Drivers hungry for Euro Touring Series victory in Budapest
Europe’s best electric touring car drivers will descend on the beautiful city of Budapest this weekend (28/29 Nov) when the Hungarian capital plays host to Round 2 of the Xenon Racing backed Euro Touring Series. Claiming his first ETS win last month at the 2009/10 season opener in Kastellaun, Germany, Sweden’s Viktor Wilck heads the quality international entry for the 2-day event that has attracted over 160 competitors from across Europe.
Championship leader Wilck is making his first visit to the Hungarian event, the biggest indoor track on the ETS calendar, and faces strong opposition with all the leading manufacturer teams in attendance. Within his own Tamiya Racing Factory team, winners of the event last year, he will have to contend with current World Champion Marc Rheinard. The German finished third at his home event and will be determined to be closer to the pace of his team-mate this time round.
Riding high on his Japanese Nationals victory earlier this month, German ace Ronald Volker will also make the trip to Budapest. The factory Yokomo driver is always a potential race winner and will be looking to go one better than in Kastellaun where he finished on the second step of the podium.
After a strong showing in Germany that saw him take his TC5R to a TQ run in the third qualifier, Finland’s Juho Levanen will be looking to build on that performance for Team Associated. The former European Champion will have the benefit of being joined by team-mate Christer Andersson who won last month’s Indoor European Championship Warm Up race in Finland.
Having debuted their new T3 chassis at the series opener, getting fours of the new cars into the A-Main, the Xray team head to the Dabas-Diego Sports Centre with Teemu Leino, Martin Hudy and their young British charger Elliot Harper. Hudy claimed a podium finish at the event last year but with a stronger team presence this time round the Slovak manufacturer will be looking to notch up its first ETS Modified victory.
A welcome addition to the Euro Touring Series this weekend is the entry of the official Schumacher team. Heading the debut of the British manufacturer is five times British Champion Chris Grainger who will drive their latest Mi4 chassis. Hot Bodies will be present with 2006 World Champion Andy Moore who had a difficult start to his ETS campaign but the Englishman is confident he’ll be back mixing it at the front this weekend.
In Pro Stock this is the home event of defending Champion Balint Rajki. The Hungarian driver was forced to miss the opening round in Germany as he became a father with the arrival of twins. The winner here last year, the Hot Bodies driver will be keen to repeat that success as he makes his return to the series.
