Greiner adds 1:8 title for European Championship double

Having lifted the 1:10 IC Onroad European title in Italy just two weeks ago, Dominic Greiner has done the nitro onroad double this evening with a late victory at the 1:8 European Championship in Spain.  Lining up third on the grid for the 45 minute rain delayed final at the Almussafes track, Greiner did not look a contender for the victory in the early stages of the race.  Contact on the opening lap dropped him to seventh and soon after the German was bringing up the rear of the field in 10th position.  Greiner wasn’t the only one to have a moment early on as Top Qualifier and defending champion Dario Balestri dropped from the lead to third about 1-minute into the encounter.  This left Super Pole winner Robert Pietsch and up & coming French talent Maxine Ripoll contending the lead.  Working his way back through the order, Greiner was back in podium contention in the later part of the race.  With one & half minutes remaining on the clock he then made a move down the inside of leader Pietsch, contact sending the Mugen driver on to the grass.  Greiner would continue un-intruded to take his Capricorn to victory to add a first 1:8 title to his 1:10 World and two European championship titles.  Almost 2-seconds back Pietsch would finish second with a great drive by Ripoll being rewarded with third on the podium and the title of Junior European Champion.  Despite setting the fastest lap of the race, it wasn’t to be Balestri’s day as he had to settle for fourth after losing his podium spot to Ripoll with less than 4-minute to go.

Image: EFRA [efra.ws]