Sunday, July 19, 2009
Groskamp & Rajki crowned 08/09 ETS Champions Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
Jilles Groskamp and Balint Rajki are the 2008/2009 Muchmore Euro Touring Series Champions. The titles went right down to wire at the final round here in Andernach, Germany, with the Modified title actually ending in a points tie between Groskamp and current World Champion Marc Rheinard who was today’s race winner. With identicial counting results and race TQ’s, they had to be seperated by qualifying positions handing Groskamp back to back titles. Having TQ’d and won the opening Leg of the A-Main Viktor Wilck looked set to claim his first ETS race win and to deny Rheinard the chance to challenge for the title but the former DHI Cup Champion made a slight mistake in the second final allowing Rheinard to win both legs and the final thanks to his faster race time. Before race officials had reached a tie break decision the Tamiya/Speedpassion took the tie break into their own hands literally as they used Rock, Paper, Scisscors to decide. The result was to go the same way with the Dutch star’s scissors being better than Rheinard’s Paper! On collecting his Champion’s trophy, Groskamp said he was delighted to retain his title and for Tamiya who took 1-2-3 in the standings with Tamiya Junior driver Yannick Pruemper finishing third overall.
In Pro Stock a single point decided the title with Rajki coming back from a poor qualifying to take it from Daniel Wohlgemuth who came here as the series leader. The Hungarian National Champion qualified only ninth for the final but put in two great drives to finish second one place ahead of Wohlgemuth. The Round 5 victory went to Top Qualifier Matthias Lang who was delighted to claim his first major race win but the day belonged to Rajki as he added his first international title to his CV. In the second Leg of the A Main, which was won by Thomas Musial, cruel luck befell defending Champion Alexander Stocker when a drive shaft broke on his Xray while he was leading. With the dust settled the overall championship Top 3 for the 2008/2009 ETS Pro Stock class was Balint on 298 points, Wohlgemuth on 297 and Stocker on 294.
So the second edition of the Euro Touring Series, which was once again supported by Muchmore, Speedpassion and Hot Bodies, has been another great success with 288 drivers registering points during the series’ visits to Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary and Poland. The series produced some great racing not just between the big names of the sport but also the future of the sport. Emerging talent Yannic Pruemper took his first international win in Poland where we also had our youngest ever competitor Maciek Kajko who was just 4 and a half. With the emphasis on having fun and bringing together r/c racing enthusiasts from across Europe, the two men behind the ETS, Scotty Ernst and Uwe Rheinard, are already planning the 2009/2010 series which they tell us is going to be bigger and better. Red RC have really enjoyed bringing you live coverage of each ETS race and to making many new friends along the way. We look forward to returning to Germany in October when the third edition gets underway with the Kastellaun indoor race.
Modified final race results
1. Marc Rheinard – 19pts
2. Viktor Wilck - 19pts
3. Jilles Groskamp – 16pts
4. Ronald Völker – 12pts
5. Steven Weiss - 11pts
6. Christopher Krapp – 11pts
7. Freddy Südhoff – 10pts
8. Martin Hofer – 5pts
9. Mario Sowka – 4pts
10.Patrick Gassauer – 3pts
Pro Stock final race results
1. Matthias Lang – 18pts
2. Balint Rajki – 17pts
3. Daniel Wohlgemuth – 16pts
4. Thomas Musial – 12pts
5. Steffen Still – 10pts
6. Alexander Stocker – 9pts
7. Meik Niemann – 9pts
8. Rob Janssen – 7pts
9. Martin Schmidt – 7pts
10.Michael Kiesewetter – 5pts
Hobby class final race results
1. Joachim Krapp – 18pts
2. Sebastian Kroh – 16pts
3. Markus Arenz – 16pts
4. Joachim Altenhof – 15pts
5. Thomas Lanwert – 13pts
6. Karl-Reiner Mürder – 12pts
7. Peter Hanna – 7pts
8. Andrzej Rozycki – 6pts
9. Andreas Hummel – 5pts
10. Tim Rudersdorf – 1pts
11. Jacek Kajko – 1pts
12. Urzsula Pyzel – 0pts
Hobby class Junior final race results
1. Andre Schäfer – 18pts
2. Frederik Tobiasch – 17pts
3. Christian Schlösser – 14pts
4. Christopher Buchner – 13pts
5. Marcel Klappert – 13pts
6. Elena Hummel – 10pts
7. Nino Triandafilidis – 9pts
8. Michal Orlowski – 7pts
9. Maximilian Schlösser – 7pts
10.Maciek Kajko – 3pts
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Dutch racers show their appreciation Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
They have been the biggest supporters of the Euro Touring Series since it inception two years ago travelling to all the races and today the ‘Dutch Guys’ made a presentation to the two men behind the electric touring car series. Last year during the ETS’s visit to the MACH track near Amsterdam, Series promoters Scotty Enrst and Uwe Rheinard were presented with a very unique custom painted pair of wooden clogs. Today the large contingent of over Dutch racers & supporters again showed their appreciation for the series by presenting Scotty and Uwe with their own custom painted touring car shells. Completely airbrush painted the shells feature the ETS logo on the bonnet and the wording Uwe/Scotty for President in the rear window.
