Rheinard wins opening 2WD A-Main

The surprise of qualifying, putting his Tamiya second on the grid of world class offroad drivers, World Touring Car Champion Marc Rheinard has won the opening leg of the 2WD Buggy A-Main at the finale of the inaugural TLR/Spektrum Euro Offroad Series in Dortmund, Germany. The German driver was handed the lead of the race on the first run through the double double after Top Qualifier & title hopeful Joern Neumann flipped his Durango off the second double luckily landing on his wheels but dropping him to third behind Team Losi Racing’s Darren Bloomfield.  A second mistake by Neumann and then an incident first with Dustin Evans and later with Lee Martin, the other two title protagonists, allowed Rheinard to eventually cross the line 2,5 seconds clear of Evans with Bloomfield taking third just in front of Neumann.

Rheinard described his win as ‘lucky’ saying his Vega converted TRF201 lacked steering after he gambled on running used front tyres.  Caught up quickly by Neumann, who like the previous two days of action at the Intermodellbau Hobby Show would set the fastest lap, the Tamiya Racing Factory driver said defensive driving was the only way he could keep his fellow countryman behind him.  Eventually Rheinard got his big break on lap 12 of 15 when Neumann tried a move down the inside on Evans that resulted in the TLR22 needing to be marshalled. Neumann waited but the incident cost Evans, who was in striking distance of the Tamiya, 5 seconds and any chance of the win.

Neumann said his opening mistake was his own doing and his Speed Passion powered DEX210 is easily up to the job but he really needs to improve his driving in the remaining two legs.  Dropping from second to fourth when he was hit by Martin the lap following his coming together with Evans, the Reedy Race Champion put both incidents down to close racing.

Evans was clearly frustrated at being hit by Neumann.  The US Champion said he was patient when he was third behind the German and he should of done the same as the pair were clearly quicker and going to find a way passed Rheinard.  Starting from fourth on the grid, Evans said if he can get a clean run he is confident he can challenge for the win in Leg 2 as changes to his Orion powered 22 had improved it a lot since qualifying.

Finishing third 2.2 seconds behind his Team Losi Racing team-mate, who started one place behind him on the grid, Bloomfield said he got lucky as changes to his Orion powered 22 made the rear a little too soft.

2WD Buggy Leg 1 Result
1.(2) Marc Rheinard (DE) – Tamiya – 15/5:03.465
2.(4) Dustin Evans (US) – TLR – 15/5:06.133
3.(3) Darren Bloomfield (GB) – TLR – 15/5:08.398
4.(1) Jörn Neumann (DE) – Durango – 15/5:08.697
5.(5) Lee Martin (GB) – Tamiya – 15/5:10.540
6.(6) Hupo Hönigl (AT) – Durango – 15/5:13.459
7.(10)Oliver Speith (DE) – Kyosho – 15/5:14.355
8.(8) Paul Bradby (GB) – Associated – 15/5:17.012
9.(7) Mike Truhe (US) – TLR – 15/5:19.244
10.(9)Oskar Levin (SE) – TLR – 15/5:21.245

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