Euro Touring Series

July 18, 2009

Stunning comeback from Volker in Q4

After a disastrous third qualifier in which his car suffered heavy damage, Ronald Volker made a stunning comeback to TQ the last qualifier of the day here at the Muchmore sponsored Euro Touring Series finale ahead of Viktor Wilck. The German driver had his work cut out to get his BD5 rebuilt in time for the run, having damaged the front spool and suspension mounts, but he got it done to put in a run that denied Wilck from taking overall TQ honours. The result means we will have to wait till the final qualifier in the morning to see whether its Wilck or Volker that claims the No.1 spot on the grid. Volker said his car did not get tweaked in the accident and other than slight understeer in the left hand corners it was perfect. Due to his two DNF rounds, the World Championship runner up said he wont be challenging for TQ in the fifth and final qualifier, as he must drive safely needing to bag decent points to ensure an overall Top 10 placing and a spot on the A Main grid. We will see in the morning.

The winner of the second qualifier Marc Rheinard saw his chances of TQ honours ended as he could only manage the third fastest time suffering with a loose car. The World Champion thinks the rear diff was the cause of the problem and plans to build a new unit for tomorrow. Defending Champion Jilles Groskamp and Kyosho pairing Christopher Krapp & Patrick Gassauer completed the Top 6. After a strong run in the previous qualifier Steven Weiss rolled his Xray out of the round.

In Pro Stock, ETS standings leader Daniel Wohlgemuth finally delivered the goods with the best 5-minute run of the weekend just ahead of defending Champion Alexander Stocker who is starting to show the pace that took him to victory here last year. Wohlgemuth said the warmer conditions had improved the handling of his blue anodised Xray and with the prospects of sunny weather here tomorrow he is confident for the finals. Stocker said things were ‘Getting better and better’ but he still needs to concentrate more on his driving. Having already secured pole for the A-Main Matthias Lang used the run to try a different set-up for the final and only completed nine laps as he was pitting to make various adjustments.

Drivers will have one last practice opportunity in the morning before the last round of qualifiers that will determine who lines up where for tomorrow afternoon’s finals, after which the 2008/2009 ETS Champions will be crowned.

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July 18, 2009

Another round for Wilck

Viktor Wilck has taken his second qualifier of the day after coming very close to becoming the first driver to break into the 19 laps here in Germany with 18 in 5:00.54. Running in the last group of drivers, the Swede seems to have the edge right now being the only driver to stop the clock in the 16 second bracket for every one one of his laps. Recording the fastest lap of the weekend with a 16.49, Wilck said conditions may have played in his favour as the previous group of drivers experienced very light rain at the start of their run. With the potential to claim overall Top Qualifier honours in the final run for today, a clean run should get the job done for the laid back Swede.

Having failed to feature strongly so far this weekend Steven Weiss appears to have made a breakthrough finishing second for the round despite a costly roll. A change of tyre additive has transformed his LRP powered Xray and now the winner of the recent German Nationals qualification race here feels he has the package to challenge for TQ in the penultimate heat.

Third was Jilles Groskamp who felt his pace was good enough for the TQ despite a mistake but it wasn’t to be as Wilck and Weiss both bettered the time in the following heat. Bringing Kyosho into the mix Christopher Krapp set a strong fourth fastest time with Marc Rheinard and Freddy Sudhoff completing the Top 6 on this occassion.

After a bad second qualifier things got worse for Ronald Volker. Going down the main straight on his opening lap his spur gear stripped meaning he had no brakes and his Yokomo made very heavy contact with the fence resulting quite a lot of damage. The German star who was runner up in this event last year hopes he can have the car rebuilt in time for his next outing.

