The 2015 F2 UIM European Championship will probably be best remembered by those images taken of the crash between Johan Osterberg and Rupp Temper, like this one by Johan Frisk. At the time Temper was on course to win the title but the impact saw his chance slip away and also led to Osterberg sitting out for the remainder of the weekend in Zarasai.
Looking back at last year’s race both drivers felt they had a reasonable chance at taking the European title. “We had a great set up” said Temper. “In the first heat I blew Pierre Lundin out of the water and collected maximum points. Then in the second one I had to settle for second place after I was baulked whilst trying to overtake two slower back-markers.”
Unfortunately Temper’s title bid came to an abrupt halt when he collided with Osterberg going into the bottom turn. “He came from the outside and tried to drive over me” said the Austrian. Once both boats had been towed back to the pits Temper’s crew had only the steering arm to replace. This meant that he could be back out for the fourth and final heat, all be it starting from the back of the grid. His progress was hindered though as his engine was not producing anything like the power it had been, due to getting water in the electronics.
“My take is that Rupp hit me” said the Swede. “I had the speed and felt really confident that weekend, everything was just fine. The only thing I can say is that a lot of people have enjoyed watching my misfortune on You-Tube.”
Both drivers currently sit in fifth and sixth places in this year’s World Championship, “Yes I might be in fifth place but my season has really been disappointing” said Osterberg. “In fact it’s only due to drivers being disqualified at the first round in Finland that I collected fifteen points.” He and his team quickly realised that the Molgaard hull was too flighty for the Swede’s liking, so they have since concentrated on developing the boat for an outright bid for the 2017 title. “Each round we have arrived with a completely new set up” said Osterberg. “I finally understand why the boat is handling like it does but to fix it would take far too long. So we have concentrated on the engine package, plus it has allowed me to train up a good pool of race mechanics that I can use next year.”
After being disqualified in the opening round Temper has had some mixed results but finally now has the DAC running just how he wants it. “The engine had been our biggest issue” said the Austrian, “we were not getting anything like the rpm we should have been getting.” So they stripped everything back and discovered a problem with a fuel filter that the team had decided to run with. “We were really pleased with the top speed we were seeing in Tonsberg and that’s a tight course. Lundin is quick but I really think I can beat him around this Zarasai course. This DAC is set up the best I have ever had it, so now my time has come for that first F2 Victory.”
