Matsukura takes first 4WD qualifier at EOS
Newly crowned 2WD Champion Naoto Matsukura got his quest for a first 4WD race win off to a good start this morning at the Euro Offroad Series when he TQ’d the opening round of qualifying. The Yokomo ace topped the round by a considerable margin over title contender Martin Bayer. For defending champion Joern Neumann it was a contrasting start to the day as he lasted just a single lap in Q1 after breaking a front arm off his Durango following contact with the track outside barrier on the main straight. A strong run by Neumann’s young team-mate Michal Orlowski saw him complete the Top 3.
Pleased to kick off the early morning qualifying with a TQ run, having struggled with the early start in 2WD qualifying yesterday, Matsukura said his B-Max 4 felt good but was ultimately too easy to drive. Despite finishing over 8-seconds up on Bayer, he said a more aggressive car would give him more speed. For Q2 the Vice-World Championship will lay down his front shocks along with trying a different ‘lighter’ rear wing.
Describing his opening qualifier as ‘a solid run for the morning’, like Matsukura Bayer said his car was ‘way too easy to drive’. Winner of the previous round of the championship, the European Champion will make changes to the front end of his Xray XB4 to try and ‘get more aggressive steering’.
12-year-old Polish talent Orlowski was very happy with his first qualifier. Switching to a softer shock oil on his DEX410 since Friday’s timed practice he also cut the inserts in his controlled Pro-Line tyres which he said made for a more stable car. For Q2 he plans to leave everything as is and just focus on trying to repeat another strong 5-minute run.
In contrast to his team-mate, Lee Martin said his Yokomo was way too nervous and difficult to drive, joking with Matsukura that he was welcome to swap cars for Q2. Setting the fourth fastest time, the Round 3 runner-up plans to add more rear toe as well as removing another row of pins from the spec Pro-Line Pin Point front tyre.
‘Not a good start’ was how Hupo Honigl summed up his run to the fifth fastest time. The Team C driver said he ‘was slow and crashed’ adding it was a combination of both car and driver. Feeling his buggy is too stiff he will try to add more flex by modifying the top decks. Team-mate Oskar Levin posted the 7th fastest time with the 19-year-old describing his run as ‘safe but slow’. The Swede said the rear end was loose and he had to drive it very carefully. Like Honigl he will make a number of changes for Q2.
Electric touring car ace Ronald Volker completed the Top 6 with his Yokomo. The German was pleased with his run saying it took a while to adapt from the 2WD the ran all day yesterday back to 4WD. Having thrown away an A-Main qualifying position with a mistake in his final 2WD qualifier, he said his aim was to start the day with a clean round. Overall he said he needs to find a little more pace but as he gets more comfortable with running 4WD again that should come his way.
Making the trip over for the US and making his European race debut, Schumacher’s Carson Wernimont opened his 4WD qualifying with the 8th fastest time. The 17-year-old described it as a decent run but added he had a few mistakes which he needs to ‘brush up on for the next one’. Pleased with his Reedy powered CAT he plans to make just a few minor adjustments for Q2 feeling the car is good enough for a Top 5 time.
4WD Buggy Qualifying Round 1 – Top 10 times’
1. Naoto Matsukura – Yokomo – 15/5:03.234
2. Martin Bayer – Xray – 15/5:10.868
3. Michal Orlowski – Durango – 15/5:11.518
4. Lee Martin – Yokomo – 15/5:13.969
5. Hupo Hoingl – Team C – 15/5:15.475
6. Ronald Volker – Yokomo – 15/5:17.189
7. Oskar Levin – Team C – 15/5:17.700
8. Carson Wernimont – Schumacher – 15/5:18.944
9. Oliver Scholz – Team C – 15/5:19.990
10.Bjorn Prumper – Yokomo – 15/5:20.242
View complete event results here.
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