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October 19, 2019

Sawada & Kiyoyi to start from pole at RCI V2

Jin Sawada will start the opening round of the OneTen series presented by Infinity from pole position having taken all rounds of qualifying this afternoon at RCI V2 in Shanghai. The Infinity driver secured his first pole position in the series at the end of the Q2 where he went faster than his Q1 time by a second, while Rocket Zhang and Gary Huang swapped places to end up 2nd and 3rd, repeating that result again in Q3 and ensuring thats how they will start the final. Commenting on his qualifying the Japanese driver said he was happy to make his first TQ after 9 attempts in the series. Commenting on his car he mentioned that he removed 30 grams to bring the car down to the minimum weight of 1320 grams, which he said improved the reactions of the car. Looking to the final, and a full 10 car grid on such a small track, Jin admits that it will be very difficult to avoid contact with lapped traffic, but he will keep his head down and remain focussed on trying to take the win.

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October 19, 2019

Sawada clear up front at OneTen in Shanghai

The opening qualifier for the first round of the new 2019/20 OneTen series presented by Infinity has been completed and it was Jin Sawada who set the pace. As he had done all through free practice on Friday and in controlled practice this morning, the Japanese driver was in complete control. Leading the charge for Infinity, as reigning champion Akio Sobue was called up to test the new IF14-11 in Japan this weekend, the young driver was pleased with his car however as temperatures had risen he felt the traction was lower compared to the morning. Ending the run some 4 seconds up on 2nd placed Gary Huang, it was RCI local pros Rocket Zhang and Motor King in 3rd and 4th respectively.

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September 23, 2019

Sobue & Sawada return for OneTen Season 2

The organisers of the 2019/20 OneTen Series presented by Infinity are pleased to announce the return of Akio Sobue and Jin Sawada for the opening double header of the season at RCI V2. Set to take place on October 19-20 at the World famous indoor facility in Shanghai, the reigning series Champion and Vice Champion of the modified class will lead the charge for Infinity as the Japanese manufacturer aims to win back to back titles. Akio and Jin will be joined by more international and national drivers, to be announced soon, as well as the strong local contingent in Shanghai. More information on the event can be found hereand entry can be submitted here or directly at RCI V2.

September 9, 2019

Balestri leads Infinity 1-2 at ENS Finale

Outgoing champion Dario Balestri signed off the Euro Nitro Series season finale in Germany with a win leading home team-mate Carmine Raiola for an Infinity 1-2. Qualifying 3rd on the grid, the World Champion spent the first half of the race behind his team-mate but spilt fuel on the gearbox would put an end to Raiola’s challenge for his first ENS career win. Qualifying 2nd and 3rd on the grid, Raiola and Balestri initially pursued Top Qualifier Simon Kurzbuch until the newly crowned champion flew off the track on the entry to the straight. Unfortunately while the Shepherd driver survived the impact, his race would come to a premature end as he succumbed to gearbox issues eventually calling it a day at the half hour mark. Behind the two white Infinitys, only 6/10th off Raiola, Merlin Depta would take his Serpent to the final step on the podium ahead of team-mate Dominic Greiner with ARC’s John Ermen completing the Top 5 in Ettlingen.

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September 9, 2019

Nähr secures first ENS win at Season Finale

Patrick Nähr has secured his first ENS career win, the Shepherd driver leading a 1-2 finish for his team at the season finale in Ettlingen, Germany. Only returning to competitive racing this season after a break due to work commitments, Nähr would have a great battle with Melvin Diekmann as the German duo each looked to lay claim on their first ever win of the championship. As the race concluded Diekmann, who led for quite sometime, had the faster car but trying to make a pass on the penultimate lap he made contact with his team-mate. Waiting for Nähr’s car to be returned to the track he himself went off the track putting an end to what was building up to be a thrilling finish to the sixth season of the ENS. Qualifying 3rd and 4th respectively, Nähr & Diekmann found themselves at the front after an unfortunate incident between Top Qualifier Jilles Groskamp and Thilo Tödtmann. Having engine issues in the warm-up, Groskamp started the race ok with Tödtmann on his bumper but the engine flamed out 3-minutes into the race and with nowhere to go Tödtmann ran into the rear of it causing a pivot ball to come off. Both would rejoin and Tödtmann challenged for the podium on the final lap but missed out to Leo Arnold while Groskamp got 6th.

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September 6, 2019

Kurzbuch Top Qualifier at ENS Finale

Euro Nitro Series Champion Simon Kurzbuch will see out his successful 2019 campaign by starting the final race of the season at Ettlingen in Germany from pole position. The Shepherd driver secured his 15th ENS career TQ by taking the fourth & final qualifier as his only remaining challenger Carmine Raiola posted the third fastest time, over 2-seconds down on the Swiss ace. Raiola’s team-mate Dario Balestri would push Kurzbuch hard in Q4 heading his rival a number of times before traffic ended the Italian’s chances. Ending up tied on points, Raiola’s Q1 TQ run gives him second over his Infinity team-mate who will start third. Winner of the season opener in Italy, Dominic Greiner will start the scheduled 45-minute final from P4 with Serpent’s new 989 ahead of the ARC of former ENS race winner John Ermen with Jeffrey Rietveld completing the top half of the grid.

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September 6, 2019

Groskamp to start ENS Season Finale on pole

Jilles Groskamp is to start the Season Finale of the Euro Nitro Series in Germany tomorrow from pole position. The former champion claimed his first overall TQ of the 2019 championship when he made it three out of three in the penultimate round of qualifying at Ettlingen after Thilo Tödtmann’s challenge for pole ended in traffic. On a TQ run, just as the heat reached 3/4 distance Tödtmann passed the slower car of Quentin Leroux only to be hit by the French driver at the following corner, the contact leading to the Shepherd driver’s car coming to a stop. This allowed the Infinity of Groskamp to go to the top where he would stay to finish half a second up on Shepherd team-mates Patrick Nähr and Melvin Diekmann.

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September 6, 2019

Kurzbuch from Balestri in 2nd Ettlingen qualifier

With an engine failure stopping him in his tracks in the opening qualifier at ENS Ettlingen, Simon Kurzbuch bounced back to take the second round ahead of his great arch rival Dario Balestri. Also having a troubled Q1, Balestri would finish 6/10ths of a second off the Shepherd driver’s TQ pace in a heat that would see Q1 TQ man Carmine Raiola have his turn of bad luck. Struggling with a rich engine his race came to an end when he stripped a gear with a minute to go. While Dominic Greiner would set the 3rd fastest time in the top heat, it was to be John Ermen who completed the overall Top 3, the ARC driver’s time in the second fast heat demoting the Serpent driver to fourth with Lars Hoppe rounding out the Top 5.

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