2018 Nitro 1/8 Off-Road European Championship - Qualifying Report

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Tyler Hooks

0 Aug. 3, 2018, 11:40 a.m.

By Tyler Hooks
LiveRC.com

(All photos are courtesy of JConcepts Facebook event coverage)

Davide Ongaro has capped off one of the most impressive qualifying performances in EURO history TQ'ing all five rounds at this years 2018 European Championships. He has been the only driver to run a sub 35 second lap, and winning a couple of rounds with near flawless runs. Ongaro is on track to have a very successful final, purely taking into account his pace.

The closest driver to Ongaro the whole week has been Robert Batlle. With 4 second place finishes and a 3rd, Batlle has been surprisingly consistent leading a string of Hot Race drivers trying to catch Ongaro. Third qualifier is on-road and 1/10 scale 4wd ace with Bruno Coelho. Getting major help from the Tessmann family turning wrenches for the top XRAY effort.

The new two time 1/10-scale European Champion from the previous weekend, David Ronnefalk, is 4th after qualifying after flashes of greatness, but overall failing to match the pace of Ongaro. 5th through 7th are a host of young guns showing that the Nitro Challenge was not a fluke. Mugen's Canas makes it two Mugens in the top 5. Marco Barruffolo finishing 6th puts two XRAY's in the top 6, and Joao Figueiredo qualifies 7th as the highest qualified Kyosho.

In my personal opinion the biggest surprises in the top 15 are Elliott Boots qualifying all the way down in 8th. The often quick but inconsistent driver could easily turn it around in the semi, so only time will tell. The other surprise being Ricardo Monteiro qualifying 9th with a 3rd place finish in one of the rounds. Solid qualifying position for Monteiro.

The lower finals continue today with the Euros title being crowned tomorrow. Check in soon for more coverage.