What does the "100% negative pressure" refer to?
With the new "buggy" shocks you can build them that the piston goes all the way back in, this is 100% negative pressure! It's like complete opposite from rebound!
Jilles Groskamp & TRF417X Bring IFMAR Glory to Tamiya!
Jilles (center left) with Team TRF
The MACH Circuit in Heemstede, the Netherlands played host to the seventh biennial IFMAR ISTC World Championships from July 26th-28th. Of course, Tamiya Racing Factory (TRF) was in the thick of the action and when all was said and done, TRF driver Jilles Groskamp and his TRF417X was crowned the champion. Not only was this Tamiya's third consecutive victory at this prestigious event, it was also brought its total IFMAR touring car title count to five (2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012).
TRF fielded a strong team including 2008 and 2010 IFMAR World Champion Marc Rheinard (Germany), Viktor Wilck (Sweden), Jilles Groskamp (the Netherlands), Elliot Harper (UK), Satoshi Maezumi (Japan), and Akio Sobue (Japan), and the drivers were under the watchful eye of team leader Kiyokazu Suzuki.
The event began chaotically, as the qualifying schedule was changed from one round on Thursday and five rounds on Friday to having all six rounds on Friday. Furthermore, adverse weather eventually cancelled the fifth qualifying round and caused the sixth round to be run on a wet track, which did not enable the drivers to improve earlier times. As a result, Jilles, Marc, and Viktor qualified in 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions respectfully, with Hot Bodies' Atsushi Hara taking TQ honors ahead of this year's European Touring Car Series champion Ronald Volker.
Saturday (28th) was the finals, which was a best two point results of three rounds affair. In the first round, Hara was put under pressure by Groskamp and Wilck. With 30 seconds to go, Groskamp took the lead at the final corner only for Hara to regain it during the next lap. As time was running out, Groskamp pulled a stunning move to finish just 0.139 seconds ahead of Hara to win the round.
In the second round, Marc got a great start from fourth place on the grid, but Yokomo's Volker and Matsukura were on their game and Volker took the round win. Wilck placed 3rd while Hara placed 4th, so as the final round loomed, Groskamp, Wilck, Hara, Volker, and Matsukura were all within reach of the title.
Groskamp and Hara then fought out a dramatic race in the third round, with Rheinard and Wilck keeping Volker's challenge at bay. Hara eventually finished ahead of Groskamp, which made the two drivers even on points. However Groskamp's superior times proved to be the decider to allow him to claim an emotional championship title in his native country. Hara (2nd) and Volker (3rd) completed the final podium, while Wilck and Rheinard finished 5th and 10th overall respectively.
In addition, the constructors were recognized for the first time in the event's history, so Suzuki also mounted the podium to receive the honors on behalf of Tamiya as the Japanese national anthem was played.
TRF has now won three IFMAR ISTC 1/10 Electric Touring Car World Championships in a row and five in total! Thank you very much for your continued support!
The 2012 IFMAR Touring Car World Championships were held in Heemstede, The Netherlands July 25-28. Team Orion's Ace Jilles Groskamp started his racing career some 20 years ago at this very track. Jilles who has lived in Thailand for the past couple years working very closely with the development of Team Orion Products, was very excited to get back to where it all began.
Qualifying
In qualifying Team Orion's Jilles Groskamp was very quick. Jilles put in many fast runs including a TQ in Round #4 of Qualifying. Jilles would just miss the overall TQ for the event by only 2 points. This would be good enough for Jilles to start 3rd on the grid for the Triple A-Main Event format giving him a great shot at the win.
A Main #1
In A-Main #1 Jilles got a good start from the 3rd position. After lap #1 it was Hara leading with Volker in 2nd and Jilles close by in 3rd. Now 1-minute into the race Volker tries to go inside on Hara for the lead and they touch. Volker goes flying off the track and Hara remains in the lead. Jilles did a great job avoiding the crash and checks up for Hara and Wilck gets by for 2nd. Jilles showed great patience running 3rd with allot of time left on the clock. Almost at the halfway point of the race its Hara still leading, Wilck in 2nd, and Jilles in 3rd. 1 lap later Wilck looses traction in the hairpin and spins out into the grass, Jilles now into 2nd! With 2-minutes remaining Jilles put his head down and started to lay down fast lap after lap to reel in Hara.
With 1-minute left to go in the race Hara goes a little wide and Jilles gets by to take the lead! Hara then gets by Jilles a few corners later. What an awesome race! With 1 lap to go, Jilles was now right behind Hara...it was going to come down to this. With only a few corners left, Jilles knew he had to make a pass and make it fast. Coming around the hairpin, Jilles took full advantage of his Team Orion Power and rockets by Hara through the last chicane right before the finish line as time runs out. Jilles would take A-Main #1 by .1s over Hara!
A Main #2
In A-Main #2 things didnt go Jilles way and he was forced to retire early finishing with a 10th overall. His quest for his 1st World Championship would come down to the 3rd and Final A-Main.
A Main #3
A-Main #3 would decide the New Touring Car World Champion. A quick recap: Jilles had a 1st and Hara had a 2nd from A-Main #1, Volker had a 1st and Naoto had a 2nd from A-Main #2. Wilck finished 3rd in both A-Main #1 & A-Main #2.
At the start of the tone it was Hara leading over Volker with Jilles in 3rd. Jilles gets by Volker and now its Hara leading over Jilles only 2-minutes into the race. Hara and Jilles stretch out their lead over 3rd and now its a 2 horse race for the World Championship. Jilles would pace Hara for the next 2-minutes taking the World Championship down to the last minute. Jilles Team Orion R10 Pro ESC provided him with the perfect balance of power and exceptional braking to stay close to Hara and keep the pressure on.
With 1 lap to go, Jilles Team Orion Powered TRF ride remained the same as his first lap letting off many times not to come together with Hara. Jilles could hear the pace throughout the Main Event and knew he didnt have to pass Hara to Win the overall. As time ran out, Hara would take the win for A-Main #3 with Jilles finishing only .3 behind for 2nd. Now with Jilles and Hara both finshing with a 1st and 2nd for points, the IFMAR tie-breaker is the single fastest A-Main Winning Time. Jilles A-Main #1 time was just over 2 seconds faster than Hara's A-Main #3 time...this making Jilles Groskamp the 2012 IFMAR Touring Car World Champion!
