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CRISTIANI WINS EUROS WITH SERPENT 960 (30/05/2006)

By:: Laurant

Serpent secures 50% of start grid for final

Promising young Italian r/c talent Andrea Cristiani driving a Serpent 960 has clinched the 2006 1/8th European B Championships. Held at the Aulney sous Bois circuit in France, the result gives Serpent back to back European B titles following Steven Cuypers 2005 victory.

Driving his Max powered 960, Cristiani lay down his intentions from the very start of the week long event, which attracted 123 entries, topping the time sheets from day 2.

Setting a TQ of 18 laps in 5 minute and 12 seconds to claim pole for the final, he was a comfortable 4 seconds faster than his nearest rival local driver Nicolas Guillot.

Open Final Direct Qualifiers

1. CRISTIANI Andrea (Italy) - 18 laps in 05:12.72
2. GUILLOT Nicolas (France) - 18 laps in 05:16.50
3. PESENTI Mattia (Switzerland) - 18 laps in 05:16.60
4. BOUCHE Stéphane (France) - 18 laps in 05:17.43

Topping the times on Tuesday, Dutch Serpent driver Jordy Blok just missed out on qualifying directly for the open final with 5th fastest time. Winning his Semi-Final he secured 5th place on the grid for the all important 45 minute Open final. Other Serpent drivers to line up on the grid for the final included Anthony Abisset from France, Marco Muller of Switzerland and Germany's Jorg Baldes, making the grid a 50% Serpent line-up.

Starting from pole Cristiani controlled the race from the very start to take victory and the European title by a comfortable 3-lap margin from Frenchman Stephane Bouche with Switzerland's Mattia Presenti completing the podium. Next placed Serpent was that of Frenchman Anthony Abisset in fourth.

Unfortunately for Blok a glow plug failure while running second ended his chances of a podium placing. A cruel ending to a very impressive showing by the Dutch teenager who eventually finished eight ahead of fellow Serpent drivers Muller and Baldes.

1/8th European B Championship Open Final Results

1. CRISTIANI Andrea (Italy) - 149 laps in 45:08.99 (Serpent/Max)
2. BOUCHE Stéphane (France) - 146 laps in 45:06.68
3. PESENTI Mattia (Switzerland) - 146 laps in 45:14.44
4. ABISSET Anthony (France) - 143 laps in 45:01.79 (Serpent/RB)
5. PICARD Romain (France) - 143 laps in 45:15.94
6. GUILLOT Nicolas (France) - 142 laps in 45:13.46
7. DIAMANTOGIANNIS Petros (Greece) - 139 laps in 45:01.00
8. BLOK Jordy (Netherlands) - 139 laps in 45:08.02 (Serpent/Mega)
9. MULLER Marco (Switzerland) - 66 laps in 20:45.25 (Serpent/Mega)
10.BALDES Jorg (Germany) - 52 laps in 20:35.83 (Serpent/Mega)

Andrea Cristiani is the new Euro B Champ and a future star of the sport

Dominator - The Serpent 960/Max combination of Cristiani was unbeatable

Dutchman Jordy Blok really impressed in France

Serpent drivers made up 50% of the Open final grid