EVENT REPORT >> Grip-ZERO 2012 [Round 1 – Angoulême]

Welcome to the first of many Event Reports of the 2012 season!

First off we bring you coverage from Round 1 of Grip ZERO 2012.

France’s premier RC drift championship kicked the new season off in style over the 25^th and 26^th of February, with 48 drivers travelling from all over the country to compete in the city of Angoulême, including Swiss team OVOMALTeam!

Getting off to a flying start, the lineup of drivers was evidently hungry for blood after the winter off-season, showing great desire to test their skills against one another! Exactly the way you’d want to kick off the season!

Counter-steer setups were being used by many drivers, showing promise for even more growth of the Counter-steer movement in France.

Following an action packed weekend of hard-fought battles, it would be Arnaud Lobjoie taking the overall win! This was his first victory in the Grip ZERO Challenge, but certainly not his last, Arnauld showing great skill throughout.

[BEST-BODY Award went to Julien Boulanger with his FT District Yokomo Soarer]

Grip ZERO even offer a prize for best “decorative-display”! Something we find quite cool here at G\\W, as it encourages people to continue on the detail-focused-side of the hobby, something we applaud! Undoubtedly, Round 1’s “Best Décor” prize went to Gaetan Bessonier and the awesome “Myster Shop.”

It’s evident that Grip ZERO comprises of both hard-core driving AND an intense focus on detail and realism, both in building high quality shells and awesome scale scenery. Props to all competitors and organisers!

How sweet is this W-Autosport R33 replica?

Looking even better besides its relative infront of that awesome Myster Shop workshop background!

The secret behind all the hard driving at Grip ZERO events: Twix batteries! We know, we couldn’t believe it either!! 😛

Head-man Pierre Tixier’s awesome Rockstar Energy x Zombie Drift Yokomo s15. It carries the paint scheme awfully well doesn’t it?

Onto the actual competition now… As with any drift event, open practise was followed by qualifying. Eric Dujardin in his Zombie Drift Evo X qualified 41^st out of the 48-driver line-up.

Junod Jean Philippe of OVOMALTeam put in impressive runs with great angle to qualify 1^st with an overall score of 85! Junod would eventually place 5^th overall. Don’t the GP-Sports kit and Team Orange graphics work a treat together?!

Nuno Vieira clinched 12^th place in his Dark Dog 22b Impreza …

… whilst David Plecho placed 7^th in the newer Hawk-eye Impreza – a great day for the Subaru’s no doubt!

Gotta love the variety of cars competing in Grip ZERO! Bertrand Lanavanceau’s Skyline HT2000 GT-R manages to do its thing in slick, old-school JDM style whilst placing a very respectable 18^th.

Laudet Joffrey clinched 44^th place in qualifying before all drivers were sorted into their relevant skill-groups and the Top 16 Tsuiso stage kicked off!

From the Top 16 Expert class; Supplice Alexis (FC3S) battled Arnaud Lobjoie, but it would be Arnaud who would move on in his green Boso Skyline, eventually advancing to the Final!

Clément Bigot in the Nascar-inspired s15 beat Nuno Vieira in the Dark Dog 22b …

… but would then lose in the Expert Class Top 8 battle to Arnaud in his trusty Skyline.

Meanwhile Steve Montesano battled Peugnier Franck (350z) in the Top 16, beating him and eventually getting himself a spot in the Final alongside Mr.Lobjoie!

The Expert Class Final of round 1 Grip ZERO 2012 came down to Arnaud Lobjoie (HT200 Skyline) vs Steve Montesano (Rockstar Evo X). Following a hard fought battle it would be Arnaud who would emerge victorious!

Check out StuffCC’s awesome video of all the action from the day 😀 You won’t be disappointed!

Congratulations to all competitors on a fantastic start to the season and to Grip ZERO organisers for such a great event!

Join us again for coverage of Round 2 at the end of April!

Thank you for your time 🙂
-Hugs and rainbows ❤

– G\\W

Photos: StuffCC &GSX

Words: Gängsta\\Werk