ETS drivers greeted by Dutch Summer
The timing of the weather for the first outdoor race of the Xenon Racing backed Euro Touring Series could not have been better with the Dutch Summer arriving at the same time as the World’s best touring car drivers arrive in the Netherlands. The sun has been shining since early morning on the MACH track which is located near the Dutch capital, Amsterdam.
Drivers started the day with three free practice sessions and have just completed their first of two controlled practice runs from which their best fastest three consecutive laps will count towards the reseed for the heats, the first of which takes place later this evening.
Heading the time sheets with an average lap time of 15.963 is defending Champion Jilles Groskamp who returns to the series for the first time this season. The Tamiya/Orion driver, who runs a Nosram speedo, is very happy with his lap times but believes getting the right power balance is going to be key to the racing this weekend. The Dutch ace said he can get more power from his car in which he is running a 4.0 turn motor, but to do so runs the risk of the car failing to run the full five minutes. In the morning Groskamp could run a higher power program due to the cooler conditions but as the temperature came up he switched back to the number 2 setting.
Closest to Groskamp, the clear favourite this weekend, is former World Champion Atsushi Hara. Having spent the last few days staying in England with his Hot Bodies team-mate Andy Moore, the Japanese star has quickly made his mark since arriving in the Netherlands with his GM powered TCX chassis reaching a stunning 115kph down the main straight. Despite the blistering straight line speed Hara’s average lap is over 2/10th off that of Groskamp.
Third fastest is Viktor Wilck who managed a 16.207 with his speed Passion powered Tamiya. The Swede along with his TRF team-mate Marc Rheinard are both running Stock Spec software in their speedo which the World Champion & ETS standings leader said helps give the car more top speed at the end of the long straight. Rheinard came to a halt just before the mid point of the first controlled run due to overheating but the German still managed three decent laps to record a 16.232 average which classified him fourth fastest.
Despite preferring racing on carpet, Denmark’s Steen Graversen has got his weekend off to a strong start by setting the fifth fastest time ahead of Andy Moore. TOP Racing team driver John Bruins and the Xray of David Ehrbar complete the top 8. Unfortunately local Dutch chassis manufacturer Corally with not be officially represented here this weekend following the late withdrawal of their lead driver Marc Fisher.
In Pro stock the feedback on the new control Cirtix Stock Club Race speedo has been very positive. Czech ETS race winner Daniel Wohlgemuth said the speedo felt really nice to drive and although the top speed is lower he predicts very close racing. In terms of times Schumacher driver Geoffrey Vekemans leads the way with a 19.013 average. The current Belgian Champion, who last month raced for the first time at the MACH track, he said his Mi4LP is working well and this is reflected in his pace with the second fastest driver Ivan Laptev over 3/10th adrift. Oliver Franke completes the current Top 3. Top Qualifier the last time the ETS visited the MACH, Vasco Christiaanse who is running Kyosho’s new TF6 chassis has a bit of work to do as he currently sits 10th fastest. Championship leader Alexander Stocker is absent from the entry this weekend but the German has good grounds for missing the event as he has just become a father for the second time.
Drivers have one more round of controlled practice before the first round of qualifying for all three classes brings the opening day of the fifth round of the 2009/2010 Euro Touring Series to a close.
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