Euro Indoor Race Belgium report

This past weekend the Euro Indoor Race was held at the indoor off road track of the BRCC club in Charleroi, Belgium. The event is driven on an all astroturf track, equipped with whoops, jumps, table tops and had a very challenging layout and is open to 1/8th BL buggy, 1/10th trucks, 1/10th 4WD buggy and 2WD buggy and it attracted drivers from Belgium, France, Netherlands, the UK and Denmark. Free training on Friday saw 7 rounds of 5 minute qualifying on Saturday and 1 last qualifying round on Sunday followed by 5 finals. In 1/8th, it was Nicolas Hammerton that TQ’d but the battle in the finals was fierce and it was Roger Capelmann that took the overall win. Nicolas Hammerton finished 2nd with third place going to French pilot Philippe Schlafmunter.

In 1/10th, it was Frederic Pain that took TQ and also went for the gold spot in the finals. 2nd place was again for Nicolas Hammerton with 3rd for UK-driver Matt Owen.

In 4WD there were several drivers going for the win. In qualifying it was UK driver Nathan Ralls that ran his Schumacher Cat SX to TQ, followed by Belgian Simon Bettens and French Sebastien Wartelle. A special mention to 11 year old Jesper Rasmussen who BQ’d, ahead of his dad Ulrich. Jesper was able to win two of the five finals, but it was dad Ulrich, that won the other three and took the win in the 4WD B-final.

In the 4WD A-final, the public enjoyed the clean racing and sportsmanship, with a spontaneous applause for Sebastien Wartelle when he waited for Simon Battens car to recover after a close duel bump. Nathan Ralls had some problems with his electronics, switched motors and ESC’s twice but was not able to keep Sebastien Wartelle, driving his B44, from the win. Nathan became second and another UK-driver Lloyd Storey took 3rd place.

In 2WD, it was Nathan Ralls that showed the competition how the track had to be driven winning 4 qualifying rounds, taking second in two others and third in the remaining two Q’s, thus TQ’ing without too much difficulties. Nathan’s modified RB5-prototype, a mid motor conversion, designed by his friend Fabian Simonini, won the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th final to take the overall while Sebastien Wartelle secured second place and young Simon Bettens third.

A special mention for Nathan’s modified mid motored RB5. The mid motor-conversion was designed and fabricated by Fabian Simonini. It consists of a new aluminium chassis, 4-gears gearbox and new carbon rear shock tower and some other bits. The cars showed a huge potential and many drivers showed interest in this beautiful prototype. Mr Simonini told us he has plans on developing this kit further more and producing it in a kit-form.

Text: Ludo De Greef / Pictures: Jeroen Vanneste