Euro Touring Series

March 20, 2011

Volker takes second A-Main

After the excitement of the first leg of Xenon Modified final here in Poland the anticipated battle didn’t materialize when an early move by Juho Levanen on Ronald Volker resulted in the Associated driver rolling out of contention. This left Top Qualifier Volker to take a tone to tone victory meaning the winner of the fourth round of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series will be decided in the third and final race of the day.

Juho Levanen

One of racing’s most sporting drivers Volker said he felt sorry for his coming together with Levanen as the Finnish ace tried to pass him around the outside. Levanen was quick to call it a racing accident and point the blame more on himself for trying such a move saying ‘maybe I was a bit stupid trying to overtake where I did’. Playing a waiting game in the opening leg which he won in the thrilling last lap battle, the former European Champion said because Volker was so slow he was under pressure from Tamiya Elliot Harper which forced him into making his move. Rejoining the race last on the wrong part of the track, the incident cost Levanen a massive 7 seconds but such was the blistering pace of his TC6 he worked his way back up to sixth setting a new fastest lap of 12.890 to cross the finish line just over 4 seconds behind winner Volker.

Volker said his lack of pace was due to his car having ‘zero’ traction in the opening laps and with no confidence in it he now plans to run his second chassis in the events deciding race. The reigning European Champion said running the second car, which has a different chassis plate, is a huge risk but needs to be taken if he is to have any chance of securing his fourth consecutive ETS victory.

Finishing second, Harper was happy with his result but said his TRF417 is still not fast enough and he is not sure why. Glad to be competitive this weekend after ending up in the B-Main in Austria, the TRF driver will try a different set of tyres in the third leg as he looks to secure his first ETS podium finish.

Andy Moore

Andy Moore enjoyed a good run to third but was annoyed he had not capitalized on an ‘epic’ start which saw him get by Yannic Prumper. The recent TITC winner said his Moore Speed powered HB TCX was really good but after throwing away his great start there was little he could do to challenge at the front as the pack is so closely matched. In the end Moore benefited from Prumper and Alexander Hagberg coming together, Hagberg dropping from third to 8th as a result.

Martin Hofer

In Pro Stock Ivan Laptev looked like giving Awesomatix their first international win but in the final laps he made a mistake allowing Martin Hofer to find a way passed. Laptev came back at him and the pair made a dash side by side to the finish line with Hofer’s Schumacher getting the win by just 19/1000th of a second. The Russian said afterwards the pressure got to him as challenging for victory at an international race is not something he is familiar with. Hofer said the close finish was what Pro Stock racing is all about and predicts an exciting third final. Third spot went to Oliver Franke.

Xenon Modified A-Final – Leg 2
1.(1) Ronald Völker (DE) – Yokomo/LRP – 24/5:12.292
2.(3) Elliot Harper (GB) – Tamiya/Speed Passion – 24/5:12.975
3.(6) Andy Moore (GB) – Hot Bodies/Moore Speed – 23/5:00.749
4.(5) Yannic Prumper (DE) – Yokomo/Speed Passion – 23/5:01.407
5.(7) Magnus Vassmar (SE) – Xray/Nosram – 23/5:02.800
6.(2) Juho Levanen (FI) – Associated/Reedy – 23/5:03.240
7.(8) Zdenko Kunak (SK) – Xray/LRP – 23/5:04.982
8.(4) Alexander Hagberg (SE) – Xray/LRP – 23/5:05.123
9.(9) Rene Klöckner (DE) – Tamiya/Speed Passion – 23/5:07.373
10.(10)Thomas Mirke (DE) – Xray/LRP – 23/5:08.035

Xray Pro-Stock A-Final – Leg 2
1.(2) Martin Hofer (DE) – Schumacher – 22/5:04.296
2.(1) Ivan Laptev (RU) – Awesomatix – 22/5:04.315
3.(4) Oliver Franke – (DE) – Hot Bodies – 22/5:07.794
4.(7) Sandro Kuriger (CH) – Tamiya – 22/5:13.236
5.(8) John Bruins (NL) – Tamiya – 21/5:13.763
6.(3) Zdenko Kunak (SK) – Xray – 21/5:01.455
7.(10)Beni Stutz (CH) – Tamiya – 21/5:03.399
8.(5) René Klöckner – (DE) – Tamiya – 21/5:04.897
9.(6) Vasco Christiaanse (NL) – Kyosho – 20/4:42.199
10.(9)Philip Tschupp (CH) – TOP – 4/0:54.533

View the complete results here.

