March 10, 2012

Neumann Top Qualifier in 4WD Buggy

Today has turned out to be a day for Offroad’s European Champions with 4WD Champion Joern Neumann wrapping up the TQ honours for 4WD Buggy at the Euro Offroad Series much like 2WD Champion Lee Martin did this morning in the 2WD Buggy class.  Driving his Speed Passion powered Durango DEX410, Neumann secured pole position for tomorrow’s triple A-Main at the Black Country Arena when like Martin he made it four TQ runs from four qualifiers.  Looking like he might complete the clean sweep, the German made a mistake in his fifth & final qualifier allowing team-mate Hupo Honigl to TQ the round which means it’s will be an all Team Durango affair at the front of grid.

Behind the duo, who dominated the first opening race of the inaugural EOS season last month, 2WD Top Qualifier Lee Martin will line up 3rd for Tamiya.  The British ace admits that Neumann has a distinct advantage thanks to the corner speed his buggy is able to carry on the astro turf track but added he still thinks he can challenge the Reedy Race Champion for the overall 4WD win.

A man who has tasted success here in Charleroi already this year having won the Euro Indoor Race, Schumacher’s Tom Cockerill starts fourth ahead of American stars Mike Truhe and Dustin Evans. Driving TLR’s aging XXX-4 they are joined by the teams lead European drivers Miguel Matias, who was a podium finisher in the Czech Republic and starts 7th, and Darren Bloomfield, who many expected to be a stronger force, but only lines up 9th.

Mixing it with the World class line-up of team drivers in the final will be France’s Sebastien Wartelle whose Kyosho will carry the No.8 and British driver Nathan Ralls.  A regular racer with the host club, Ralls takes the final spot of the grid after a tie break with Round 1 finalist & TLR supported young gun Oskar Levin.

In 4WD Short Course Hupo Honigl secured his second overall TQ of the series again taking pole position ahead of team-mate Neumann whom he will be hoping he can keep behind him in the finals this time.  Truhe will line up third with his Losi Ten-SCTE followed by Evans and Czech teenager Kája Novotny.

While Lee Martin has sewn up the top spot on the grid in 2WD Buggy, the rest of the grid will not be finalised until the morning when the last round of the five rounds of qualifying will take place.

4WD Buggy A-Main Grid
1. Jörn Neumann (DE) – Durango – 0 pts
2. Hupo Hönigl (AT) – Durango – 1
3. Lee Martin  (GB) – Tamiya – 2
4. Tom Cockerill (GB) – Schumacher – 4
5. Mike Truhe (US) – TLR – 5
6. Dustin Evans (US) – TLR – 5
7. Miguel Matias (PT) – TLR – 7
8. Sebastien Wartelle (FR) – Kyosho – 8
9. Darren Bloomfield (GB) – TLR – 9
10.Nathan Ralls (GB) – Tamiya – 12

View complete results here.

View the event image gallery here.



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