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SERPENT TAKE PODIUM DOUBLE IN PORTUGUESE NATIONAL OPENER (16/03/2006)
- By:
- Laurant
Report by Ricardo Nogueira
43 drivers attended the 1st round of the Portuguese 1/10 200mm championship, held in Albufeira, Algarve. Located in the south of Portugal, the track had high grip and good traction. Weather was the best for model car racing, with sun all weekend, but not to hot.
A word of appreciation to the Spanish driver that made his presence in Albufeira, Ivan Castro Fernandez.
Qualifying heats started Sunday morning with a whole different level since last year. Lots of drivers are driving faster and better, meaning they are working hard to get better results.
Unfortunately, some of the top drivers had to leave the race in the middle of the morning due to irregular license situation. In the end, Filipe Costa in Serpent 710 got the pole position ahead of Bruno Coelho, Ricardo Nogueira, Cláudio Lopes and António Teixeira.
TOP 5 Qualifying
1 – Filipe Costa – 18 laps in 5:12.529
2 – Bruno Coelho – 18 laps in 5:14.318
3 – Ricardo Nogueira – 18 laps in 5:16.423
4 – Cláudio Lopes – 17 laps in 5:05.260
5 – António Teixeira – 17 laps in 5:05.262
After a short lunch break, caused by the delay in the heats, sub-finals came up. Didn’t see any of those beginner crashes that are normal in the lower finals. Good driving!In Portugal, there are no drivers qualified directly to the final. This means same TQ drivers in the final, but if one has bad luck in the semis, it’s one driver down in the battle for the championship title.
8 of the 10 TQ drivers were in the final.Bruno Coelho started from number 1, and maintained the position along the 30 minutes. Filipe Costa starting from number 9 due to a broken engine in the last 10secs of the semi, managed to get the 2nd position with a very good driving. Ricardo Nogueira achieved the lowest place in the podium. Good performance also by João Malveiro and João Inácio. Another 2 Serpent drivers to complete the top 5.
Final, Top 10
1 – Bruno Coelho - Mugen
2 – Filipe Costa - Serpent
3 – Ricardo Nogueira - Serpent
4 – João Malveiro - Serpent
5 – João Inácio - Serpent
6 – Jaime Silva - Associated
7 – Horácio Monteiro - Mugen
8 – António Maximiano - Mugen
9 – António Teixeira – Team Magic
10 – Pedro Silva - Kyosho
Drivers briefing gets the 2006 1/10 200mm Championship underway
Ivan Fernandez and mechanic made a welcomed trip from Spain
Cláudio Lopes' Serpent 710 in action
Serpent drivers Filipe Costa (left) and Ricardo Nogueira (right) on the podium
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