Kaerup is inaugural eBuggy Worlds Top Qualifier
Team Associated’s Marcus Kaerup is the Top Qualifier for the inaugural IFMAR 1:8 Electric Offroad World Championship, the Dane securing the honours in Portugal with a round to spare after Michal Orlowski TQ’d the penultimate round at the Barcelos Buggy Arena track. With three consecutive TQ runs in Q2, 3 & 4, only Xray’s David Ronnefalk could deny the talented teenager from leading away the 12 buggy grid that will battle it out tomorrow to become the first ever eBuggy World Champion. Going in the first group of potential title contenders, Ronnefalk couldn’t deliver the required TQ as last year’s Nitro Buggy Worlds Top Qualifier Juan Carlos Canas topped that heat with a time that was eventually be good enough for the 3rd fastest time. With that result confirming Kaerup as the overall TQ, Q5 was now just an opportunity to chase 4-in-a-row as he was next up to run, but a mistake would bring an end to his very impressive run. In the end Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski finally delivered his promised TQ run ahead of Ongaro, giving them the Top 2 for the round. With the tension levels palpable going into sixth & final qualifier, many leading drivers desperate for a good result to make the A-Main cut, the focus was on who would line-up behind Kaerup, that battle for P2 between Orlowski, Ronnefalk and Ongaro. In the end, Orlowski backed up his Q5 TQ with another, this time ahead of Kaerup. Overall, Ongaro will start third ahead of Elliott Boots and Ronnefalk with Cement Boda completing the top half of the grid. While currently an all European final line-up, there is still an outside chance for a US driver to fill the 13th spot via the B-Main LCQ race. Ryan Cavalieri starts pole on that grid as the best American qualifier with P13. The offroad racing powerhouse nation will get an opportunity for a stronger showing at the 2nd edition of eBuggy Worlds which it was announced will take place in the United States in 2027.