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March 20, 2011

Video – Mod & Pro Stock A-main Leg 1

March 20, 2011

Levanen wins thrilling opening final

Juho Levanen

Team Associated’s Juho Levanen has won a thrilling opening final at the fourth round of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series in Legionowo, Poland. Starting from second on the grid, the Finnish ace followed Top Qualifier Ronald Volker around the track for four minutes before the race came alive culminating in a final lap that had the crowd in the Arena on their feet as he pulled off a great series of moves to beat the German.

Applying some pressure to Volker in the opening 2 laps Levanen dropped back and it looked like the Yokomo driver had checked out for the win while the focus of attention turned to the five car battle for third. Setting the fastest lap of the race on lap 9 it was from this point that Levanen began to make his comeback as he tidied up his lines. Commenting on the race the winner of the first ever ETS event said, ‘The first half of the race I made too many mistakes but I got it together and then when Ronald had his moment I knew the win was possible. My car was really good and I dont think I could have made it any better’.

Ronald Volker

Looking to maintain a 100% success rate in this season’s ETS having TQ’d & won the opening three events, Volker said afterwards that he got more congratulations following the race than he would normally get if he won, showing the level of appreciation fellow racers had for the battle that took place. The European Champion said new tyres for the race did not suit his BD5WX and he had no confidence with it as it suffered from huge understeer out of the corners. Asked about his moment on lap 19 that allowed Levanen to get on his back bumper, Volker knew even without it Levanen was going to catch him and challenge for the win. Eventually the race was decided when the pair touched in the last section of corners but Volker said it was just a racing incident. Lucky to recover to just get out in front of the battle for third and finish second, Volker said he had enjoyed the battle and was proud of his comeback pass on Levanen at the end of the straight.

Elliot Harper

Finishing third Elliot Harper described his race as difficult as he had to drive a very defensively due to a problem with the rear gear diff in his Tamiya TRF417. That driving frustrated Team Xray’s Alexander Hagberg who could not find a way passed as the pack bunched up behind the British teenager. Eventually Hagberg’s frustration got the better of him and he made a mistake which allowed Yokomo’s Yannic Prumper through to take fourth. Andy Moore completed the Top 6 with his Hot Bodies finishing just ahead of the Xray of Sweden’s Vassmar Magnus.

Ivan Laptev

In Pro Stock Ivan Laptev began the next chapter in the success story in the making that is Awesomatix. Having claimed the first TQ honour for the Russian car yesterday he led the opening leg of the final from start to finish. The Moscow driver said afterwards the car was a little slow in the beginning of the race, most likely due to tyre additive on the tyres, but with each lap it got better and better allowing him to open up a comfortable lead to take a popular win.

Martin Hofer applied some pressure on Laptev in the opening laps but faded and then traction rolled his Schumacher. The German said his Mi4cx had too much grip on the fresh set of the Xenon control tyres but is confident things should be a lot better for Leg 2. Coming from fourth on the grid to take third, setting the fastest lap of the race on the way, Oliver Franke said new tyres transformed his Hot Bodies.

