Neumann from Cavalieri in Q2

Joern Neumann made it two out of two in 2WD qualifying at the season finale of the ‘TLR/Spektrum Euro Offroad Series presented by Horizon Hobby’ with the German starting day two of the Dortmund event with another TQ run but the main news of the second qualifier was the marked improvement from World Champion Ryan Cavalieri who posted the second fastest time. The Top 3 was completed by Neumann’s Durango team-mate Hupo Honigl ahead of Kyosho’s Christopher Krapp.

Having changed his buggy set-up from yesterday’s opening qualifier to the same rear shock set-up as Honigl, Neumann said his Speed Passion powered was ‘way faster’ today. Much easier to drive, the German was on target to better his Q1 time by over 4-seconds but on his final lap a driver who had already completed his 5-minutes turned in on the reigning champion resulting in a 20.287 second lap compared with his 15.713 overall fastest lap of the round.

Cavalieri was much happier with his second qualifier saying he had a ‘much smoother pace today’.  Having changed the set-up on his Centro C4.1, the American said the buggy was a lot better and following the run he was a lot more confident with both the buggy and the carpet track with his plan for Q3 just to work on improving a few of his lines which should help him make up a ‘little more time’.  After the run, the factory Associated driver discovered he had a bent rear shock shaft which he said would explain why the buggy wanted to ‘wheelie’ a lot in the final minute of the run.  Getting his first taste of European style indoor offroad racing yesterday and clearly not looking to be enjoying the experience, today’s first qualifier has certainly brought about a change in Cavalieri’s attitude and it will be interesting to watch his progress over the next two qualifiers.

Team-mate and AE team boss Brent Thielke also enjoyed a strong Q2 taking his C4.1 to the fifth fastest time.  Adding weight to the front of the buggy and stiffening the chassis and shocks, the American said the buggy was much improved. Finding yesterday’s opening day a ‘little hectic’, he said he felt a lot more relaxed today and that was reflected in his driving. Comfortable now with his pace he hopes he can build on that in the remaining two qualifiers and book himself a spot in the A-Main.

The third of the Associated drivers to travel over from the US, Kody Numedahl could only manage 31st for the round saying he just got a little too confident in his ability on the high grip track.  The Associated team have their own inter-team competition going on in which Cav, Theilke and Numedahl are up against the team ‘classic race division’ Craig Drescher.  In the competition Drescher’s challenge is to try and finish higher than his three team-mates combined results for the round.  Numedahl’s bad run should have played into the hands of Drescher and his 1993 RC10 chassis but the multiple former European champion said he had to make a ‘pit stop’ which lost him 32 seconds leaving him 74th for the round compared with the American’s combined 38th for the round.

Third fastest Honigl was pleased with his run after it looked early in the run that he hadn’t glued a front tyre properly.  Struggling with getting his Durango to turn left it turn out to be a large piece of tape from the track that have gotten stuck to the tyre causing the flapping noise.  Fortunately for the Austria the tape eventually parted with the tyres and he was able to drive normally again saying the buggy felt really good for the rest of the run.

Krapp, who was second fastest in Q1, said his Kyosho RB6 had more speed than yesterday but 3-mistakes, two of which were of his own doing cost him a chance at a TQ run.  Heading the time from Neumann, the German Touring Car ace said he got a little too nervous at the prospect of topping the round and this effected his driving.  For Q3 he plans to run a new set of controlled dBoots tyres to scrub them in for the finals.

Running Xray’s prototype XB2 buggy, Renaud Savoya was said the buggy was much easier to drive today after it was discovered he ran with a broken sensor wire in Q1.  Changing his front tyre to a Nanobyte, loosening the slipper and adjusting his speedo settings he said he was able to drive a lot more consistently and other than one roll over he was happy with the run.  With his confidence of driving 2WD growing, the Frenchman a novice in the class, he said his aim for the next qualifier is to improve his lines and push a little harder.  Team-mate Martin Bayer had a motor problem in Q2 which left him with little or no brakes but he still managed to post a Top 10 time to finish 9th.

Finishing 8th behind Team C’s Tom Maquel, 1:8 World Champion Robert Batlle said his Yokomo was very nervous to drive and this led to two mistakes.  For Q3 the Spaniard will glue up the front tyre walls.  Once again Kyosho’s David Ronnefalk had good speed but a series of mistakes left the Swede 12th for the round ahead of fellow countryman and top TLR driver Oskar Levin.

2WD Buggy Qualification Round 2
1. Joern Neumann – Team Durango – 19/5:11.236
2. Ryan Cavalieri – Associated – 19/5:12.704
3. Hupo Honigl – Team Durango – 19/5:13.805
4. Christopher Krapp – Kyosho – 19/5:15.252
5. Brent Thielke – Associated – 19/5:16.230
6. Renaud Savoya – Xray – 18/5:00.925
7. Tom Maquel – Team C – 18/5:01.613
8. Robert Batlle – Yokomo – 18/5:02.918
9. Martin Bayer – Xray – 18/5:02.964
10.Torben Hojfeldt – Team C – 18/5:03.460

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