ETS returns to Czech Republic with record entry
The Yokomo Euro Touring Series returns to the Czech Republic this weekend (January 18-20) after a year out with the second round of the 2012/13 series attracting a record 319 entries on the world famous electric touring car championship’s third visit to the town of Hrotovice. Having opted out of last season’s ETS calendar after it was awarded the date for the opening round of the TLR/Spektrum Euro Offroad Series, the return to the Sport-V-Hotel facility has proved hugely popular with competitors from 25 different countries set to make the trip to the 29th ETS race.
Heading the entry will be back to back defending champion Ronald Volker who got season No.6 off to the perfect start in October when he took victory in Germany ahead of Team Associated’s Juho Levanen and his own Yokomo team-mate Yannic Prümper. A two time ETS race winner Levanen will benefit this weekend from the return of his AE team-mate Keven Hebert to the series. The Canadian ace has raced in the ETS on two previous occasions but the Czech Republic will be the front running US Onroad racer’s first outing on carpet in the series.
Having missed out on a podium finish for the second race in succession at the season opener after previously enjoying a run of 26 consecutive Top 3 results in the top class of the ETS, Tamiya will be looking for an improved performance from both Marc Rheinard and Viktor Wilck this weekend. Tamiya have a smaller team in 2013 with Elliot Harper moving to Team Durango. The talented British racer is set to race a Yokomo in the Czech Republic as he waits on Durango’s first ever touring car creation which is expected to debut mid season.
In addition to racing in the Ride Modified class, Rheinard will also race in the Speed Passion Formula class this weekend. Only added to ETS program last season, the Formula 1 cars have enjoyed strong growth and the addition of the 3-time World Champion should generate a lot of interest as he goes up against the classes regulars including Round 1 winner Jan Asmer who is in for a busy weekend, the German is also contesting both touring car classes.
Impressing on his return to Team Xray at the opening race of the series, Adrian Bernsten will be one to watch this weekend. The rapid Norwegian showed great speed at Round 1 and last weekend secured his first international win with victory at the DHI Cup ahead of Volker and Serpent’s Marc Fischer. The defending champions of the Pro Stock class, which saw HB’s Oliver Franke take the first win of the 2012/13 season, Xray will be looking to get their title defense back on track in the series’ biggest class which this weekend will have a line-up of 155 drivers. Unable to attend Round 1, Zdenko Kunak makes his first ETS outing as champion and comes into the event having just added the DHI Cup title to his CV.
Round 2 of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series gets underway with practice on Friday and culminates with triple mains for all drivers on Sunday. All the action from Hrotovice can be followed on RedRC where regular updates will published throughout the weekend.
