Balestri wins Singapore Nitro GP with world class recovery drive

Infinity’s Dario Balestri has claimed back to back wins at the Singapore International Nitro Grand Prix, the Italian putting in a world class recovery drive after an early flame out dropped the Top Qualifier down to 7th in the 45-minute race of attrition.  Leading away the 12 car grid, the 20th edition of the annual race marking the official re-opening of the newly resurfaced RCMC Marine Parade track, Balestri took early control of proceeding with Naoto Matsukura in tow & keeping him honest.  Unfortunately World Champion Shoki Takahata’s challenge on his first visit to Singapore ended as fast as it started, the Mugen Seiki driver suffering a flame out on the first lap – the first of many for the Japanese driver who eventually finished P7.  1:8 & 1:10 Nitro Onroad World Champion Tadahiko Sahashi would be another early exit after he spun and was collected by Jesse Davis, winner of the Last Chance Final, the Japanese driver’s mistake would also lead to the demise of the Australian with just two minutes on the clock.  With the first round of fuel stop coming around, it would see the spectacular demise of Matsukura.  Exiting pit lane after his first stop, spectators trying to capture the 1:8 Onroad action blocked the Nitro Touring Car World Champion’s view and he hit a post, his yellow bodied Infinity resembling a banana after the massive high speed impact.  With things starting to finally settle down, Jilles Groskamp another hitting early problems, it looked like Balestri could switch to cruise control but approaching the send round of fuel stops, the 2 time World Champion ran out of fuel.  The only one of the four direct qualifiers to have not yet hit problems, Carmine Raiola took over the lead.  He would hold that lead until the final 3-minutes.  Setting a new track record as he struck off his rivals 1 by 1 on his way back to the front, Balestri would pass Raiola for the lead on his final fuel stop.  His drive to Singapore Nitro Grand Prix victory a class act by one of 1:8 Onroad’s greatest drivers, his winning margin 5-seconds over Raiola.  Takakki Shimo completed the podium ahead of Teemu Leino.

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Balestri crashes out of final qualifier but still Top Qualifier in Singapore

Infinity’s Dario Balestri is the Top Qualifier at the Singapore International Nitro Grand Prix despite crashing out of the final qualifier at the RCMC Marine Parade track with Naoto Matsukura going on to set the fastest time in Q4.  After a dominant start to the event that saw last year’s race winner take the opening two qualifiers, an issue for the Italian in Q3 yesterday saw Jesse Davis post the TQ run to put the Australian in with a chance of the overall TQ this morning.  Unfortunately for Davis, who ran out of fuel in the opening 2 qualifiers, engine issues in the final qualifier put an end to his challenge as well as any chance of being a Top 4 direct qualifier into the main.  The nature of the track and high temperatures mean the Semi Finals are an extra high risk as was highlighted in Q4 as many drivers had engines issues or made mistakes.  With Balestri looking comfortable to officially lay claim to pole position with a third TQ, the Italian would make an uncharacteristic mistake hitting the pit lane and launching his car off the track and into retirement with broken suspension.  This allowed Teemu Leino to set the pace but pushing hard to keep ahead of Matsukura he made a mistake handing the round to the Japanese driver who with a P2 from Q1 will start second on the grid.  Getting a second for the round ahead of Leino, Carmine Riola will start 3rd on the grid with Leino locking in the last of the direct spots into this evening’s 45-minute Grand Prix Main.

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Davis tops Q3 as Balestri hits problems in the pits

Jesse Davis topped the penultimate round of qualifying at the Singapore International Nitro Grand Prix, the Infinity driver becoming only the second driver to top the times today at the RCMC Marine Parade track as Dario Balestri’s reign on proceeding ending with a freak incident during his fuel stop.  Having topped seeding, Balestri backed up his opening TQ run with another in Q2 and was looking on target to wrap up an early overall TQ in the third & final of Saturday’s qualifiers.  Making his stop half way through the 7-minute run, as his car was released from refuelling his mechanic’s glove would get snagged by the head of the engine, the resulting chaos causing his retirement.  Having opened with a P2 and followed that up with P3 in the second qualifier, it was Teemu Leino who then took over at the top of the timing screens but with Davis chasing him down.  Setting his fastest lap of the qualifier on lap 22, that was when the Australian took over the TQ pace but worse was to come for the Leino.  Pushing to retake the lead, the Finnish driver would come upon Mugen Seiki’s Shoki Takahata, who had spun his car out of the corner and was facing the wrong way making for a perfect launch pad that would send Leino flying into retirement.  Finishing 1.526 seconds behind Davis a much improved Takakki Shimo took second for the round with Carmine Riola completing the Top 3 with half a second advantage over Jilles Groskamp.  With Takahata surviving the impact from Leino, he would get a 5 for the round having retired with engine issues in Q2 while a struggling for power Naoto Matsukura completing the Top 6.  With the Top 4 going directly into Sunday afternoon’s 45-main final, drivers have one final attempt at qualifying in the morning.

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Balestri takes opening qualifier as Matsukura loses drive

The opening round of qualifying at the Singapore International Nitro Grand Prix saw Dario Balestri carry his morning seeding form into the first 7-minute affair with the Infinity driver topping the times by a convincing margin after main rival Naoto Matsukura went out just after the 3-minute mark with a stripped first gear.  Pushed early on by Matsukura, who seeded second, Balestri in the end was over 5-seconds faster than Teemu Leino, the Finn having a strong morning at the RCMC Marine Parade track.  Up against a stacked field of Infinity drivers, Mugen Seiki’s Shoki Takahata opened his Grand Prix debut with the third fastest time despite his engine struggling with the high humidity and 32 degree heat.  With many drivers making small mistakes on the high speed circuit, it was Tadahiko Sahashi, who is seeded in the second fastest heat, who was fourth fastest ahead of Takakki Shimo and Thailand’s Chavit Saligupta.

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Balestri tops seeding at Singapore Grand Prix

On a very humid morning at RCMC Marine Parade, Infinity’s Dario Balestri has topped seeding for the Singapore International Nitro Grand Prix breaking the lap record on his run to the fastest 3-consecutive laps of the newly resurface track.  Knocking a another tenth of a second of the yesterday’s lap record pace, set in open practice by double World Champion Tadahiko Sahashi, Balestri was quickest over the single round of seeding from 3 times GP winner Naoto Matsukura.  With the Top 2, who between them have won 4 of the last 5 editions of the annual race, having a distinct early advantage in terms of outright pace, it was Finland’s Teemu Leino who completed the Top 3.  Making his first visit to the country’s only permanent track, this the 20th anniversary of the Grand Prix, Mugen Seiki’s reigning World Champion Shoki Takahata set the fourth fastest time ahead of fellow countryman Takakki Shimo.  Today’s scheduled will see drivers run three rounds of qualifying with the fourth & final round taking place Sunday morning ahead of the finals.