ETS arrives in Apeldoorn
The Much More backed Euro Touring Series has arrived at its latest venue with the beautiful Apeldoorn facility in the east of the Netherlands hosting the fourth round of the 2008/2009 series. Glorious weather conditions have greeted the 100 strong entry for practice as the ETS switches from indoor to outdoor action for the final two races. Defending Champion Jilles Groskamp heads the world class entry but interestingly it has been 2 years since the Dutch Tamiya star has driven here competing in a nitro race on that occassion. His last electric touring car outing here goes back 5 years but as always we can expect Groskamp and his TRF416 to be at the sharp end of the time sheets from the off.
For current World Champion Marc Rheinard this is his second visited to the track but the German had never completed any laps here until this morning. His previous visit to the AMCA track was for the Tamiya Euro Cup for his sponsor Tamiya. Another of the top modified runners to have been here previously but not for racing is Kyosho factory driver Steen Graversen. The Danish ace was here in 2004 acting as manager for Danish team at the Tamiya Euro Cup.
Former World Champion Andy Moore was a late arrival but was nearly a non starter after he came very close to missing his flight from the UK this morning. The Hot Bodies driver is showing good form on tarmac at the moment taking a long over due win at the opening round of the British Nationals two weeks ago and can be expected to challenge for his first ETS win this weekend. Another on his first ever visit to Apeldoorn is Corally team leader Marc Fischer.
Heading the Xray challenge will be local ace Bart Wubben and German Steven Weiss. Weiss is just back from competing at the Reedy Race in the US and made a very brief 5 hour visit to his house before making his way to the Netherlands. No Jetlag yet for the former European Championship Top Qualifier but he expects it might kick in this evening!
Winner last time out when the ETS visited Poland, Yannic Pruemper will be a strong force here in Holland but school must come first for the 15-year-old and as a result the German is not expected to arrive here until sometime after 4pm. Mentor Toni Rheinard has the car ready for the emerging young talent and will take it out for one of the practice rounds to establish a base setting.
In Pro Stock the entry is headed by defending Champion Alex Stocker. The German has raced here before but that was 15 years ago at the Tamiya Euro Cup. Running his Hot Bodies he expects racing to be very close on the fast flowing track. One of his biggest challengers will be SMI Motorsport driver Meik Niemann who scored his first international win last time out in Poland.
Interestingly Team Orion technical front man Oscar Jansen got his bug for r/c racing here in Apeldoorn back in the late 70’s. The Dutch native, who now resides in Switzerland, was a multiple club champion here but this weekend Jansen is here providing support to the likes of Moore and Graversen.