Thanking the Dutch racers for their loyality to the series Scotty said, ‘When Uwe and I started the series last year we wanted to bring a fun and entertaining series to the racers of Europe. Of course competition was important but also the friendship factor of this hobby was equally important. As the Series progressed last year we made such great friends from throughout Europe who believed in us and believed in our ideas. One country that embodies the spirit of the ETS and has travelled to nearly all of the races in both seasons is the Netherlands. They again surprised us with this wonderful presentation and this appreciation is what drives us to strive to make the ETS the best series possible.’
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Top Qualifiers get job done in first A-Main Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
Top Qualifiers Viktor Wilck and Matthias Lang got the job done in the first leg of the A-Mains here in Germany converting their No.1 starting positions into victories. Thankfully the very mixed weather conditions cleared for long enough to dry out the track for the top finals.
Pro Stock produced the better of the two finals with a number of lead changes but in the end it was pole sitter Lang who came out on top from current series leader Daniel Wohlgemuth with Balint Rajki putting in great drive to finish third having started ninth on the grid. ‘Strange’ was how Lang described the first final after getting spun out of the early lead. Recovering from his touch with defending Champion Alexander Stocker, the Xray driver recovered to eventually win by 1.5 seconds with the Top 7 covered by less than five seconds. Wohlgemuth was very happy to finish second, his main focus this weekend being the overall series title. Currently holding the points lead his target was to finish ahead of the two drivers, Rajki & Stocker, who can deny him his first international touring car title. For defending Champion Stocker, the move on Lang on lap 2 cost him dearly as he spun into the barriers losing around five seconds and dropping to last. Very happy with his new Xray ride, having destroyed his Hot Bodies chassis in Friday practice, the 2008 Andernach winner worked his way back up to fourth, setting the only 18 second lap of the final. Having led the race for a number of laps, Dutch ETS dominator Rob Janssen finished a disppointing 5th.
In Modified Viktor Wilck took victory in a less frantic final, leading from start to finish. The Swede only had to contend with a brief challenge from team-mate Marc Rheinard after getting off line but he pulled clear again as the World Champion started to struggle with rear traction on his Tamiya. The big battle then was for second between Rheinard and Jilles Groskamp but that became a three way battle when on lap 13 the Speedpassion team-mates touched at the end of the straight. Carrying more speed Groskamp tried a move down the inside but Rheinard closed the door and the pair touched with Rheinard’s rear bumper tucking under. Groskamp waited allowing the Yokomo of Ronald Volker, who started eight, to close right up but the showdown wasn’t to be as Volker and Groskamp touched on the last lap. Allowing Groskamp to retake position, this meant Rheinard cruised to second with Groskamp making it a Tamiya 1-2-3.
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Wet start to Finals day Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
The sun was out when we arrived at the Andernach track this morning but it didn’t last long as the heavens open up just as practice was about to get underway. Delaying the start of the final qualifying round to allow the rain to pass and the track to dry, with the help of plenty of sweeping brushes, things finally got underway at 10:00.
First up was Pro Stock and it was ETS points leader Daniel Wohlgemuth who topped the round. The first of the Pro Stock heats started on a damp and very slippery track but the rain returned. Using his wet car, a Hot Bodies Cyclone S, Wohlgemuth said the car was very easy to drive and racing in the wet conditions was good fun. Running 12 laps compared with yesterday’s 17 lap runs, second fastest was Dutch ETS winner Rob Janssen. The Corally team driver, who doesn’t have a wet car, said his Phi ‘09 felt really good in the conditions but that the straight was very tricky as the car was aquaplaning on the standing water. Polish ETS winner Miek Niemann completed the Top 3. Top Qualifier Matthias Lang started his heat on a drying track but pulled up early once the rain returned.
