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July 25, 2014, 7:32 a.m.
7/25/2014
By LiveRC Staff
LiveRC.com
Press release from LRP:
Junior driver Haatanen double European Champion with LRP!
Only 11 years old and already one of Europe’s top drivers: Joona Haatanen is European Junior Champion in 2WD & 4WD with the LRP Flow WT speed control. Neil Cragg finishes third in 2WD.
The 2014 EFRA 1/10 EP Offroad Euros were held as indoor race in Trelleborg/Sweden. The host crew had designed a challenging clay track on the ground of a hockey hall. A layout made for technical drivers who can cope with a tight and short track as well as with short double jump combinations. The grip level proved to be quite low. Fastest lap times were under 17s in 4WD and under 18s in 2WD.
All of Europe’s top drivers had travelled to Sweden, resulting in 136 starters in 2WD and 145 starters in 4WD. The LRP team was attending with Neil Cragg, Martin Bayer, Carlos Pineda and junior driver Joona Haatanen. Drivers were again supported by Jürgen Lautenbach and Ales Dobnikar. Title holders were Jörn Neumann (2WD) and Martin Bayer (4WD). Both drivers came to Sweden in a very optimistic mood – but in the end only one of them should travel home happily.
Racing on the highest level – already the 2WD competition was thrilling from the first to the last lap. It came out to be difficult for the drivers to find the suitable setup. The slippery track forced racers and team support to work hard to get the cars running competitively. All drivers relying on the LRP Flow WorksTeam speed control used the new v3.8 firmware with Semi-X Brake and 70% ramp. A higher gear ratio of the LRP Vector X20 motor proved to be appropriate. During the complete race, the 9.5T or 10.5T motors were run with 12.0mm rotor.
It was a German driver dominating the 2WD competition from the beginning. Jörn Neumann performed a great show. Lee Martin and Neil Cragg were able to stay close to the leader during qualifying and also in the A-finals. But in the end, Jörn defended his 2WD title. Jörn Neumann won ahead of Lee Martin and LRP powered Neil Cragg who also showed a really great driving.
But it was not only Neil who convinced. With Joona Haatanen and Petri Storm (both from Finland) two other top drivers relied on LRP equipment. Petri finished fifth overall. Young Joona performed on a sensationally high level in Trelleborg. Despite his only 11 years, he outperformed some of the established top guys. In the end, he took the overall eighth place and the title as 2WD European Junior Champion. Congratulations!
The setting for 2WD:
LRP Flow WorksTeam with v.3.8 firmware and 6-1-2-1-0-0-1 setting.
LRP Vector X20 10.5T with 27.5° timing and 12.0mm rotor.
Same preconditions for the 4WD competition – the track was extremely slippery. A higher gear ratio than on comparable tracks had to be chosen. The “blue” drivers relied on the LRP Vector X20 8.5T or 9.5T motor. The LRP Flow WorksTeam speed control was used with the v3.8 firmware with Semi X-Brake and 70% ramp or with BR2 Brake and 70% ramp.
On the track, Jörn repeated his show from the 2WD race. Lee Martin pushed hard, but he missed the last decisive step to challenge Jörn’s lead in qualifying as well as in the A-finals. By winning A1 & A2, the German celebrated an early victory ahead of Lee Martin (UK) and Hupo Hönigl (AUT).
For LRP it was again young driver Joona Haatanen (FIN) racing in the A-final. Starting from the fifth position, Joona showed a really awesome performance bringing him to the overall fourth position. Joona missed the podium by only one second but he was the best of the young drivers also in 4WD. So, he took his well deserved second European Junior Champion title of the week.
The other drivers with LRP power – Neil Cragg, Petri Strom and Martin Bayer – had a so-so 4WD competition. All of the three qualified for the B-final that Neil was able to win. Defending champion Martin Bayer had a suboptimal qualifying, despite a perfect car and high-performing LRP drive technology.
The setting for 4WD:
LRP Flow WorksTeam with v.3.8 firmware and 4-1-2-4-0-0-1 setting.
LRP Vector X20 8.5T with 27.5° timing and 12.0mm rotor.
Title defence unsuccessful – but a new star is rising at the European EP offroad sky. Joona Haatanen, only eleven years old, didn’t only take two European Junior Championship titles. He managed this by qualifying to the A-finals in both classes. Some of the established top drivers had to stand back behind the young Finn.
Jörn Neumann is double European Champion 2014. Despite the tough challenge of Lee Martin (2WD + 4WD) and Neil Cragg (2WD), he came out on top in the end to celebrate two well deserved titles.
Congratulations to all LRP powered drivers for their excellent performance – and of course to both of the double champions Joona Haatanen and Jörn Neumann!
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