Leino takes runner up spot with Leg 3 win
With Marc Rheinard securing overall victory in Budapest after Leg 2 of the A-Main and opting to sit out the final race of the day it was Xray’s Teemu Leino who took the win in Leg 3 to claim the runners up spot for the Hungarian round of the Xenon Racing backed Euro Touring Series. Starting from 4th on the grid, Leino was given his break on the very first lap when an impatient Viktor Wilck tried a move on Top Qualifier Ronald Volker at the final corner. Sending the Yokomo into a roll this allowed the Finn to pass them both and once in front he ran the perfect race as chaos broke loose behind.
Another attempt by Wilck to pass Volker resulted in the Kastellaun winner losing two places while further into the race Volker traction rolled out of second spot. Xray’s new T3 chassis now looked like it was on for a 1-2-3 finish in the Leg but it wasn’t to be. Unfortunately for 16-year-old Zdenko Kunak, who was putting in one of the drives of his life, he made contact in the infield with an out of shape Elliot Harper that sent the Slovak’s car rolling out on to the straight. Waiting for a marshal at the side of the track to put his car back in the infield he was collected by Sebastian Lein’s Tamiya, putting both cars out of the race. Kunak was clearly gutted to see his race end so cruelly but after such a strong showing the youngster will get his big day soon.
At the finish it was Volker who took second, four seconds adrift of Leino, with Wilck third. Ending the day on exactly the same points, the ETS Round 1 winner was given the final podium placing thanks to his faster race time in the opening Leg. Rheinard’s win and Wilck’s third means the Tamiya Racing Factory team-mates will go to the next race in the Czech Republic sharing the championship lead.
In Pro Stock it was all still to play for in the 3rd Leg of the A-Main with Top Qualifier Alexander Stocker and Yukijiro Umino having a win apiece but the No.1 car was the class of the field once again. Leaving the field behind Stocker did show he is still human making a mistake just as he entered his final lap. Losing 3 seconds, this allowed Umino’s Yokomo to close right up but the German remained calm and held on to claim the win and his second consecutive overall ETS victory. Upholding local honours, Gabor Forrai finished third ahead of defending champion Balint Rajki to stand on the third step of the podium.
Modified final standings
1. Rheinard Marc (DE) – 2pts [1:1, 2:1 [3:10]]
2. Leino Teemu (FI) – 3pts [3:1, 2:2 [1:3]]
3. Wilck Viktor (SE) – 5pts [1:2, 3:3 [2:10]]
4. Völker Ronald (DE) – 5pts [3:2, 2:3 [1:10]]
5. Harper Elliott (GB) – 9pts [1:4, 2:5 [3:6]]
6. Prümper Yannic (DE) – 10pts [1:5, 3:5 [2:6]]
7. Hudy Martin (SK) – 11pts [3:4, 2:7 [1:7]]
8. Moore Andy (GB) – 13pts [2:4, 1:9 [3:9]]
9. Lein Sebastian (DE) – 14pts [1:6, 2:8 [3:8]]
10.Kunák Zdenko (SK) – 5pts [3:7, 1:8 [2:9]]
Pro Stock final standings
1. Stocker Alexander (DE) – 2pts [1:1, 3:1 [2:2]]
2. Umino Yukijiro (JP) – 3pts [2:1, 3:2 [1:10]]
3. Forrai Gabor (HU) – 5pts [1:2, 2:3 [3:5]]
4. Rajki Balint (HU) – 6pts [1:3, 3:3 [2:5]]
5. Faur Cristian (RO) – 8pts [3:4, 2:4 [1:6]]
6. Kunák Zdenko (SK) – 10pts [1:4, 3:6 [2:9]]
7. Miko Peter (HU) – 14pts [2:7, 3:7 [1:8]]
8. Ashton Chris (GB) – 15pts [1:5, 2:10 [3:10]]
9. Juhász Viktor (HU) – 15pts [2:6, 1:9 [3:9]]
10.Orlowski Blazej (PL) – 15pts [1:7, 2:8 [3:8]]View the full results from all classes here.
An event that saw the entry double from last year to 160 drivers from 16 countries, the organisers here in Hungary were once again excellent hosts. With a short break now to enjoy Christmas the next round of the Euro Touring Series, which is also supported by Speedpassion, will venture into new territory when the Czech Republic will be invaded by some of the best touring car drivers in the world on January 29-31. We hope you can join us then.
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