The annual DHI Cup has opened the 2013 racing season this weekend 11.-13.January at a very nice indoor track in Denmark. This year the organisers build two tracks, one for on-road racing and one for off-road and the racing as was going on in both categories at the same time, so a lot of action. As usually all the European's best drivers and factory teams were in the place to fight for the DHI title.
The start of the 2013 season could not be even better for the XRAY team. Early in the practice and in the qualifiers the XRAY team set the pace in both stock and modified classes. In stock it was a fight between Zdenko Kunak, Marek Cerny and Martin Lissau. In modified class it was Adrian Berntsen who was dominating from the first minute and set the fastest lap times but also showed very high consistency, so it was clearly Adrian the man to beat at this race. Alex was fighting for the overal 2nd qualification position and the last qualification run had to decide. Alex was in the lead until last few laps when he made few mistakes which cost him valuable time so he ended the last run 2nd few tenths of second behind Volker, which at at the end put him at the final 4th place in qualifications. I had some very good runs and qualified 7th with team mate Magnus just behind me in 8th.
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We were very happy with the results in qualifications with TQ in both classes and got 4 cars in both classes into the main final. We hoped we will continue the performance on Sunday in the main finals.
DHI Cup 2013 qualification results - stock:
1. Zdenko Kunak - XRAY T4
2. Marek Cerny - XRAY T4
3. Martin Lissau - XRAY T4
4. Jan Asmer
5. Bjorn Christiansen
6. Steffen Leinburger 7. Tony Streit - XRAY T4
8. Lars Hoppe
9. Patrick Folman
10. Henrik Heitsch
DHI Cup 2013 qualification results - modified:
1. Adrian Berntsen - XRAY T4
2. Marc Fisher
3. Ronald Volker 4. Alexander Hagberg - XRAY T4
5. Viljami Kutvonen
6. Steen Graversen 7. Martin Hudy - XRAY T4
8. Magnus Vassmar - XRAY T4
9. David Ehrbar
10. Jan Asmer
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3 rounds of finals were on schedule on Sunday in all classes. In the stock class it was again all the fight within the team between Zdenko, Marek and Martin. At the end Zdenko was able to keep his TQ position and make it to the overal win while Martin worked his way to the 2nd with Marek finishing 3rd - a full podium for XRAY team.
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In the modified class we could see a lot of thrilling racing and action. Adrian dominated the first final which he easily won but made some mistakes in the second final. In the last final Adrian got back to relaxed mood and made a leading distance and despite Volker was catching on him at the end Adrian stayed calm and did not make any mistake and cruised to the overall victory. So at the end 2x TQ and 2x WIN for XRAY team in the on-road category.
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DHI Cup 2013 final results - stock:
1. Zdenko Kunak - XRAY T4
2. Martin Lissau - XRAY T4
3. Marek Cerny - XRAY T4
4. Jan Asmer
5. Lars Hoppe 6. Tony Streit - XRAY T4
7. Bjorn Christiansen
8. Steffen Leinburger
9. Patrick Folman
10. Henrik Heitsch
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DHI Cup 2013 final results - modified:
1. Adrian Berntsen - XRAY T4
2. Ronald Volker
3. Marc Fisher 4. Alexander Hagberg - XRAY T4
5. Steen Graversen
6. Jan Asmer
7. Viljami Kutvonen 8. Martin Hudy - XRAY T4
9. David Ehrbar 10. Magnus Vassmar - XRAY T4
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In the off-road class it was Martin Bayer who represented the XRAY team with the XB4. Despite Martin is still "new" in the 1/10 off-road class he has been gaining experiences every race and keeps improving from run to run. In the qualifications Martin finished behind the world's class Jorn Neuman when in one of the qualification runs he was even able to take win. In the finals Martin was catching on Jorn but few mistakes did not allow him to overtake the leading position and as such finished on podium in the final 2nd position after winning the last 3rd final.
1/10 electric off-road results
1. Jorn Neumann 2. Martin Bayer - XRAY XB4
3. Cockerill Tom
4. Kim Nielsen
5. Martin Hansen
6. Johan Balsberg
7. Jesper Rasmussen
8. Lloyd Storey
9. Jonas Kaerup
10. Jan Larsen
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The 2013 racing season has started and we hope it will continue as good as the DHI Cup results for the entire XRAY team. Thanks to everyone in the team for excellent work during the entire weekend. Thanks for everyone making this race exciting one and fun at the same time and thanks to organisers for the excellent work. See you next time.
