Coelho tops Q2 at Italian ETS
Bruno Coelho put in what could turn out to be an important TQ run when he topped the second round of qualifying at the Italian round of the Euro Touring Series. With the threat of rain tomorrow at the Riccione track, Q2 would see the Xray driver post the only 19-lap run as he headed the times from Q1 pace Viljami Kutvonen, the Finn 3/10th shy of making the extra lap. Making it a very good first day for the A800 on its asphalt debut, Kutvonen ‘s team-mate Freddy Sudhoff having been 11th in both practice & Q1 would find form to complete the Top 3. Adding to the Russian manufacturer’s joys, Max Machler would take the second Pro Stock qualifier leaving him as the provisional overnight TQ holder.
Having made a mistake on the opening lap of Q1 when he got a P2 behind Kutvonen, Coelho said, ‘it was all good this time, there was no mistake’. Starting the second qualifier behind the Awesomatix driver, the championship leader ‘pushed hard at the beginning to catch Viljami’ and once he was close to him he ‘just drove safe to the end’. Making changes to his Hobbywing T4, the newly crowned Euro Offroad Series Champion said this was ‘a big improvement’. With ‘more forward traction’ and the car ‘more stable than before’ this gave the 22-year-old ‘more confidence’ to drive the car on. Describing the car as ‘not perfect but super close’ for tomorrow he plans some further ‘small changes’.
Improving his Q1 time by half a second Kutvonen said the second round ‘was ok but not as good as (the) first one’. He continued his car ‘didn’t have so good rear traction’ adding ‘I don’t know why’. Describing Q2 as a ‘super good result for the team’ referring to Sudhoff’s improvement and Machler’s TQ, he said ‘I hope its dry tomorrow so I can fight for the TQ’. One of many drivers to use their second allocated set of Volante tyres, he said the A800 ‘on used tyres is OK’.
Asked about his new found pace, Sudhoff replied, ‘honestly it was just myself’. He continued ‘Viljami showed the car is good’ and once I set the car to myself I was able to get back into the Awesomatix rhythm’. Asked if he would change his car for Q3, the German said, ‘it is up to the weather tomorrow and some drivers still have new tyres but I know our car is good on used tyres’.
Improving on his Q1 performance by setting the fourth fastest time, Ronald Volker said, ‘I was hoping at least for a Top 3 run’. Making changes to the set-up of his Yokomo for Q2, the reigning champion said, the ‘car was completely different to the previous run. This time it had a lot of understeer’. With the ‘balance & grip not good’ he said he didn’t have enough to battle for a Top 3. Sitting fifth overnight, he said ‘we need to work on set-up again for Q3 if it happens’.
Deciding to run tyres for a second time, Alexander Hagberg was pleased with his P5 run calling it ‘decent’. The best placed driver on used tyres, the Xray driver also made a set-up change to his T4 declaring he ‘thought it was better’. With a new set of tyres at his disposal, the Swede said depending on the weather ‘he could be in a positive position tomorrow’. Behind Hagberg, Kyle Branson would complete the Top 6 with his Capricorn despite momentarily stopping on the track after his transponder missed a lap that was later awarded back by time keeping.
Seventh fastest Marc Rheinard was another on used tyres. The Tamiya driver said ‘I took the risk to run old when everyone else was on new’ adding ‘I hope there is plenty of sunshine tomorrow’. Highlighting he was only 9/10th off long standing rival Volker, he was happy that on the used tyres his ‘pace was ok’. Behind the 4-time World Champion his former team-mate Viktor Wilck would take his Serpent to P8. Told to allow both Viljami and Coelho through, the Swede was not happy with Scott Ernst’s call, feeling it cost him a Top 4 run.
In the Pro Stock class, it was Jan Ratheisky who would be closest to Mächler with the Schumacher of Nicolai Lindegaard completing the Top 3. In Formula, having retired in the first qualifier, Ratheisky would TQ ahead of Q1 pace setter Olivier Bultynck. Fenix driver Matteo Berlincioni would post the 3rd fastest time in front of Serpent designer David Ehrbar.
View the event results here.
View our event image gallery here.
