For the fisrt time on the newly built off-road track in Zgierz (a town close to LOdz) took part the first from this season series HPI Grand Prix, where among monster truck and electric classes there was also IC-8T class for our Xray Team to compete. Both Team cars, driven by Arek Gajzler (Pabianice) and Krzysztof Trella (Gdynia) did very well in Saturdays' preliminary round, winning first and third posision for the Sundays' final.
(click to enlarge)
The second place took junior driver from Mielec - Rafal Malczynski (Kyosho). The soft, sandy track was a very pleasant one to race, so everybody had fun. All 3 leading racers had 15 laps, only a few seconds difference determined their posision, it looked the final would be a tough one.
(click to enlarge)
The Sunday final took place after monstertrucks semi, so the track condition changed, as the "big wheelers" did some holes and hills in the sand. Arek become a leader from a very start, and the rest of cars kept chasing him. In the 20 min of race Marcin Michalak (Warszawa - Carson) broke the front differential and the youngest contestant, Dominik Ochocinski (Lodz - Kyosho), broke the rear suspension, both cars were off the race.
(click to enlarge)
Suddenly Arek XB8's engine stopped, after a few tries to start it again the decision was to change the glowplug. Both team mechanics started to work on it. In the meantime the other Xray stopped for refuelling, and waited as the attention was brought to Arek's car. Rafal Malczynski did not waste the opportunity to take the lead, and kept it to the and of race.
(click to enlarge)
Both Xrays followed him to the finish, taking second and third place.
