Pietsch wins 2014 200mm European Championships
The 2014 EFRA European Championships for 1/10 200mm took place earlier this week in Valencia, Spain. Qualifying saw former European Champion and Mugen onroad designer Robert Pietsch take the top spot ahead of the Serpent duo of Dominik Greiner and reigning Champion Alessio Mazzeo, with Shepherd’s Simon Kurzbuch completing the top 4. In the first semi final it was HB start Teemu Leino fresh from his final at the 1/8th offroad Euros who took the win, and would start the 45 minute main final from pole position thanks to his fastest time, ahead of Alexander Thilo and Simon Kurzbuch in a race that saw Dominik Greiner failing to finish and ending up 10th. In the second semi final Robert Pietsch would take a close fought win ahead of Swiss 1/8th specialist Simon Kurzbuch in 2nd with reigning Champion Mazzeo making it through in 3rd. This semi-final would see big names Groskamp, Balestri and Dankel all fail to finish to 20 minute race.
In the main final the top 2 on the grid, Leino and Pietsch, immediately pulled away from the chasing group with the pair running closely together until the first pit stops when Robert managed to get passed the Finnish driver in the pits and pull a small gap. The German would maintain the lead, only letting Teemu back in front during fuel stops, but it was a quick tire stop for only right side tires that kept Pietsch out in front with Leino’s stop for 4 tires costing him valuable time. However Leino’s strategy would come to nothing because with 10 minutes to go Teemu’s car would lose the fuel tank lid during his 2nd to last pitstop, effectively ended his race. He would eventually get back on track but could only finish 7th. This moved local star Eduardo Fernandez, who didn’t change tires, up to 2nd place where he would remain for the rest of the race with Simon Kurzbuch moving up through the order later in the race to take the final podium spot in 3rd. But it was Robert Pietsch that would take a commanding win and claim the first major title for the newly released MTX-6, perhaps a good omen ahead of the World Championships in Bangkok later this year.
Final results
1. Robert Pietsch (Mugen/Picco) – 132 45:00.823
2. Eduardo Fernandez-Escandon (KM/Novarossi) – 131 45:04.992
3. Simon Kurzbuch (Shepherd/Novarossi) – 131 45:10.460
4. Alessio Mazzeo (Serpent/Max)- 130 45:02.477
5. Dirk Wischnewski (Shepherd/Orcan) – 130 45:13.886
6. Thilo Alexander Toedtmann (Capricorn/Orcan)- 125 43:15.255
7. Teemu Leino (HB/Novarossi) – 125 45:03.969
8. Silvio Hachler (KM/Novarossi) – 117 40:22.067
9. Patrick Nahr (Shepherd/Orcan) – 112 38:48.814
10.Andy Moore (HB/Maxima) – 72 24:47.400
Podium Image: Joaquin Signes Rubio