Xenon Modified A-Final – Leg 1
1.(2) Juho Levanen (FI) – Associated/Reedy – 24/5:13.174
2.(1) Ronald Völker (DE) – Yokomo/LRP – 23/5:00.854
3.(3) Elliot Harper (GB) – Tamiya/Speed Passion – 23/5:01.311
4.(5) Yannic Prumper (DE) – Yokomo/Speed Passion – 23/5:01.401
5.(4) Alexander Hagberg (SE) – Xray/LRP – 23/5:01.543
6.(6) Andy Moore (GB) – Hot Bodies/Moore Speed – 23/5:02.294
7.(7) Magnus Vassmar (SE) – Xray/Nosram – 23/5:02.557
8.(10)Thomas Mirke (DE) – Xray/LRP – 23/5:06.765
9.(8) Zdenko Kunak (SK) – Xray/LRP – 23/5:08.630
10.(9)Rene Klöckner (DE) – Tamiya/Speed Passion – 23/5:11.382

Xray Pro-Stock A-Final – Leg 1
1.(1) Ivan Laptev (RU) – Awesomatix – 22/5:04.355
2.(4) Oliver Franke – (DE) – Hot Bodies – 22/5:07.681
3.(2) Martin Hofer (DE) – Schumacher – 22/5:08.081
4.(3) Zdenko Kunak (SK) – Xray – 22/5:09.610
5.(7) Sandro Kuriger (CH) – Tamiya – 22/5:13.686
6.(6) Vasco Christiaanse (NL) – Kyosho – 21/5:00.814
7.(8) John Bruins (NL) – Tamiya – 21/5:02.395
8.(9) Philip Tschupp (CH) – TOP – 21/5:02.711
9.(10)Beni Stutz (CH) – Tamiya – 21/5:05.331
10.(5)René Klöckner – (DE) – Tamiya – 21/5:05.448

View the complete results here.

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March 19, 2011

Video – Qualifying Heat 19 – Round 4

March 19, 2011

Levanen TQs final qualifier

Juho Levanen

Juho Levanen ended Day 2 of the fourth round of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series on a high as he set the fastest five minute run of the Polish event to TQ the final qualifier ahead of overall Top Qualifier Ronald Volker. The run sees the factory Team Associated driver line-up second on the grid for tomorrow’s triple A-Mains. Having left the set-up on his TC6 the same as Q3, the Finn said the extra speed came from him driving it better. Delighted to outpace Volker, a driver Levanen himself said ‘you dont beat too often’, he said the margin could have been larger but with about 30-seconds to run his car started to struggle to turn left, the cause of which he has been unable to identify. His best ever ETS starting position, the winner of the series’ first ever event says he is really looking forward to putting in a strong challenge for win number 2 tomorrow.

Ronald Volker

Having secured the overall TQ honours by topping the opening three qualifiers Volker said his car was very inconsistent for the first half of the heat but then started to work reall well. Asked if he expects a close race considering he has dominated the first three rounds of the 2010/11 Series the German ace said it is very close between the top 4 qualifiers and he is taking nothing for granted.

Despite the absence of his TRF team-mates, who are racing electric off road in the US this weekend, Elliot Harper is another to secure his best ETS start position. Setting the third fastest time in the final run of the day his Tamiya TRF417 will line up third.

Alexander Hagberg

Team Xray’s Alexander Hagberg suffered a radio glitch in Q4 which resulted in his slowest run of the day and the man who set the pace in yesterday’s practice lines up a lower than anticipated fourth. Behind Hagberg on the grid is Yannic Prumper who pulled up early in the final qualifier. Setting the fastest lap for Q4, which was just 1/1000th off the best lap of the weekend set by Volker, Hot Bodies’ Andy Moore will start sixth on the grid.

Ivan Laptev

In Pro Stock Ivan Laptev gave the new Russian Awesomatix its first international race accolade by securing TQ honours ahead of ETS Round 3 winner Martin Hofer. Laptev took the uniquely designed shaft driven car to a third TQ run of the day. Changing from a Mazda Speed 6 shell to an LTC-R he topped Q4 with the best time of the day with Zdenko Kunak second fastest. Driving an Xray, Slovakian Kunak will line up third on the grid tomorrow behind Hofer and in front of Oliver Franke who in Austria finished second from fifth on the grid.

