Matsukura gets by Coelho to take A1
Naoto Matsukura has taken the opening A-Main at the fourth round of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series in Germany. The Infinity driver would pressure Top Qualifier Bruno Coelho through the race eventually able to take an advantage of an error with one & a half minutes remaining. Looking to have the quicker car, Matsukura would himself survive at early mistake when he ran wide on the straight with his car making clearly audible contact with the steel boards. Dropping him back a little, the Japanese driver quickly got back with Coelho and when the leader touched the curbing and opened the door he went through for the win. Behind Marc Rheinard would get by Viktor Wilck to complete the Top 3 ahead of Freddy Sudhoff, with Wilck dropping back to fifth.
Summing up his win, Masukura said, ‘My car was pretty good and at the beginning I made a big attack. I ran a little on the outside of the straight where there was no traction and I hit the wall but the car was ok. Later Bruno made a little mistake and I could take him’. The former World Champion added, ‘with no mistakes it is super difficult to pass. The next one I will push again and wait for a mistake’.
‘It was an ok final’ was Coelho’s reaction. The Xray driver continued, ‘I was leading until I think three laps to go. My car was pushing a little in the 180 corners, Naoto was faster for sure. Like I said before we have not yet 100% found the set-up for the car so actually second is not so bad’. On his error, the Portuguese driver said, ‘I touched the curb and it caused me to open. I could have made a fight side by side but decided it was better not too, there are still two finals to go’.
Rheinard said, ‘I took it easy in the beginning. I want to give Viktor breathing room. Then he spun out and I was catching the other two but I ran out of time. Naoto was faster than Bruno’. The Infinity driver added, ‘the problem is qualifying. Third on the grid would have given me a better chance to fight with them. I hope Naoto can get the same result in the next one and then maybe I can fight with Bruno’.
In the opening Pro Stock final, a great move for the lead by Olivier Bultynck came to nothing as Top Qualifier Jan Ratheisky tried to retake the position just as they came up to start their last lap. The Xray hit the Awesomatix causing the Belgian a body tuck allowing most of the field to go by. This allowed Mustafa Alp to come through for the win ahead of ETS Madrid winner Max Machler and Alex Kunkler. Ratheisky was later penalised for the move. In Formula, Ratheisky had the perfect race to take an easy win over Olivier Bultynck, who was promoted to second after Luke Lee rolled, with David Ehrbar completing the Top 3. In the 40+ Masters class Christian Drießle got by Top Qualifier Thomas Oehler early on for the win with Özer Yürüm getting passed Beni Stutz for third.
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