EWS INTERNATIONAL
DEC 8-10 ESSEX, ENGLAND
While 2017 would be the fifth running of the EWS International presented by Infinity/Volante, it would be the first time for Marc to attend. Organised by Oli Meggitt, who is best known to us as the voice of the Euro Nitro Series, the event continues to establish itself as the UK's leading international electric touring car event with the latest edition attracting an impressive foreign entry. For our EP team the race would mark the end of the first calendar year of competition for the IF14, a project that only came to reality 10-months ago. Joining Marc in Essex would be Andy, the race one of the shorter trips he's had to make this season.
With a Friday evening start time, drivers got three rounds of practice to familiarise themselves with the indoor carpet track. While a little bumpy, the layout would prove nice to drive. A busy Saturday schedule, drivers set to hit the track 7 times over the day, in seeding practice Marc would take his IF14 to the fourth fastest time over 3-consecutive laps. Andy would set the 10th fastest time but the heats would be made up of 9 cars putting him in the second fastest heat group.
Opening qualifying with a P2 run, Marc followed that up with a third and a second before hitting the top with a TQ run in the fourth & final qualifier on Sunday morning. This put him second on the grid for the A-Main in between fellow Germans Ronald Volker and Christopher Krapp. Unfortunately for Andy a tough qualifying left him 12th overall after he lost out in a 4-way points tie for the 10th and final spot on the A-Main grid.
The first of the triple finals saw Marc all over Ronald at the beginning. Creating two opportunities to make a pass for the led, Marc opted to back out rather than risk contact. A small mistake then on lap 8 was enough to give Ronald breathing space as Marc had to defend position from Christopher behind him. Deciding to change his diff set-up for A2, while it made the car easier to drive it was not as fast as in A1 and Marc couldn't challenge Ronald for the win. Unfortunately trying some further changes for A3, it wasn't enough to mount a challenge but finishing second to claim second overall on his final race outing of the season it was a great conclusion to 2017. Describing his first EWS International as an "awesome event', Marc plans on 'coming back for sure' in 2018.
|