In Modified only a handful of the top drivers took to the track. Jilles Groskamp took the round from Czech driver Zdenek Hamak with Martin Hofer third fastest. The Dutch ace said he ran on the wet track as it was a good opportunity to check his new waterproofing ahead of the European Championships in Luxembourg in 2 weeks time, where there is a strong possibility of rain. The factory Tamiya/Speedpassion driver said his TRF416 felt good in the conditions and that this car, the same one as he as been running all weekend, will become his rain car for Luxembourg.
Needing a good third score having had two bad heats yesterday, Ronald Volker didn’t want to run in the wet but had no choice if he wanted to be in the line up for the A Final. Running his Yokomo it almost didn’t happen as his car started to get radio glitches during the wet run. Working out how many laps he needed to complete to secure enough points for A Main placing the former European Champion continued cautiously, pulling up once his target was reached. The only one who could challenge Viktor Wilck for the overall TQ honours, Volker’s 17th placing for the round handed the Swede pole for A Main and sees the German line up 8th.
Pro Stock A-Main Grid
1. Matthias Lang – Xray – 0 pts
2. Daniel Wohlgemuth – Xray – 5
3. Alexander Stocker – Xray – 9
4. Rob Janssen – Corally – 10
5. Michael Kiesewetter – Xray – 10
6. Thomas Musial – Hot Bodies – 10
7. Martin Schmidt – Serpent – 11
8. Meik Niemann - Xray – 17
9. Balint Rajki - Hot Bodies – 18
10.Steffen Still – Xray – 19
Modified A-Main Grid
1. Viktor Wilck - Tamiya – 2 pts
2. Jilles Groskamp – Tamiya – 5
3. Marc Rheinard – Tamiya – 6
4. Steven Weiss - Xray – 14
5. Christopher Krapp – Kyosho – 14
6. Freddy Südhoff – Xray – 17
7. Martin Hofer – Yokomo – 17
8. Ronald Völker – Yokomo – 19
9. Patrick Gassauer – Kyosho – 22
10.Mario Sowka – Xray – 23
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Saturday, July 18, 2009
Stunning comeback from Volker in Q4 Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
After a disastrous third qualifier in which his car suffered heavy damage, Ronald Volker made a stunning comeback to TQ the last qualifier of the day here at the Muchmore sponsored Euro Touring Series finale ahead of Viktor Wilck. The German driver had his work cut out to get his BD5 rebuilt in time for the run, having damaged the front spool and suspension mounts, but he got it done to put in a run that denied Wilck from taking overall TQ honours. The result means we will have to wait till the final qualifier in the morning to see whether its Wilck or Volker that claims the No.1 spot on the grid. Volker said his car did not get tweaked in the accident and other than slight understeer in the left hand corners it was perfect. Due to his two DNF rounds, the World Championship runner up said he wont be challenging for TQ in the fifth and final qualifier, as he must drive safely needing to bag decent points to ensure an overall Top 10 placing and a spot on the A Main grid. We will see in the morning.
The winner of the second qualifier Marc Rheinard saw his chances of TQ honours ended as he could only manage the third fastest time suffering with a loose car. The World Champion thinks the rear diff was the cause of the problem and plans to build a new unit for tomorrow. Defending Champion Jilles Groskamp and Kyosho pairing Christopher Krapp & Patrick Gassauer completed the Top 6. After a strong run in the previous qualifier Steven Weiss rolled his Xray out of the round.
In Pro Stock, ETS standings leader Daniel Wohlgemuth finally delivered the goods with the best 5-minute run of the weekend just ahead of defending Champion Alexander Stocker who is starting to show the pace that took him to victory here last year. Wohlgemuth said the warmer conditions had improved the handling of his blue anodised Xray and with the prospects of sunny weather here tomorrow he is confident for the finals. Stocker said things were ‘Getting better and better’ but he still needs to concentrate more on his driving. Having already secured pole for the A-Main Matthias Lang used the run to try a different set-up for the final and only completed nine laps as he was pitting to make various adjustments.
Drivers will have one last practice opportunity in the morning before the last round of qualifiers that will determine who lines up where for tomorrow afternoon’s finals, after which the 2008/2009 ETS Champions will be crowned.
