Belgium/Dutch EP off-road nationals Rd3 – Report

Last weekend the 3rd round of the combined Belgium and Dutch electric off-road nationals took place at the clay track of the MAC Vlijmen club in the Netherlands. The night before the race a massive rain shower turned the track into a mud puddle, but the track crew worked hard to get the track ready to race, and at 10:30 a.m. and with only an hour delay, the first qualification round was started. In both the 2WD and 4WD class the qualifications where close, with the top drivers being separated only by a few seconds. Just before the start of the 3rd round a big cloud covered the track in dark, while strong wind came up and rain started to fall. The officials decided to wait for better weather but after the second delay the officials decided to scrap the 3rd round of qualifiers and to go directly into the finals.

2WD Qualification:
1. Wesley van Helmond – TLR
2. Wouter Wijnen – Yokomo
3. Bryan van Rijnberk – Yokomo
4. Bruno Heremans – X-Factory
5. Nicolas Risser – Team C
6. Tom van Drunen – Team Durango
7. Steven Verelst – Yokomo
8. Arjan van de Graaf – Yokomo
9. Ronald Joostema – Yokomo
10.Paul Dijkstra – Prototype

4WD Qualification:
1. Jean-Yves Konings – Yokomo
2. Erik Michiels – Team Durango
3. Brend Ausloos – Schumacher
4. Tom Raymakers – Team Durango
5. Dominique van Helmond – TLR
6. Bryan van Rijnberk – Xray
7. David Pauwels – Xray
8. Michael Somerwil – TLR
9. Maarten Kempeneers – Sworks
10.Mathis Meynaerts

In the first 2WD A-finale it was van Helmond who easily took the win. Behind him there was a close battle between van Rijnberk, Heremans, Wijnen and Risser. After swapping places it was van Rijnberk who later took the 2nd place. A drag race to the finish line had to decide who would finish 3th, and with only 0.01s difference it was Heremans followed by Wijnen. In the second final van Helmond made a mistake early in the race allowing Wijnen to take the second final, followed by Risser and Rijnberk. In the last final there were still 4 drivers who could win, but it was van Helmond who controlled the third final right from start also handing him the overall win in the 2WD class. With a 2nd place in the decisive leg Wijnen secured a 2nd place overall. The final podium spot would go to van Rijnberk.

2WD final results:
1. Wesley van Helmond – TLR
2. Wouter Wijnen – Yokomo
3. Bryan van Rijnberk – Yokomo
4. Nicolas Risser – Team C
5. Bruno Heremans – X-Factory
6. Arjan van de Graaf – Yokomo
7. Tom van Drunen – Team Durango
8. Steven Verelst – Yokomo
9. Paul Dijkstra – Prototype
10. Ronald Joostema – Yokomo

In the first 4WD final it was the trio of Konings, Michiels and van Helmond who battled to the end. But after 5 minutes it was Konings who finished first, followed by Michiels and van Helmond. In the second final it was van Rijnberk who took an easy win with a clean run from 6th place on the grid. Konings would finish 2nd followed by Michiels. In the last final leg Michiels took an early lead followed by Raymakers by a mistake of Konings. A close battle would follow till Raymakers made a mistake hitting the inside of the corner. Michiels did not have much time to enjoy the breathing room as he made a mistake on his own a few corners later. This allowed Konings to come back to the front and win the last final and grab the overall win. Behind that there was a close battle between Raymakers and van Rijnberk. Just 2 corners before the finish line Raymakers made a mistake allowing van Rijnberk to take the 2nd spot in this final followed by Raymakers.

4WD final results:
1. Jean-Yves Konings – Yokomo
2. Bryan van Rijnberk – Xray
3. Erik Michiels – Team Durango
4. Tom Raymakers – Team Durango
5. Dominique van Helmond – TLR
6. Michael Somerwil – TLR
7. Mathis Meynaerts
8. David Pauwels – Xray
9. Brend Ausloos – Schumacher
10.Maarten Kempeneers – Sworks

Source: MAC Vlijmen [macvlijmen.nl]