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July 18, 2009

Lang wraps up Pro Stock TQ honours

Matthias Lang has secured overall Pro Stock TQ honours for the fifth & final round of the 2008/2009 Euro Touring Series after completing a clean sweep in the opening three qualifiers here in Andernach. The German posted the fastest 5-minute run of the day but it was a very close run thing between him and Serpent driver Martin Schmidt who ended the round just 1/10 off. Once again Thomas Musial took third. Lang, who hasn’t touched the set-up on his SMI Motorsport Xray all day, was delighted to wrap up the TQ honours early and plans now to use the remaining two qualifiers to try some small chassis adjustments in preparation for tomorrow’s three leg finals. Schmidt said his GM powered S400 has been handling well all day but this was the first time he managed to string the laps together for a clean run. While the fight for pole is over in Pro Stock there is still a very important battle for grid position between the three main ETS title contenders of your defending champion Alexander Stocker, current points leader Daniel Wohlgemuth and Hungarian race winner Balint Rajki.

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July 18, 2009

Rheinard takes 2nd Qualifier

Despite ‘one stupid mistake’, Marc Rheinard has taken the second round of qualifing here in Germany from Tamiya team-mate Jilles Groskamp. The World Champion felt conditions were better this time out allowing him to better his time even with the error. Rheinard’s mistake put Groskamp on for a TQ run but then the Dutch ace spun out it gave the upper hand back to Rheinard. Asked if they would make any set-up changes for the third heat both had similar replies saying the Andernack track was all about driving rather than set-up and that their cars would remain the same particularly as track conditions are inconsistent.

A good clean run by Freddy Sudhoff saw him take third for the round. The Xray driver said his car was much better on used tyres with the car very consistent over the run. For Round 1 Top Qualifier Viktor Wilck could only manage 5th after his car spun out and was collected heavily by another car. The Swede was able to continue to complete the run but his chassis was tweaked. Ronald Volker also had a troubled run suffering 360 spins on both the opening and second lap. After a heavy roll on lap 4 which push the front bodypost through the shell, the Yokomo driver opted to retire. Lost as to what caused the two early spins, many of the top drivers say the wind is effecting the cars and this may have been Volker’s problem as a check over of the BD5 found nothing to be wrong.

In Pro Stock, Mattias Lang once again set the pace to win the round from a much happier Rob Janssen. The German said the windy condition made it tricky to drive in particular judging the braking point at the end of the main straight. With two rounds in the bag and the best three of the five qualifiers to count Lang said he is going to push hard so as to hopefully wrap up the overall TQ before the rain arrives. For ETS points leader Daniel Wohlgemuth a strong run was literally blown away as the wind blew his Xray into the barriers just 2 laps from the finish. Damaging his bodyshell the German lost 9 seconds to finish 21st for the round. Thomas Musial completed the Top 3.

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July 18, 2009

Wilck TQ’s first qualifier in Andernach

Viktor Wilck has carried his practice pace through to the first qualifier here at the 2008/2009 ETS finale recording the fastest run ahead of Ronald Volker. The Swede said his Tamiya felt OK for the run and was surprised by how far off his rivals were having not expected his own pace to be good enough to TQ the round. Volker said he had to switch to safe mode for his run after finding his Yokomo difficult to drive on the fresh set of controlled tyres. The car improved during the run but the former European Champion was still not happy with the feeling of his BD5 compared with yesterday. Very surprised by the pace of his Swedish team-mate Marc Rheinard took third. The World Champion said he was happy with his run until he watched Wilck who was super fast from the first lap. The third of the factory Tamiya/Speedpassion drivers Jilles Groskamp was pretty happy with fourth having predicted the track here in Andernach would suit the driving style of the three drivers ahead of him. Caught out badly by the new set tyres on his first lap, the Euros Warm Up race winner said that by the end of the heat his car was running well allowing him to run on the same pace as Rheinard and Volker.

Young Kyosho team driver Christopher Krapp was fifth for the round despite a mistake that launched his car into the track’s perimeter fence. The incident tweaked his Stallion but the multiple German Junior Champion said he was happy with the run. Top Xray for the round was Steven Wiess who completed the Top 6.

