Last weekend the Benelux cup was held in Bierset, Belgium this time. It was a little bumpy track with medium grip and a long straight.
On Saturday we had some practice to setup the new Xray RX8 2013 spec car. I had some problems with the track layout as it was the first time for me on this track. But at the end of the day I had a good setup and the car/engine combination was good to go.
On Sunday the weather was perfect, around 25 degrees and sunny. We had 3 qualifications and I was able to get 2nd position tight after Robin. In the last qualification I changed from the Blitz ARX to the Blitz R18 v2 body and the car was instantly better to handle but because some back markers I was unable to improve my time any further. But the car felt allot better than in the first 2 qualifications, so I was confident for the final.
(click to enlarge)
At the start of the final it was immediately Robin and me who took a gap between the nr 3 car the car in the race. After a few laps Robin made a small mistake at the end of the straight and I was able to take the lead. After the 2nd pit stop Robin flamed-out and I expanded my lead to 2 laps. Just before the tire change I was closing in on Robin to take yet another lap on him but there was a back marker in between us and we both hit him causing my engine to stall because it was too low on idle. Bringing my car back to the pits, Robin could close the gap to just 1 lap. Just right after the tire change Robin's engine flamed out again so my lead was again 2 laps. About 35 minutes in the race I had to come in for fuel but my engine was stalling on the straight because I had no fuel left, I could barley make it into the pits when my engine run dry. Luckily it flamed out in the pits and no glow plug was broken so my pit crew refueled and put the car back on the track. At this time I was still in the lead but Robin was right on my tail. With still 10 minutes to go about anything could happen. Robin came in for fuel with still 8 minutes to go and his engine flamed out again, causing me to take another lap in front and take home the victory for the remaining 8 minutes. In third place with 9 laps down on Robin was Yerna Hughes.
(click to enlarge)
Final results:
1. ERMEN John - XRAY RX8
2. D'HONDT Robin
3. YERNA HUGUES
4. CIMA Philippe
5. VOGELS tim
6. YARAMISHYAN Alexy
7. VANDEWYNCKEL nico
8. HALING Daan
9. IHSANE Ismail
Thanks to my sponsors Xray, R&B engines, Tornado Fuel, Team Titan/Blitz and Matrix Tires. And of course my pit crew for the fast refueling and tire change!
