Martin maintains pace to top seeding practice
Lee Martin maintained his early pace at the Euro Offroad Series in Berlin, with the Yokomo driver topping both rounds of timed practice to become the top seed for 2WD qualifying tomorrow as drivers now switch over to 4WD practice. Behind the British driver, it was David Ronnefalk who was second fastest with Robert Batlle, also driving a Team C TM2, completing the Top 3. While up front the order had no surprises it was the lack of pace from both Hupo Honigl and Joern Neumann that was the biggest surprise with their fastest 3-consecutive laps only good enough for 13th and 16th fastest times respectively.
Other than adjusting the front link on his new Muchmore powered YZ-2, Martin said he hasn’t felt the need to change his set-up as it is working really well from the first lap out on the track. Focusing on evaluating the difference between new and used tyres he said everything has been ‘pretty consistent’. The only driver to run regular 19-seconds laps with his 3-consecutive lap time the only one under 1-minute, he declared himself ‘happy with it’ adding ‘everything feels good’. Looking to qualifying he said ‘everyone knows racing is different but at least going into it we are at a good place’.
Almost 6/10ths off Martin’s pace, Ronnefalk was content with his pace. Having ran with Martin for the first part of the final practice, he said halfway through the 5-minutes his tyres which were on their third run faded. This caused him to lose grip out of the corners on the carpet but gain grip on the wood sections. Having set out to see if three runs where possible he said now he knows for qualifying that 2-runs is the optimum per set. Describing the car ‘good’, the DHI Cup Champion said he will have brand new tyres for Q1, which, while tricky on the wood for the first couple of laps, should be an improvement.
Batlle was pleased with his ever improving pace but felt he was losing time in the corners due to lacking a little steering. Describing his TM2V2 as ‘quite quick’, the Spaniard hopes an adjustment to less rear toe in might improve the steering but he is also concerned about tyre wear which he said was ‘high’.
Failing to improve on his time from the first timed practice, Xray’s Martin Bayer ended up 4th. Running the Slovakian manufacturer’s still under wraps new XB2 chassis, the Czech driver made a change for the final practice but said afterwards it made it too easy to drive. Declaring himself ‘happy’ and ‘feeling (he) has the speed’ he will revert back to his free practice set-up which makes the buggy rotate better.
Behind Bayer was Xray team-mate Martin Wollanka with the Austrian saying he ‘can’t believe how easy the new car is to drive’. ‘Trying stuff every round as the car is so new’, he said with a fresh set of tyres for Q1 his pace should be even better. The third of the Xray’s factory team drivers, Miguel Matias is not having as good at start with the new car. Having to build the car with no manual, the Portuguese driver has only completed one full practice run due to ‘little problems’ but said he was ‘getting it figured out’.
Completing the Top 6 with team-mate Simon Moss taking his example to the 8th fastest time, Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski said he ‘overall very positive’ with his KF2 with this morning his first time to put laps on the new car. His only issue with the car is on power traction but having added weight to try cure this in his second timed run he said this resulted in the car stopping in the corner. Set to remove the weight, the Polish youngster said he has some other ideas he will try for Q1.
Here to support Martin and build up as much set-up data as possible for Yokomo’s latest 2WD chassis release, Shin Adachi still managed the 7th fastest time. The accomplished Japanese driver said ‘I’m just here to learn not to win, thats up to Lee’. Describing there being a ‘huge difference’ between the new car and its predecessor he said he was very happy with how Day 1 had gone for the team.
Usually right in the mix, Neumann said ‘doesnt matter which car I drive I am too slow’. Using the Yokomo in the first timed run and then switching over to the Team C, the European Champion said the YZ-2 has understeer while the TM2 has no rear grip. Also not entirely happy with the way he is driving on his return to carpet having raced on dirt at the Reedy Race of Champions last week he said maybe after 4WD practice he will be better able to drive his 2WD and find some pace.
Having made the switch from Team C to Serpent since Round 1 of the championship, Honigl said his Serpent feels ok going around the track but it is ‘too lazy’ with the Austrian adding he ‘need(s) 50% more steering’.
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