Hara wins ETS Finale
Reedy Race of Champions winner Atsushi Hara continued his winning form with an impressive victory at the finale of the 2007/2008 Euro Touring Series. The Hot Bodies driver put in a great performance at the German Andernach track with European Champion Ronald Volker the only one of the world class field able to pose any serious threat to the Japanese ace.
Having dominated practice and qualifying Hara was the man to beat all weekend. Securing the TQ with four wins from the five heats, the former World Champion took an easy victory in Leg 1 but was denied victory in Leg 2 by German Volker who chased him the entire race. Hara flipped his car on a curb with a minute and a half to go allowing the German to nip through for the win and force the battle for victory to go to the final Leg. This would produce another ding dong battle between Hara and Volker with the No.1 car just holding off the pressure of the No.2 to take a well deserved overall victory. Paul Lemieux’s trip across the Altantic proved fruitful as the Trinity/Xray star took the final overall podium placing.
With Alexander Stocker having tied up Pro Stock honours and secured the Euro Touring Series title after 2 legs he sat out the third leaving Meik Niemann to claim a narrow victory over Tony Streit. The pair were separated by just .02 of a second as they both launched their cars across the finish line in attempt to take the win.
So the curtains have come down on the inaugural Much More backed European Touring Car Series and we have two very worthy champions in Dutch ace Jilles Groskamp (Modified) and Germany’s Alexander Stocker (Pro Stock). Also supported by Hot Bodies, Speed Passion and Team Checkpoint, the ETS produced some thrilling race action and attracted many of the world’s top drivers including three Touring Car World Champions. Organised by Scotty Ernst and Uwe Rheinard, plans are already underway for the 2008/2009 Championship and Red RC look forward to bringing further live coverage of this unique series.
Overall A Main Results for Round 4
Modified
1. Atsushi Hara (JPN) – HB/Nosram/Orion/Orion – 20
2. Ronald Völker (D) – HB/LRP/LRP/LRP – 19
3. Paul Lemieux (USA) – Xray/LRP/Trinity/Trinity – 15
Pro Stock
1. Alexander Stocker (D) – HB/LRP/LRP/Speed Passion – 20
2. Meik Niemann (D) – Xray/LRP/Orcan/Speed Passion – 19
3. George Spitteler (NL) – Corally/LRP/Orion/Speed Passion – 15
Final Championship Standing
Modified
1. Jilles Groskamp (NL) – Tamiya – 310
2. Marc Rheinard (D) – Tamiya – 306
3. Steen Graversen (DK) – Kyosho – 305
Pro Stock
1. Alexander Stocker (D) – Hot Bodies – 310
2. George Spitteler (NL) – Corally – 306
3. Meik Niemann (D) – Xray – 305
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