March 9, 2013

Batlle takes Q4, Neumann Top Qualifier

Contesting only his second ever 1:10 2WD electric buggy race, the other race having being held on Dirt, 1:8 Offroad Champion Robert Batlle pulled off a great final qualifier at the Euro Offroad Series in Leoben, Austria when he TQ’d Q4 ahead of Joern Neumann to book himself a place on the grid in the A-Main final.  Having topped the opening two qualifier, defending champion Joern Neumann secured the overall TQ honours after a round that saw the German, his big rival this weekend Martin Bayer and Durango team-mate Hupo Honigl all setting the TQ pace before mistakes.

Batlle said coming into the event he had set himself the target of making the B-Main so to TQ the last qualifier to put him 7th on the grid in the main event was already a huge result for him and he now just plans to enjoy the finals. The Spaniard, who prior to Q4 had a best run of 11th fastest, said having thought his Yokomo BMax 2MR chassis was set to its maximum length they discover after Q3 it was in fact at the shortest setting.  Lengthening it for his final heat, he said it make the buggy so much more stable allowing him to run a 14 lap qualifier, only 5 other drivers having achieved that over the four qualifiers.

Having changing his front tyre for Q3 resulting in him ending up only 8th fastest, Neumann said despite changing back to the dBoot Nanobyte tyre his DEX210 did not feel as good as it did in Q1 & 2.  Running fresher rear tyres in Q4 he said this was the only reason he could think of for the difference, with more worn rear Nanobytes giving a better feeling.  Happy to secure the overall TQ honours, Neumann, who after winning the season opener was beaten by series debutant Naoto Matsukura at Round 2, said he expects another close race this weekend this time from 2WD debutant Bayer.

Bayer, who said of his mistake during Q4 that he sometimes needs to slow down, is confident he has the speed to be able to challenge Neumann for the win.  Running new tyres on his TLR22 chassis in the final qualifier in which he would end up 9th fastest he said the buggy was a little nervous but the tyres would be perfect for the opening A-Main which takes place tonight.

Having posted the third fastest time in all four qualifiers, Honigl said his roll was a stupid mistake as he knew if he hit the double off line it would launch his Dual Sky powered DEX210 into a mid air roll.  Feeling a lot better than he did earlier in the day the Austrian is confident that he can stick with Neumann & Bayer and have a go at claiming his first EOS Buggy Main.

For Kyosho’s David Ronnefalk there was a tentative wait as the Top 10 qualifiers were announced by Race Director Scotty Ernst, a very relieved Swede just scraping onto the back of the A-Main grid. Despite a positive showing in practice, 3-time European 1:8 Offroad Road Champion Renaud Savoya missed the cut and will make his 2WD electric race debut from 6th on the grid in the B-Main.

2WD Buggy Round 4 Qualifying Top 10
1. Robert Batlle (ES) – Yokomo – 14/5:19.262
2. Joern Neumann (DE) – Durango – 14/5:19.892
3. Hupo Honigl (AT) – Durango – 14/5:20.294
4. Peter Pinisch (AT) – Associated – 14/5:21.116
5. Michal Orlowski (PL) – Durango – 13/5:00.157
6. Oskar Levin (SE) – TLR – 13/5:00.599
7. Tom Maquel (LU) – Team C – 13/5:01.474
8. Jiri Mara (CZ) – Team Xray – 13/5:01.574
9. Martin Bayer (CZ) – Team Xray – 13/5:01.655
10.Oliver Scholz (DE) – Team C – 13/5:01.792

2WD Buggy A-Main Grid
1. Joern Neumann (DE) – Durango – 310 pts
2. Martin Bayer (CZ) – Team Xray – 308
3. Hupo Honigl (AT) – Durango – 304
4. Oliver Scholz (DE) – Team C – 303
5. Peter Pinisch (AT) – Associated – 302
6. Dominic Bauer (AT) – TLR – 301
7. Robert Batlle (ES) – Yokomo – 299
8. Oskar Levin (SE) – TLR – 299
9. Jiri Mara (CZ) – Team Xray – 298
10.David Ronnefalk (SE) – Kyosho – 295

Complete event results can be found here.

View our event image gallery here.



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