Volker ‘Top Qualifier’ for ETS Finale
Ronald Volker is Top Qualifier for the season finale of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series after the Yokomo driver carried through his form from yesterday’s opening two qualifiers to top the third round this morning at the Hudy Racing Arena to put pole position for Sunday’s title deciding A-Main beyond the reach of his rivals. It was the perfect morning for Yokomo as they also locked up overall TQ honours in Slovakia with their Pro Stock team driver and outgoing champion Zdenko Kunak.
Topping the round from HB’s Andy Moore, who was on new tyres, Volker described his run on used tyres as ‘awesome’. Having previously been at a disadvantage to his rivals when running used tyres on asphalt, the German said after a lot of hard work by his engineer Umino Yukijiro they had finally found a way to get the BD7 to be competitive on old tyres. Delighted to sew up the overall TQ, the result takes Volker a step closer to a third consecutive ETS title. Complimenting Kunak on his performance in Pro Stock saying the team could not have asked for better, Volker said the team’s attention is now on trying to help his Modified team-mate Yannic Prumper, who still has a new set of tyres, improve his performance for the final two qualifiers so hopefully he can secure the No.2 spot on the grid thereby making the task in the final for the Tamiyas, and in particular title rival Marc Rheinard, more difficult.
Rheinard took third for the round despite a costly roll on his final lap which cost him almost 5-seconds. The German said he was lucky all the other drivers just missed out on making 17 laps so while the mistake was frustrating it didn’t effect his position for the round. With Rheinard’s handling issues clearly visible to see on track, the Tamiya Racing Factory driver said that on power the car has chronic oversteer. While he has still to use his second set of allocated qualifying tyres he said with Volker taking the TQ honours his chance at the title is now very hard as even if he can turn things around and win tomorrow he also needs Volker to finish 3rd or lower.
While the round was by far his best run so far Moore said new tyres were probably the only reason for his pace. The British ace said for a new tyre run he should have been a lot faster adding that ‘in general (they are) not quite there yet’ in terms of set-up. ‘Still searching for something’ he plans to change a ‘bunch of stuff’ for the penultimate qualifier.
The next fastest driver running new tyres for the round was Xray’s Magnus Vassmar who took his T4 to fifth. The Swede said he didn’t drive particularly well and as a result he didn’t make the most of the new tyres. Happy with how his car is working he doesn’t plan to make any set-up changes for Q4 focusing instead on improving his driving. Team-mate & fellow countryman Alexander Hagberg was sixth fastest just 3/10th behind. The former ETS race winner said he pushed a little too hard which resulted in him running wide a number of times. Still with a new set of tyres at his disposal he said he is confident for the remaining two qualifiers.
Having used his two sets of tyres in the opening two qualifiers to finish second to Volker on both occasions, TRF’s Viktor Wilck could only manage 7th on used rubber. Behind the Gran Canaria race winner Awesomatix’s Viljami Kutvonen had his best Modified qualifier. The Finn was on new tyres but said reverting to the original chassis plate in combination with new anti tork steer parts he was much happier with his A700. Planning to adjust the roll centres for Q4 he said he hopes he can get two more strong runs and make the A-Main.
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