Xenon Modified A-Final Grid
1. Ronald Völker (DE) – Yokomo/LRP – 310
2. Juho Levanen (FI) – Associated/Reedy – 308
3. Elliot Harper (GB) – Tamiya/Speed Passion – 305
4. Alexander Hagberg (SE) – Xray/LRP – 304
5. Yannic Prumper (DE) – Yokomo/Speed Passion – 304
6. Andy Moore (GB) – Hot Bodies/Moore Speed – 303
7. Magnus Vassmar (SE) – Xray/Nosram – 297
8. Zdenko Kunak (SK) – Xray/LRP – 296
9. Rene Klöckner (DE) – Tamiya/Speed Passion – 295
10.Thomas Mirke (DE) – Xray/LRP – 293

Xray Pro-Stock A-Final Grid
1. Ivan Laptev (RU) – Awesomatix – 310
2. Martin Hofer (DE) – Schumacher – 309
3. Zdenko Kunak (SK) – Xray – 307
4 Oliver Franke – (DE) – Hot Bodies – 304
5. René Klöckner – (DE) – Tamiya – 304
6. Vasco Christiaanse (NL) – Kyosho – 304
7. Sandro Kuriger (CH) – Tamiya – 300
8. John Bruins (NL) – Tamiya – 298
9. Philip Tschupp (CH) – TOP – 297
10.Beni Stutz (CH) – Tamiya – 293

View the complete results here.

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March 19, 2011

Volker is Top Qualifier in Poland

Ronald Volker

Ronald Volker has maintained his 100% perfect qualifying record in this season’s Euro Touring Series by wrapping up overall TQ honours in Poland with another time sheet topping run in Q3. The Yokomo driver set a new fastest five minute time of 23 laps in 5:04.275 followed by Juho Levanen and Andy Moore who enjoyed their best runs of the day so far.

Ronald Volker

Volker said a change of tyre additive along with a few small set-up adjustments improved his Yokomo and he was a lot more confidence with the car. The German said it was a close run thing with Hagberg, until his mistake, and he expects the Swede to provide a strong challenge in tomorrow’s finals. With pole position secure, Volker plans to used the final qualifying to test a few things on his BD5WX including a stiffer front anti-roll bar.

Hagberg

Once again Hagberg was on a TQ pace but the 21-year-old admitted himself he was trying too hard and that was the reason for his mistake near the end of the run which cost him 2 seconds. The Xray driver, who secured his first ETS podium at Round 2 in the Czech Republic said his mistake may have proved even more costly than a shot at TQ honours with five drivers now in with a chance of the number 2 spot on the grid.

Juho Levanen

Levanen put his strong performance down to finding the right balance between understeer and traction roll. The winner of the first ever ETS race, he said heavier oil in the rear diff of his TC6 and saucing the tyres differently had made the car a lot easier to drive.

Andy Moore

Moore said his time was down mainly to putting in a clean run. The former World Champion managed to improve slightly his Hot Bodies TCX but is still finding it difficult to drive with chassis roll being the main problem. For the final qualifier he is undecided as to whether to use the run to scrub in his second set of race tyres for tomorrow or risk trying a completely different set-up.

Setting the fourth fastest time Elliot Harper said a change to heavier oil in the rear shocks of his Tamiya TRF417 did not work with the car losing corner speed. Instead of going back to a lighter oil he will increase the front shock oil weight along with making small chassis adjustments which he thinks should give him a better allround package. Yannic Prumper completed the Top 6 followed closely by the Xray of Magnus Vassmar and new Awesomatix team driver Martin Lissau.

Ivan Laptev

In Pro Stock Lissau’s team-mate Ivan Laptev claimed his second TQ run of the day over championship leader Martin Hofer. Laptev, who is struggling in Modified with a very nervous car, said his Pro Stock A700 chassis is very easy to drive and just gets better every run. Zdenko Kunak, who finished on the podium in Poland last year, set the third fastest time followed by Kyosho driver Vasco Christiaanse.

View the complete results here.

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March 19, 2011

Q2 Update

Ronald Volker has repeated his Q1 performance by topping the second round of Modified qualifying at Legionowo, Poland. Outpacing Alexander Hagberg by 4/10ths of a second, the Yokomo driver applied more additive to his tyres which did improve overall traction but he is still not happy with the balance particularly in the sweepers. Despite the car not being entirely to his liking the German ace posted the first 12-second lap of the weekend with a 12.999.

