May 11, 2018

Matsukura loses TQ to Coelho on final lap

Naoto Matsukura lost out on a TQ run in the second round of qualifying at the ETS in Germany this evening, a moment on the curbing on the last lap enough to allow Bruno Coelho secure his second TQ of the day by 5/100ths of a second. With the benefit of the cooler evening conditions, the Q2 TQ could prove crucial to Coelho’s title hopes with tomorrow’s remaining two qualifiers set to take place in warmer, therefore slower, track conditions.  After crashing out of Q1, Viktor Wilck would complete the Top 3 albeit 2.5-seconds off the TQ pace while top seed Marc Rheinard struggled to match his Q1 form posting a P6 for the round.

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May 11, 2018

Coelho from Rheinard in Q1

Bruno Coelho has taken the opening round of qualifying at the Yokomo Euro Touring Series in Germany.  Only 6th quickest in practice, the Xray driver topped the first of weather condensed timetable’s four qualifiers from top seed Marc Rheinard.  Coelho came back from an early moment, when he lost the rear of his car, to TQ by 3/10ths from Rheinard.  Less than 2/10ths further back, Naoto Matsukura completed the Top 3 while Infinity team-mate Akio Sobue improved on his practice form to post the fourth fastest time. Having seeded 3rd quickest, Viktor Wilck would crash and break on his third lap while Ronald Volker opted to pull off after a losing almost 4-seconds due to ‘a bobble’ on his opening lap.

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May 11, 2018

Rheinard top seed on ETS’ Andernach return

With a winning rate of 75% over the four years Motodrom Andernach previously hosted the Yokomo Euro Touring Series, Marc Rheinard has picked up where he left off in 2011 to top seeding on the track return to the championship. The German, for whom the town of Andernach is home, would lead an Infinity 1-2 from team-mate Naoto Matsukura with a very closely matched Top 12 covered by less than a second.  A tight & technical track layout, something that is quite different to the outdoor tracks on the championship’s calendar of the past few seasons, the track’s challenge was made even greater due to yesterday’s practice being hit with rain.  With further rain forecast for Sunday, organisers are now running to a condensed timetable to get the race done by tomorrow night.  The change means today’s action started with 1 round of untimed practice followed by two timed seeding runs and that lack of running appears to have championship leader Bruno Coelho playing catch-up with him 6th in seeding albeit one place ahead of Ronald Volker who has been here before.

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May 7, 2018

D’hondt claims first ENS win in thrilling season opener

Robin D’hondt has claimed his first ever ENS victory today in the Netherlands, the Capricorn driver securing victory ahead of three of the 1:8 Onroad’s greatest drivers.  Starting from fifth on the grid, the Belgian was able to capitalise on others hitting trouble but when they came back at him he kept is nerve together with running a flawless race both on the track and in the pits.  Top Qualifier Simon Kurzbuch looked like he was on another of his Sunday drives but coming up to his second fuel stop the Shepherd driver’s car stopped.  This allowed the Infinity of Dario Balestri to move to the front but he would have problems on his first tyre stop with a stray tyre in the pitlane which he thought had come from his car.  All the while D’hondt was there to take control, and while Kurzbuch somehow recovered the 2-laps he lost early on, the European Champion kept the ENS Champion at bay.  With thrilling battles throughout the race for the podium positions, Silvio Hächler in the mix until hitting problems, when all the final pitstops were done & dusted, the final 4-minutes would produce a great battle for second between Kurzbuch and Balestri, the latter holding off his rival.  With Lamberto Collari a part of the battle but getting caught at the line he would just miss the podium.

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May 7, 2018

Groskamp opens ENS season with first win

Jilles Groskamp has opened the 2018 Infinity Euro Nitro Series in the Netherlands with his first ever win of the championship.  Despite being the 2016 Champion, a title that came from consistency, the Dutch driver claimed the win in Rucphen with a perfect strategy while his rivals hit problems. Top Qualifier Alessio Mazzeo would quickly struggle with an engine problem dropping him off the earlier lead. Having quickly worked his way from fifth on the grid, World Champion Dominic Greiner would also have a similar faith after looking like he was about to dominate proceedings. Eventually retiring from the final, the race was a continuation of what was to be an ‘unlucky’ weekend for the pre-season favourite. With their rivals out of contention, the race turned into a battle between Groskamp and his Infinity team-mate Teemu Leino but with the INS box knocked off in the previous fuel stop the Finn’s engine ran lean resulting in plug failure. In the end it would be WRC Racing’s Melvin Diekmann who would take second with Eduardo Escandon, who had clutch issues in the second half the race having lead for a time, completing the Round 1 podium. While Mazzeo would cross the line third, when Diekmann was reinstated missed laps, the Xray driver was classified 4th ahead of 1:10 rookie Lamberto Collari.

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May 4, 2018

Kurzbuch tops practice at ENS Round 1

Simon Kurzbuch has ended the first official day of the 2018 Infinity Euro Nitro Series season at the top of the time sheets, the Shepherd driver fastest in the seeding practice from World Champion Dario Balestri.  Having topped the first of the two timed practices at the Southern Dutch De Baanbrekers track, the reigning ENS Champion found almost 3/10ths on his second run while Balestri found marginally more time to jump from P6 after TP1 to second 0.134 off over the fastest 3-consecutive laps.  Behind the ENS’ only 1:8 Champions,  Robin D’hondt continued his strong showing moving up to complete the Top 3 ahead of Naoto Matsukura who failed to better his time in TP2.

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May 4, 2018

Greiner Top Seed for Dutch ENS

Dominic Greiner is the top seed at season opening round of the Infinity Euro Nitro Series in the Netherlands.  The Serpent driver left his mark on Friday’s track action by topping free practice and then both of the timed practices, the second of which would be 3/10ths quicker than the first.  Behind the winner of last season’s finale, Jilles Groskamp would improve to the second fastest time with Infinity’s new car while Xray’s Alessio Mazzeo turned around a difficult day to finish up 3rd quickest.  Making it four different cars at the top of the times, new WRC recruit Melvin Diekmann would post the 4th fastest 3-consecutive laps ahead of Teemu Leino and 1:10 rookie Lamberto Collari.

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May 4, 2018

Kurzbuch in control at ENS season opener

Reigning back to back champion Simon Kurzbuch is in control of proceedings at the season opener of the Infinity Euro Nitro Series in the Netherlands.  Fastest in free practice from World Champion Dario Balestri, the Team Shepherd driver again topped in the first of the two timed practice runs, this time ahead of Infinity’s Naoto Matsukura while Balestri posted the 6th fastest time.  Mugen’s Steven Cuypers completed the Top 3 ahead of team-mate Robert Pietsch, while the Capricorn of Robin D’hondt rounded out the Top 5 seeding times.

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