Neumann takes easy 4WD win in A1

Defending Champion Joern Neumann took an easy win in the opening leg of the 4WD Buggy A-Mains at the Euro Offroad Series in Poland. The Top Qualifier led from start to finish despite a mistake first time through the double to head home Durango team-mate Hupo Hönigl by 4-seconds.  Xray’s Martin Bayer who started second came off worst of Neumann’s moment as he hit the out of shape German and fell back to fifth.  Recovering to pass both team-mate Renaud Savoya and Tom Cockerill, the Czech driver would finish third.

Looking to maintain his 100% winning record in 4WD Buggy in the EOS and claim an 8th consecutive win, Neumann was pleased to get the win adding that his team-mate Honigl was ‘very quick’.  Decribing his Orion powered DEX410 as edgy for the first part of the race and then suffering understeer in the second half, he said it was tricky to drive but looking to Leg 2 he said it is ‘manageable’.

Setting the fastest lap of the race, Honigl pushed Neumann hard at the start until a mistake on lap 6 ended his challenge for the win.  The winner of 2WD earlier in the day, he said had a buggy and was comfortable putting pressure on the 4WD World Champion Top Qualifier.  Losing 2-seconds due to his mistake in front of the drivers stand, in which Savoya got caught up, Honigl said the one mistake cost him a chance of winning and with time running out he decided to settle for second.

Bayer said he was ‘just out of luck this time’.  After getting baulked by Neumann’s buggy on the first lap, the European Champion lost further time when he tangled with his team-mate Savoya.  After this he said it was too late to do anything about Neumann.  Bayer was very happy with his XB4’s performance adding that with more luck in A2 he is confident he can challenge Neumann for the win.

Finishing fourth just in front of Michal Orlowski, Savoya said he struggled with his XB4’s handling. Describing it as edgy he said he couldn’t find his rhythm in the race.

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