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Another round for Wilck Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
Viktor Wilck has taken his second qualifier of the day after coming very close to becoming the first driver to break into the 19 laps here in Germany with 18 in 5:00.54. Running in the last group of drivers, the Swede seems to have the edge right now being the only driver to stop the clock in the 16 second bracket for every one one of his laps. Recording the fastest lap of the weekend with a 16.49, Wilck said conditions may have played in his favour as the previous group of drivers experienced very light rain at the start of their run. With the potential to claim overall Top Qualifier honours in the final run for today, a clean run should get the job done for the laid back Swede.
Having failed to feature strongly so far this weekend Steven Weiss appears to have made a breakthrough finishing second for the round despite a costly roll. A change of tyre additive has transformed his LRP powered Xray and now the winner of the recent German Nationals qualification race here feels he has the package to challenge for TQ in the penultimate heat.
Third was Jilles Groskamp who felt his pace was good enough for the TQ despite a mistake but it wasn’t to be as Wilck and Weiss both bettered the time in the following heat. Bringing Kyosho into the mix Christopher Krapp set a strong fourth fastest time with Marc Rheinard and Freddy Sudhoff completing the Top 6 on this occassion.
After a bad second qualifier things got worse for Ronald Volker. Going down the main straight on his opening lap his spur gear stripped meaning he had no brakes and his Yokomo made very heavy contact with the fence resulting quite a lot of damage. The German star who was runner up in this event last year hopes he can have the car rebuilt in time for his next outing.
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Lang wraps up Pro Stock TQ honours Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
Matthias Lang has secured overall Pro Stock TQ honours for the fifth & final round of the 2008/2009 Euro Touring Series after completing a clean sweep in the opening three qualifiers here in Andernach. The German posted the fastest 5-minute run of the day but it was a very close run thing between him and Serpent driver Martin Schmidt who ended the round just 1/10 off. Once again Thomas Musial took third. Lang, who hasn’t touched the set-up on his SMI Motorsport Xray all day, was delighted to wrap up the TQ honours early and plans now to use the remaining two qualifiers to try some small chassis adjustments in preparation for tomorrow’s three leg finals. Schmidt said his GM powered S400 has been handling well all day but this was the first time he managed to string the laps together for a clean run. While the fight for pole is over in Pro Stock there is still a very important battle for grid position between the three main ETS title contenders of your defending champion Alexander Stocker, current points leader Daniel Wohlgemuth and Hungarian race winner Balint Rajki.
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Rheinard takes 2nd Qualifier Categories - Racing, Report - comments closed
Despite ‘one stupid mistake’, Marc Rheinard has taken the second round of qualifing here in Germany from Tamiya team-mate Jilles Groskamp. The World Champion felt conditions were better this time out allowing him to better his time even with the error. Rheinard’s mistake put Groskamp on for a TQ run but then the Dutch ace spun out it gave the upper hand back to Rheinard. Asked if they would make any set-up changes for the third heat both had similar replies saying the Andernack track was all about driving rather than set-up and that their cars would remain the same particularly as track conditions are inconsistent.
A good clean run by Freddy Sudhoff saw him take third for the round. The Xray driver said his car was much better on used tyres with the car very consistent over the run. For Round 1 Top Qualifier Viktor Wilck could only manage 5th after his car spun out and was collected heavily by another car. The Swede was able to continue to complete the run but his chassis was tweaked. Ronald Volker also had a troubled run suffering 360 spins on both the opening and second lap. After a heavy roll on lap 4 which push the front bodypost through the shell, the Yokomo driver opted to retire. Lost as to what caused the two early spins, many of the top drivers say the wind is effecting the cars and this may have been Volker’s problem as a check over of the BD5 found nothing to be wrong.
In Pro Stock, Mattias Lang once again set the pace to win the round from a much happier Rob Janssen. The German said the windy condition made it tricky to drive in particular judging the braking point at the end of the main straight. With two rounds in the bag and the best three of the five qualifiers to count Lang said he is going to push hard so as to hopefully wrap up the overall TQ before the rain arrives. For ETS points leader Daniel Wohlgemuth a strong run was literally blown away as the wind blew his Xray into the barriers just 2 laps from the finish. Damaging his bodyshell the German lost 9 seconds to finish 21st for the round. Thomas Musial completed the Top 3.
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