(Photos at bottom of page)

Euros Day 6 [Saturday 28th July]

Rain the previous night had given the track a real soaking but despite the huge puddles in the car park, the race track was in reasonable condition with no puddles. The muddy conditions were making a mess of the cars in the three minute practice before the Qualifiers got underway. Richard 'Tricky' Taylor was the fastest car on the track during the short practice round, putting in a 24.7 lap - obviously the conditions were slower than yesterday.

Not long after the start of the fifth and final round of qualifying a heavy rain shower stopped racing and a 30 minute break was called to make sure the track was safe to marshall - the wet clay surface was becoming a hazard. The track was swept of standing water and the guys who were still to race were feeling pretty upset that their laptimes would be slower. Tom Cockerill drove his best to take 4th in round, proving the moist conditions were still fast.

Top 11 positions after all 5 rounds of qualifying.

The A final practice is a chance for the drivers to get to grips with the track and it was Hupo, Tricky (Richard Taylor) and Neil out front from the start. These three traded places like they were going out of style. Neil pulled some amazing over taking manouvers - jumping over Hupo going over the big double-step down.
Neil settled into the lead but made a mistake and dropped down the order a little allowing Richard Taylor to lead with Hupo in second. Richard went wide coming to start another lap and Hupo took the inside - not to be out done Richard was right behind Hupo but they touched which sent Richard cart wheeling and Hupo facing the wrong way with a fast approaching Lee Martin. Lee and Hupo collided head-on which sent both cars out.

Richard carried on with a fast approaching Neil Cragg who always seems to be able to dig deep and bring some amazing laps out. On the last lap Richard was still out front but Neil was trying everything to take the lead - coming up to the huge table top, half a lap from the end, Neil hit the rear of Trickys car mid-air which sent Neil tumbling but Tricky managed to carry on to the win just ahead of Neil with Richard Cree in third.

A1
Hupo got off to a great start but richard Taylor had a tumble and dropped back allowing Neil to take up second behing Hupo. Neil looked quicker over the jumps than Hupo, throwing his Yokomo higher and further than the Tamiya of Hupo - closing the gap constantly.
Coming off the huge table top jump Neil and Hupo were side by side - Neil had the inside line and made the pass. Hupo tried to keep with Neil and the two came over the huge Double-step down jump side by side - again Hupo came up short over this jump and a roll put him down to 5th. Meanwhile Richard Taylor who won the practice A Main was out with a broken rear shock tower.

Neil simply didn't look back from here on - and lead a drawn out procession with Richard Cree (from 10th!) in second and Tom Cockerill in third (from 9th!!). Tom Cockerill seemed to like his third position and stayed there for a while but was chased hard by Joern Neumann and Hupo Honigl though they couldn't pass - Tom rolled coming off the huge table top and dropped back but it was an impressive performance.

Neil went on to win convincingly.

Neil looks on the inside	Neil passes on the inside - forcing Hupo wide
Hupo tries to get it back	After this Hupo crashes and Neil is away
Hupo gives Cree a gentle tap after falling back to 5th	One to watch.... Tom Cockerill in his first Euro A final

A2
Straight from the start and Hupo took the first turn ahead of the rest with Richard Taylors XXX4 right behind and Lee Martin chasing hard in third. These two quickly built up a gap on the rest and through parts of the track Richard was faster but couldn't make it past Hupo. Richard showed great patience riding the bumper of Hupos car for several laps, even getting the inside line one at least one occasion but backing off and waiting for a better chance. It wasn't to be though and a roll saw Hupo get some breathing room and Neil Cragg now put pressure on Richard Taylor for the 2nd place spot. The pressure took its toll and Richard crashed, sending him out of the race with a broken ball cup. Neil was too far behind to challenge Hupo so Hupo took the second leg.

Richard "Tricky" Taylor, looked very fast in 4WD	Tricky looks on the inside - first lap
Hupo stretches it out on the straight	Tricky reels Hupo in around the corners
Hupo closes the door	Disaster for Richard again

A3
Hupo got away with Richard Taylor and Neil Cragg - it stayed that way for several laps - Neil putting pressure on Richard until he made a mistake to let Neil through. Neil fought his way up to Hupo and again was quicker over the huge jumps at the Vaasa track - particularly the huge table top where hupo couldn't match Neils technique. What followed was some of the closest most exciting racing you'd ever want to see - Neil Cragg brought everything he had to the table and showed just why he is World Champion, racing so close without colliding was fantastic to see. Neil tried several times to pass Hupo over the jumps and coming onto the straight Neil had the inside twice but couldn't get the power down to make it count and Hupo Honigl kept his cool to take the 4WD European Championship title with the Tamiya 501X.

Start of A 3	Taylor looks super fast but can't pass
Neil tags onto the front runners	Over the big tabletop the three are well matched
Neil gets right behind Hupo in the air - pushing hard	Neil takes the straight line into the next corner
Neil doesn't have the power to pass	Hupo wins as Neil does a perfect backflip

4WD combined A final results.

Hupo Honigl takes the trophy and Tamiya their first BIG win with the 501X. Congratulations to the organizers and EFRA on holding such a great and well run meeting. The level of professionalism and dedication that these guys and girls had was inspiring - and anything you needed they would go out of their way to provide. It's been a great time reporting from Vaasa, Finland - at the 2007 European Championships. Also a lot of hard work, much of which is still to be seen in the form of photos, interviews, spy photos, setups... etc.

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