‘Perfect start’ was how first round Pro Stock top qualifier Matthias Lang described his heat. The German Xray driver said conditions were tricky but luckily he made no mistakes allowing him record 17 laps in 5:09.95. Running a new set of the controlled Sweep tyres, Lang feels he can go quicker in the second heat as used rubber has so far suited his T2 009 better. Posting the second fastest time was local racer Michael Kiesewetter who made good use of his home track knowledge to mix it with the established ETS Pro Stock front runners. There were big changes overnight for defending champion Alexander Stocker. Having hit the fence at the end of the main straight in free practice last night he destroyed his Hot Bodies Cyclone chassis. Having planned to change to Xray after the series finale, the German was forced to make the switch early. Stocker adapted quickly to his new chassis posting the third fastest time and afterwards said his intial impression of the T2 009 was good. Fourth went to Hungarian ETS winner Balint Rajki who described his run as ‘good for now’. Driving a Hot Bodies Cyclone, he said he paid attention to the curbs and could have been slightly faster if he had taken more risks through the chicance. Happy with the handling of his car he feels he could do with more straightline speed and so will change his gearing for the next outing. Daniel Wohlgemuth took fifth for the round after loosing two seconds when he rolled his Xray. Having set the pace in final practice Rob Janssen had a terrible run ending up 32nd. The Dutch Corally team driver said the problem with the rear of his car had returned but he thinks he may have found the problem.

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July 18, 2009

Wilck fastest in final practice

Final practice for the fifth round of the Muchmore backed Euro Touring Series has been topped by Swede Viktor Wilck here this morning at Andernach. The factory Tamiya driver produced a fastest lap of 16.56 as traction improved dramatically from yesterday. Wilck said overall track conditions were better today but it was vital to stay off the curbs now as they had become super grippy. Planning no changes to his Speedpassion powered TRF416 for the first qualifier he said he wants to just focus on his driving and keeping as a tight a line to the curbs without actually touching them but admits it will be difficult. His Tamiya team-mate Marc Rheinard, who was second fastest, echoed the challenged ahead, ‘TQ will go to the driver who makes no mistakes, touch a curb and you’re going to roll.’ The World Champion who is in the hunt for the overall ETS title here this weekend also plans no changes to his car prefering instead to adjust his driving style to the conditions.

Third fastest was yesterday’s pace setter Ronald Volker. Unable to match his 16.55 lap time, the fastest so far of the weekend, the Yokomo team driver said his car is now maybe a little too soft for the tricky conditions and he will switch to thicker shock oil for the first of the five qualifiers. Defending Modified Champion Jilles Groskamp, fifth fastest in the practice, didn’t look happy after his 5-minute practice saying he found conditions very difficult.

In Pro Stock it was a similar situation for the front runners with the curbs becoming a no go area. Fastest was Apledoorn dominator Rob Janssen who was much happier with his Corally today following an overnight diff and shock rebuild. The Dutch driver is looking forward to getting qualifying underway and feels his toughest opponent this weekend will be Daniel Wohlgemuth who he said is very consistent. Standings leader Wohlgemuth was fourth fastest and hopes a change to lighter shock oil on his Xray for qualifying will help him close the 2/10th gap to Janssen. Second fastest for the final practice was SMI Motorsport driver Matthias Lang. The German, who really likes the technical track layout here, said his Xray felt fantastic this morning and that if it stays dry he is confident he can challenge for TQ honours.

Currently it is dry but the skies are very dark over the track and local forecasts are giving a high possibility of rain showers during the day.

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July 17, 2009

Volker sets pace in controlled practice

Ronald Volker is the pace setter here at the end of controlled practice with the LRP/Yokomo driver posting a fastest lap of 16.55 to top the time sheets from Marc Rheinard who was on a 16.70. The World Championship runner up switched from an LTC-R to the Speed 6 body for his last run and felt it made his BD5 easier to drive. Volker is running a new chassis, top deck and harder suspension arms on his Yokomo, which are designed to make the car more suitable for European traction levels, and the German is very happy with the results. Slighlty concerned about the weather, he is confident that if it stays dry he is in good shape for qualifiying.

Finishing the day in second, Rheinard felt he could have run a faster time if he had taken more risks through the chicane. The World Champion said his Tamiya is getting better with each run and he plans no change for now, preferring to let the traction come up before making any adjustments. Rheinard along with defending champion Jilles Groskamp, who was fourth fastest, are running the latest motor offering from Speed Passion which is due for release next month. Both driver said the totally new creation, which features a short body and unique wiring, feels very smooth.

