Martin gives new YZ-4 TQ at Nürburgring

Lee Martin has given Yokomo’s new YZ-4 its first accolade by becoming 4WD Top Qualifier at the Euro Offroad Series season opener at the Nürburgring.  The reigning champion, who yesterday took victory in 2WD, claimed the honour of Top Qualifier when he backed up his Q3 TQ with another in the fourth & final round.  With the Xray pairing of Bruno Coelho and Martin Wollanka, who TQ’d Q1 & 2 respectively, going into the round in contention for pole, Coelho would make too many mistakes and end up only 12th fastest leaving him to line up 2nd on the grid.  Having had a difficult round 2 & 3, Wollanka would deliver a P4 time to secure the No.3 starting position ahead of Martin’s team-mate Marc Rheinard who claimed second in Q4.  Behind Rheinard, HB’s David Ronnefalk would surprise with a much needed P3 in the final qualifier which will see the Swede line up 6th on the grid behind Michal Orlowski.

Commenting on the final qualifier Martin said ‘I didn’t make any mistakes and just cruised round’.  Happy to put the the new car on pole position, he said they are still trying things with more to come from the all new YZ-4 which is making its debut at the German event in preparation for the World Championship.  Having had some fraught finals yesterday when asked about today’s encounters Martin simply replied ‘there are 9 people out there to beat’ adding ‘I’m just going testing’.

Describing his Q4 performance as ‘so so’ saying the car was much better than the driver, Coelho said 2nd for his first 4WD EOS start was ok.  Having impressed by taking the TQ in 2WD, he said that didn’t go well due to some bad luck and his inexperience. Aiming for no mistakes this afternoon he said he would still ‘fight for the win’.

View complete event results here.

View our full event image gallery here.