Heat 19

Hagberg was happier to be closer to the front this time round but still made a few mistake albeit much smaller ones than in Q1. The fast Swede said he wants to be at the front and has the car to do it but just needs to put in the clean run. As in Q1 Yannic Prumper set the third fastest time with Elliot Harper’s Tamiya 37/100ths shy of his time in fourth.

Rene Klockner

Driving a Tamiya TRF417 Rene Klockner is enjoying a really strong showing in Poland. Setting an impressive fifth fastest time, and third in Pro Stock, the 16-year-old has been focusing on his driving here this weekend and its paying off. Happy with the performance of both his cars he is aiming for another good Modified performance in Q3 which should secure him his first A-Main appearance. Completing the Top 6, one place ahead of Andy Moore, was young Slovak Xray driver Zdenko Kunak.

Ivan Laptev

In the Xray Pro Stock class Ivan Laptev was fastest with his Awesomatix A700. The Russian said a change of additive gave the shaft driven car more corner speed. Setting the third fastest time in the opening qualifying Laptev now has two good runs on the board and plans to try new prototype parts in the remaining two qualifyiers including longer suspension arms. Fastest in Q1, Martin Hofer said the wait before the restart of the second heat due a problem with the carpet effected his tyre prep but he is confident his Schumacher will return to the top next time out.

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March 19, 2011

Volker surprises himself with opening TQ run

Ronald Volker

Series leader Ronald Volker has topped the opening qualifier at the fourth round of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series in Poland. Although he has dominated the first half of the 2010/11 ETS season the German was surprised to have TQ’d and said afterwards it was a lucky TQ as his rivals all made mistakes. The factory Yokomo driver said he had no idea why but hs LRP powered BD5WX did not have as much traction on fresh rubber as it did in yesterday final practice. Setting only the fifth fastest lap time, Volker plans to try a set-up nearer to that used by team-mate Yannic Prumper who set the fastest lap of the first round of heats. Prumper was on a TQ pace for much of the run but a mistake on his penultimate lap dropped him back to third.

Elliot Harper

Setting the second fastest time, Elliot Harper was very happy with his opening heat saying afterwards it was nice to be competitive again. Making one error during the run, the sole Tamiya Racing Factory entry in Legionowo was happy with the performance of his Speed Passion powered TRF417. Easy to drive, he plans to leave the set-up the same for now and go for a safe run in Q2 after which he plans to try some changes.

Alexander Hagberg

Having set the pace yesterday Alexander Hagberg spoiled his run with a mistake on his third lap which cost him over a second. Another mistake at the end of the run cost the factory Xray driver a further second in time. The Swede said his his T3’11 has the pace to TQ but he just needs to get his driving right for Q2 and put in a clean run.

Hot Bodies’ Andy Moore set the fifth fastest time but the former World Champion said he made a school boy error with his race tyres yesterday. Using the final practice to scrub in one of his allocated race tyres he took them off the car without marking them and then this morning had to guess which corner to put them back on. Struggling to get his Moore Speed powered TCX to go straight for the first three minutes of the run he said he guessed wrongly but with the car starting to feel a lot better in the final minute of the qualifier he is confident he can be closer to the pace in Q2.

Juho Levanen

Completing the top 6 was Team Associated’s Juho Levanen. The Finn was really happy in the warm-up with his car but when the heat got underway his TC6 wanted to traction roll forcing him to drive a cautious round. Ending up over 4.5 seconds off Volker’s TQ time he hopes a droop change will cure the problem for the second qualifier.

Pro Stock Grid

In Pro Stock Schumacher’s Martin Hofer TQ’d over practice pace setter Oliver Franke and Russian ace Ivan Laptev. Hofer said his Mi4cx was easy to drive and if he can tidy up his driving a little more a 22 lap run is very possible. Franke switched to CS additive this morning on his Hot Bodies but said that was the wrong choice and will return to LRP for Q2 which gave the TCX more corner speed.

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