Elliott Harper leads ICC after Saturday

At this weekend’s 2016 International Carpet Challenge Elliott Harper backed up his round one TQ with the fastest time in the second qualifier, but the highlight of the day was the fourth round of qualifying. Elliott, Kyle Branson, Yannic Prumper, Olly Jefferies and Viljami Kutvonen exchanged fastest laps and the lead of the heat seemingly every lap, and it was Elliott who snatched the TQ on the final lap with his Schumacher, ahead of the Yokomo of Yannic and Viljami’s Awesomatix. Elliott, who said it was “great for the spectators to have such a close fight”, said he was looking forward to tomorrow, having saved the better of his two sets of tyres for the finals. Kyle, who set the best time in the third qualifier, second that “second’s not bad” after day one. Pretty happy with his Capricorn, he is now the only driver who can deny Harper of the overall TQ.

Prumper sits third overall, describing the competition as “too close!” – one mistake costing him TQ in the final qualifier of the day. Jefferies is fourth overall, saying it was a strange feeling to be so close to TQ every round, but ending up fourth was disappointing. Also alluding to the closeness of the field, the Xray driver and defending ICC champion feels that probably “the smartest driver, not the fastest” could win the finals.

Jimmy Maddison continued his reign in the Super Stock class, taking the second, third and fourth rounds to wrap up the overall TQ with one round still to run. Saying he was “overwhelmed”, he was quick to thank his MHP team for their support and friendship in the pits, and wished to dedicate the TQ to his Uncle Jacko. Second behind Jimmy’s Xray was the Yokomo of Martin Hofer. Hofer had made a “big change” to his car, which took time to get used to but is now looking forward to the last qualifier tomorrow.

Fellow German, Max Machler, is tied on points with Hofer and sits third overall. Describing his car as “awesome now”, he has finally found a good setup and is getting better every run.  Still with a few ideas to test on his Awesomatix in tomorrow morning’s short practice round, he praised the track, describing it as the “best layout” he has ever raced on indoors. James Hart holds fourth overnight for Schumacher, ahead of the Gizmo of Dane Martin Christensen. In Formula, Martin Hofer holds TQ ahead of Keith Dempsey and Mark Gilliland.

The ICC concludes tomorrow with the final qualifier, and triple finals.

Thanks to Oli Meggitt for the report.