New champion(s) to be crowned at ETS Finale
Following five years of having the same champion in Ronald Volker, the Yokomo Euro Touring Series will crown a new champion or champions this weekend (22-24 July) at the Season #9 finale at the Hudy Arena in Slovakia. In a season that has produced 4 different winners in the Volante Modified class over the five rounds to-date, Volker’s quest for a sixth consecutive title came to an end last time out in Luxembourg when the Yokomo driver missed out on an essential podium finish. With championship returnee & former champion Jilles Groskamp taking the win it was the two that joined him on the podium that are left to battle for the title. Finishing 2nd behind Groskamp and ahead of Bruno Coelho, former champion Marc Rheinard needs a perfect weekend in order get back the title he last held in 2010 but even if he does he will have to share it. Third in Luxembourg, Coelho is so far the season’s only double winner and if Rheinard was able to equal that feat at what is the home track of the Xray driver it would mean that for the first time in ETS history there would be joint champions. One of the most competitive seasons with no single driver or manufacturer dominating, the reason the top prize may have to be shared is that both drivers counting rounds including the number of TQ’s are identical in all tie break scenarios.
A driver who burst onto the scene once last season’s ETS moved outdoors, Coelho has the advantage of the fact he will be champion no matter how Rheinard performs. However as this will be Xray’s first time to win the title in the premiere class, the Portuguese star will want the Slovakian manufacturer to enjoy the full title glory and not have to share it with 3 time champion manufacturer Tamiya. Having already given Xray its first Euro Offroad Series title this year when he took the 4WD crown, Coelho also has the benefit of home advantage although that didn’t prevent Volker from taking the Hudy Arena hosted European Championships title recently. Another feat Xray will like to have all to themselves is the fact that Coelho’s crown will make them the first manufacturer to hold all three ETS titles in one season with Jan Ratheisky having already got the job done in both the Xray Pro Stock and Serpent Formula classes.
A driver who normally excels when the odds are stacked against him, for Rheinard the weekend needs to go his way from the start as the bonus championship point for the TQ is essential to the ETS’ most winning driver’s chances of what would surprisingly be only his second ETS title.
Outside of the title chase, Volker is not travelling to Slovakia to make up the numbers and clearly frustrated by driving standards in Luxembourg will be out looking for nothing less than victory as a warning to his rivals that he means business for the upcoming World Championships in China. Relishing the environment of his new surroundings at Team Infinity and having claimed his first ETS win in 7-years, Groskamp is another driver who will be out to make a statement at the Hudy Arena ahead of the World Championships. The 2012 World Champion also has the benefit of running an Xray at the very same track on which it was largely developed. Concluding a season in which he was overshadowed by his team-mate Coelho, Alexander Hagberg would like to finish off a campaign that has produced Top 4 finishes in 4 of the 5 races by claiming the top step on the podium. Another former ETS race winner looking to end the season on a high and boost his World Championship prospects is Christopher Krapp. Having missed Riound 5 this will be the Tamiya driver’s first outing since his podium finish at the Reedy Race of Champions. With Groskamp a very welcomed ETS returnee in Luxembourg, this weekend will see another returning World Champion in Atsushi Hara, this being the iconic Japanese driver’s first ETS outing in two years
