominated this event last year, wrapping up the overall win in the second of three A-Mains, Volker is chasing his third consecutive win of the ETS season opener and on current form looks to have an advantage over his rivals but having had 8 previous ETS TQ spots and only converting 5 of them the German ace is taking nothing for granted. Levanen who has turned his performance around full circle this weekend is determined to push Volker for the win. Having taken a new direction with his set-up recently, the Finn is getting his confidence back with the TC6.1. Finding the track conditions ‘sticky’, the former European Champion increased the boost on his LRP speedo for the final qualifier but didn’t like the feeling it gave. Still looking for more power he plans to switch from a 5T to 4.5T Reedy motor for tomorrow which should give him the chance to at least run with Volker although he admits making a clean pass is going to be difficult due to the curbs.
Having been very vocal about his Tamiya team’s lack of pace on carpet last year, Rheinard said the gap is much closer this time round but added Volker still has the edge and without mistakes he is going to be hard to beat. With only two of this season’s six ETS rounds on carpet, Rheinard said a podium finish would be a good result here as the advantage should turn to them at the four asphalt races. TRF team-mate Viktor Wilck missed out on the A-Main ending qualifying a disappointing 13th but he will be joined in the B-Main by a quality line up including BQ Andy Moore, who lost out on making the A-Main on a tie break with Magnus Vässmar, Kyosho’s Christopher Krapp and Serpent’s Marc Fisher.
Taking the honour of being the best placed Xray on the grid is 19-year-old Adrian Bernsten. Despite getting a Stop/Go penalty for contact with Freddy Sudhoff in the final qualifier the Norwegian still posted the fourth fastest time to secure fourth on the grid behind Rheinard and ahead of Yokomo’s Yannic Prumper. Xray are the best represented manufacturer on the grid with a total of four T4s, Tim Wahl, Alexander Hagberg and Magnus Vassmar securing 7th, 8th & 10th respectively. Making his first appearance for Serpent, long time ETS competitor David Erbhar got his new relationship off to a great start putting his S411 9th on the grid.
In the Xray Pro-Stock class former Champion Martin Hofer became the third driver to post a TQ run but having topped Q1 & 2 it is the HB of Oliver Franke that will start from pole position. An ultra close final qualifier with the Top 4 separated by 7/10ths, the result will see Hofer’s Schumacher line-up third on the grid behind the Awesomatix of Q3 pace setter Dominic Vogl. Having had great pace but short on luck, Viljami Kutvonen finally got a break and took his Awesomatix to the second fastest time a result that secured the rapid Finn the final spot on the grid for the A-Main. With defending Champion Zdenko Kunak unable to attend this weekend’s opening race Franke, who was his main rival in the title fight last season, will be hoping capitalise tomorrow and take full points having already secure the bonus point for the TQ.
Set for a tough race in Pro-Stock from where he will start fourth, Jan Asmer is making light work of the Speed Passion Formula class completing a clean sweep of all four qualifiers on his class debut. A winner last season Roman Pichler starts second while defending champion Herbert Weber lines up fourth.
Ride Modified Q4 times
1. Ronald Völker (DE) – Yokomo – 24/5:03.838
2. Marc Rheinard (DE) – Tamiya – 24/5:05.748
3. Juho Levänen (FI) – Associated – 24/5:06.764
4. Adrian Bernsten (NO) – Xray – 24/5:08.967
5. Alexander Hagberg (SE) – Xray – 24/5:09.893
6. Andy Moore (GB) – HB – 24/5:10.359
7. Marc Fisher (DE) – Serpent – 24/5:11.370
8. Viljami Kutvonen (FI) – Awesomatix – 24/5:11.453
9. Magnus Vässmar (SE) – Xray – 24/5:11.881
10.Dionys Stadler (DE) – Awesomatix – 24/5:12.094
Ride Modified A-Main Grid
1. Ronald Völker (DE) – Yokomo – 310
2. Juho Levänen (FI) – Associated – 308
3. Marc Rheinard (DE) – Tamiya – 306
4. Adrian Bernsten (NO) – Xray – 303
5. Yannic Prümper (DE ) – Yokomo – 302
6. Freddy Südhoff (DE) – Awesomatix – 302
7. Tim Wahl (DE) – Xray – 301
8. Alexander Hagberg (SE) – Xray – 300
9. David Ehrbar (DE) – Serpent – 298
10.Magnus Vässmar (SE) – Xray – 279
Xray Pro Stock Q4 times
1. Martin Hofer (DE) – Schumacher – 23/5:13.281
2. Viljami Kutvonen (FI) – Awesomatix – 23/5:13.556
3. Dominic Vogl (AT) – Awesomatix – 23/5:13.610
4. Ivan Laptev (RU) – Awesomatix – 23/5:13.983
5. Philipp Neudinger (AT) – Awesomatix – 22/5:00.118
6. Oliver Franke (DE) – HB – 22/5:01.675
7. Markus Kreder (DE) – Serpent – 22/5:01.790
8. Bart Wubben (NL) – Xray – 22/5:01.843
9. Bernhard Bopp (DE) – HB – 22/5:02.114
10.Jan Asmer (DE) – Serpent – 22/5:02.457
Xray Pro Stock A-Main Grid
1. Oliver Franke (DE) – HB – 310 pts
2. Dominic Vogl (AT) – Awesomatix – 308
3. Martin Hofer (DE) – Schumacher – 307
4. Jan Asmer (DE) – Serpent – 305
5. Ivan Laptev (RU) – Awesomatix – 302
6. Bart Wubben (NL) – Xray – 299
7. Markus Kreder (DE) – Serpent – 299
8. Philipp Neudinger (AT) – Awesomatix – 298
9. Max Mächler (DE) – Awesomatix – 298
10.Viljami Kutvonen (FI) – Awesomatix – 297
View the complete event results here.
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