So… like I said in the preview it would be busy and already the first race from a series is done. To be honest I was really happy with the result. We arrived at the track saturdaymorning, lot’s of guys are already practicing from friday. So I couldn’t wait to get some laps in. I especially tested some engines and gears. I used to drive very short ratio’s at the euro’s and the benelux race etc.. 15/18 48/44. But those tracks usually have a straight that goes up, and this one is downhill. So you can usually use a longer ratio and make more speed. But I tested 15/19 and 16/19 but nothing was better than the 15/18 in my opinion. So staid with that. For the rest I tested the different shock positions in the rear. Since the euro’s I’ve been driving the shocks on the uprights, and idea from michael and mark, you have to apply some shims but it’s very easy to mounth. Just put the ball joint on the lower hole of the body mount. You have to adjust the ride height again ofcourse. This way gives you more accurate cornering, car is just more direct under high speed. But it seemed on this track the std position was better. So I used it like that with pink and purple springs front and rear. In the afternoon it started raining so we had very little practice time.
Sunday qualifying, First qualif the track was just little wet, not much but you couldn’t go full on to the straight. But I had a good run and made provisional tq in 27r 7:06. Second round I had some isue’s with my clutch and John Ermen took over tq with 27r 7:03. Rick V made a 7:02 in the 3th round to take TQ honours. I was still in 3th with the time from the 1st heat. Robin d’Hondt completed the top 4 just few hundreds infront of Jordy Blok who was on a really good pace this weekend.
Final start was little hectical, we went off and were with 4 together in the first corner, there was a lot of touching, rick went of, and I found myself in the back of the pack. And again just like Utrecht I had to work my way upfront again. After about 5 min, I was back in 3th about a quarter lap down on Robin and John who were fighting for 1st. But than robin wanted to pass john and touched the grass, and his wheel came off. So he lost a little time. Before the final we discussed a fuel strategy of 4,40min, so I knew I could make up some time there. And I changed tires at 14min, first one to change and my mechanics made it a really good one. So I was in 3th, one lap down on John and just behind Rick for second. I gave it all I got for the coming minutes and after the tire changes of John and Rick I found myself in 1st place, with about a quarter lap on John in 2nd. In the last 8min I could make the gap little bigger and take the win. Followed by John in 2nd Rick 3th Robin 4th Arie Manten 5th.
I still dont really like the track but the organisation was very good like always.
In two weeks we will already be in Heemstede for the next one.
Thanks to my mechanics my dad and Tom Martens, .. they really did a superb job this weekend.
Thanks to Serpent Motorsport, Mega Engines, Xceed, Merlin Fuel, RC car colors, Artec Racing for the support.
See you in heemstede
Good luck to team serpent at the 1/10 euro’s in Sweden.
Ilia
