Savoya heads Xray 1-2 in first 4WD Qualifier
Making his debut in the TLR/Spektrum Euro Offroad Series at Round 3 in Leoben, Austria, Renaud Savoya made an impressive start to 4WD qualifying as he headed an Xray 1-2 from Martin Bayer in a class that is widely recognized as being the strongest class of defending champion Joern Neumann who has never been defeated in 4WD since the creation of the EOS. Neumann could only manage the 4th fastest time behind Durango team-mate Hupo Honigl who appears to be chasing a record of finishing 3rd having set the 3rd fastest time in all 2WD qualifiers and the opening A-Main earlier today.
An electric buggy novice despite having three 1:8 Offroad European titles to his credit, Savoya said his XB4 felt amazing and after struggling in 2WD he was happy to be competitive straight off. Describing his Orion powered buggy as really easy to drive he said after a mistake at the dBoots Double which moved Bayer to the top of the timing screens he was able to push to make back up the time with no issues. Adding that there is not much he can improve on the buggy he said his focus for Q2 will be on learning the track better as he believes there is time to come from his driving especially through the corner at the end of the straight.
Happy with second, Bayer’s XB4 was the complete opposite to that of his team-mate. Having made his EOS debut at Round 2 in Langenfeld where he led the final A-Main for a number of laps, he said his buggy was really difficult to drive being both edgy and suffering from understeer. Having not changed anything since yesterday’s controlled practice when he was second fastest to Neumann, he said the track has changed and he needs to make small changes to suit for Q2.
Neumann put his run to the fourth fastest time down to new tyres which he said made his DEX410 very loose in the beginning. Causing him to make a mistake this allowed Bayer passed with the current European Champion having to run the rest of the qualifier behind the Xray. With the tyres improving over the run, Neumann, who is chasing a sixth consecutive win in 4WD this weekend, is confident of a better Q2 performance.
4WD Buggy Round 1 Qualifying Top 10
1. Renaud Savoya (FR) – Xray – 14/5:10.847
2. Martin Bayer (CZ) – Xray – 14/5:11.401
3. Hupo Honigl (AT) – Durango – 14/5:12.037
4. Joern Neumann (DE) – Durango – 14/5:13.589
5. Peter Pinisch (AT) – Associated – 14/5:15.033
6. Kaja Novotny (CZ) – Durango – 14/5:19.015
7. Michal Orlowski (PL) – Durango – 14/5:19.248
8. Toth Barnabas (HU) – Yokomo – 13/5:02.117
9. Patrick Hofer (CH) – Associated – 13/5:02.308
10.Csaba Palla (HU) – Durango – 13/5:02.339
Complete event results can be found here.
View our event image gallery here.
