July 25, 2008

Salven claims overnight TQ in Spain

Salven claims overnight TQ

With the first round of qualifying completed at this years European Championships in Valencia Spain, it is Michael Salven who is the man to beat. The German secured the overnight TQ with a run of 17 laps in 05:02.580 almost two seconds clear of team-mate Massimo Fantini who sits second on the time sheets. Salven switched back to the setting he ran in this morning’s first practice and said his Mega powered 960 ‘08 was perfect. ‘I went back to the set-up from this morning and it worked better than it did then because the track was hotter. It was perfect.’ The former Champion also ran 18% fuel (a mix of 16 and 20% Merlin) and believes the blend gave him the perfect run time/power balance.

Check out our full coverage on our event site here.


July 24, 2008

Fantini just misses out on 18 lapper

Fantini just misses out on 18 lapper

Massimo Fantini just missed out on the first 18 lap run as he took advantage of cooling temperatures in the final run of Day 4 of the 2008 EFRA European Championships. The Italian Serpent driver who has been quick from the start of the event completed 17 laps in 5:00.948 to top the time sheets from Robert Pietsch. Fantini was shown on the timing screens to be on target to do 18 laps but over the final lap his pace dropped and he just missed out.

Check out our full coverage on our event site here.


July 24, 2008

Salven tops practice in Valencia

Michael Salven

Michael Salven produced the fastest lap time in the opening two practice sessions at this weeks European Championships in Valencia this morning with the Serpent driver producing a lap time of 17.480 to head team-mate Massimo Fantini at the top of the time sheets. Salven said his first run was very good with his 960 08 working really well, but the German said his times may be fractionally too fast as he crossed the timing loop at 4:59. This would mean doing an extra lap and with fuel run time so marginal here at the Autet track that may not be possible. In the second of his runs Salven tried a different engine but the Mega unit was not as quick as the previous one and was also heavier on fuel consumption.

Check out our full coverage on our event site here.


July 23, 2008

Domanin sets unofficial pace in Valencia

Domanin sets unofficial practice pace

Former European Champion Fabio Domanin was the unofficial pace setter at Day 3 of the EFRA European Championships which are taking place at the Autet track here in Valencia, Spain. The Italian set an unofficial lap time of 17.204 with his team-mate Massimo Fantini next fastest in terms of lap times but both Serpent drivers have still to cure the problem of making a full 5 minute run.

Check out our full coverage on our event site here.


July 23, 2008

Taylor James wins the IFMAR Pre-Worlds

Taylor James wins the IFMAR Pre-Worlds

Jammin are reporting on last weekends win for their team driver Taylor James at the IFMAR Pre-Worlds Race in Charlotte, North Carolina. Taylor proved that the Jammin X1X Buggy is now one of the the top contenders for the World Championships, to be held later this year, by posting top qualifier and then going on to take the win in the one hour long A-Main. “With a new chassis layout, the X1X Buggy is faster through the corners and accelerates off the corner quicker. Overall stability is much better.” says Jay Halsey. He also revealed that Jammin Products is planning a Conversion Kit for the X1X and also a complete kit, both coming within the next three months.

Source: Jammin [jamminproducts.com]


July 23, 2008

Fuel still biggest challenge at EC

Mark Green

Mark Green appears to be the current pace setter in Valencia for the 1/8th scale Euros and is making 5 minutes, but the English Serpent driver admits it will be marginal in the fourth of today’s runs when the track will be at its hottest. ‘I have made a number of changes and was able to make 5 minutes in my two runs this morning but I think the fourth run will be the most critical which is funny as the track is slower but consumption is higher. For qualifying a good run in the morning will decide the grid’. Asked what changes he had made Green was not forthcoming with information but we believe one of the elements allowing him the extra run time is the use of 16% fuel. On the car the British Champion said, ‘The car is fantastic, I had a little push in the first run but as the track got hotter the handling was spot on.’

Check out our full coverage on our event site here.


July 16, 2008

ATS to announce International signing

ATS Tyres to announce International Signing

We heard from our friends at ATS Tyres in Italy that they will soon be announcing a big International signing for the upcoming 1/10th scale 200mm World Championships in Portugal, which will take place in August. The decision to work together came about following the company’s performance at the Warm up race back in March, in which the top 3 finishers were all running ATS tyres and none had to make a tyre stop throughout the 1 hour final. We will learn more this week, but if you have any ideas as to who it may be, then drop your suggestion into the comments below.


July 13, 2008

Neil Cragg takes 4wd European title

Neil Cragg takes 4wd European title

Our friends at oOple are reporting that Neil Cragg took a hard fought win in the 4WD event at the 2008 EFRA European Championships with the new Yokomo B-Max to back up his win in 2wd a few days earlier. Neil didn’t have everything his own way in qualifying – laying in third position overnight. As mentioned in the oOple race report though, the last two qualifiers can change everything and Neils Yokomo was dialled in the last two qualifiers – taking both rounds to give him overall TQ. Neil won the first two legs of the A and sat out the third to allow the other drivers to battle for second. Hupo Honigl took the third in an amazing race with Lee Martin right behind all the way – giving him second overall, with Lee Martin third.

Read the full report here.

Source: oOple [oople.com]