The third fastest lap time came from Martin Hofer despite running old tyres. One of the stars of the ETS encounter in Apeldoorn, the German is running the same car as Volker and is very happy with his early pace saying the new parts have really improved the feel of the car. Running the fourth fastest time but 4/10th adrift of Volker, Groskamp said it will be impossible to close the gap on Volker and Rheinard on such a track. Having changed his set-up for the last run so as to get more rear traction the Dutch ace said the grip levels came up and his car suffered bad understeer. The factory Tamiya driver will now revert to the set-up used in the second practice. Topping off the Top 5 was Viktor Wilck. The Swede said he increased the drag brake on his speedo for the last run but it was too aggressive and he will revert back to the earlier setting.

In Pro Stock Daniel Wohlgemuth was surprised to be at the top of the time sheets. The Xray driver said his T2 009 is very inconsistent and hopes heavier shock oils as well as switching to the LTC-R will cure the problem. Behind him Rob Jansen, the run away winner in Apeldoorn, was also not happy with his current set-up. The Corally driver said he can not push hard and the car feels different in left and right turns. He suspects the problem may be his rear diff and feels he can go a lot faster than his current 17.79 lap time. Third fastest was SMI Motorsport’s Matthias Lang. For defending Champion Alexander Stocker the day didn’t go well. Having run old tyres in the first two sessions the Hot Bodies driver put on new tyres for the last run but two laps in he took a front corner off the car. The German reported that the car felt improved over the very short stint and that tomorrow’s qualifying will be a nice fight.

Due to the wet start to the day here in Germany, the organisers of the Muchmore backed Euro Touring Series have now switched to open practice to allow the large entry, many of whom are making their first visit to Andernach, to get in some extra mileage ahead of tomorrow’s four qualifiers.

Apologies for our reduced coverage today, we were left with no internet in the middle of the day when our mobile box decided to quit, meaning a few hours delay as we worked to fix the problem.

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July 17, 2009

Practice 1 Update

After a wet morning, the first round of controlled practice has been completed on a dry track but organisers have decided to double the dosage of syrup in the sugar water and redo the track. Drivers struggled with a complete lack of grip. One of the main problems is the wind here in Andernach which is carrying the sand from the Beach Volley Ball courts, situated at the rear of the track, onto the circuit.

Defending Champion Jilles Groskamp said his Tamiya was working perfectly yesterday evening but today the dust has made the track very loose. Groskamp admits he prefers more open tracks that Andernach and feels he will have his work cut out if he is to beat team-mates Marc Rheinard & Viktor Wilck, and new Yokomo recruit Ronald Volker. All the leading drivers have described the layout here as being very similar to that used for the Worlds last year in Thailand and the new curbing has been very well received.

Rheinard said the traction was terrible as a result of the sand but the extra sugar water, which was being sprayed on the track by his brother Toni, should help a lot for the second practice. Asked about his home track the World Champion, who lives just down the road, said while he does like technical tracks Andernach is very tight and this makes it a little too slow for his liking. The German said the new curbing has made the track much nicer to drive.

Volker, who is making his first appearance in the ETS at the controls of the new Yokomo BD5, appears to be really enjoying life at his new team. Having won the Reedy Race of Champions over in the US with the car back in May, the 2007 European Champion recorded the fastest lap time for the first practice and is looking forward to the rest of the weekend. Runner up last year to the then World Champion Atsushi Hara after a thrilling finals, Volker expects it to again be very close this year.

Steven Weiss will be hoping he can repeat his German Nationals Qualifier win here two weeks ago when he beat Yannic Pruemper. The Xray driver said his T2 ‘009 was really good then and is confident when the traction improves he will have a strong package for the weekend. Another Xray driver who is sure to mix it at the front is Freddy Sudhoff. Sudhoff, who is enjoying a great run in nitro touring at the moment, having won the European B Championships and the German Summer Championship, has shown he likes technical track with great runs at the indoor rounds of the ETS and Andernach should suit him.

Unfortunately there was no first practice for Viktor Wilck after his car went mad when his 2.4Ghz radio failed to bind between the transmitter and the receiver.

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