Red RC » ENS

September 22, 2018

Kurzbuch again in Q2 as traffic costs Balestri

Simon Kurzbuch has taken another TQ run at the ENS Season Finale in Italy but only after title challenger Dario Balestri hit traffic over the final two laps. Posting the fastest lap of the second qualifier, Balestri was leading the times but lost around 7/10th in the closing 2-laps to cross the line 0.247 off Kurzbuch. Again the pair would be the only drivers to record 17 laps of the Fiorano track, the TQ pace just slightly slower than that recorded by Kurzbuch last night which all but assures him the overall TQ if it came to a tie breaker. Behind the two title contenders, Robert Pietsch, who set the pace at the beginning of the run, completed the Top 3 ahead of the Andrea Pirani, Lamberto Collari and Alberto Picco.

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September 22, 2018

Greiner opens Day 2 with another TQ run

Dominic Greiner has kicked off Day 2 of the Infinity Euro Nitro Series in Italian with another TQ run. Having predictably set the benchmark in practice yesterday at Fiorano and capped off the day with a TQ in the opening qualifier, the Serpent driver repeated that form but this time with a greater gap over his rivals. Closest to the German would be Teemu Leino, the Infinity driver 1.4-seconds off the TQ pace which was more than 1.6-seconds quicker than the Q1 topping time. After recording a DNF in Q1, Mugen’s Erik Dankel had a much improved run completing the Top 3 ahead of the Infinity’s Francesco Tironi, Jilles Groskamp and Andy Moore. Having been the closest challenger to Greiner yesterday, Alessio Mazzeo ended up 8th for the round following a mistake that cost him 4-seconds while in contention for the TQ.

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September 21, 2018

Kurzbuch from Balestri in Q1

Simon Kurzbuch has taken the opening round of qualifying at the ENS Season Finale in Italy this evening. The reigning champion just 1/10th faster than title challenger Dario Balestri at the end of the 4-minutes as the pair took advantage of ideal conditions to post 17-lap runs. Behind, just missing out on 17-laps, Carmine Raiola ran the third fastest time ahead of Robert Pietsch, Silvio Hächler and Alberto Picco. For Toni Gruber, the third of the drivers who could potentially be crowned champion come Sunday evening, a disappointing practice didn’t get any better as he was forced to retire half way into the first of the four qualifiers with ‘a problem with the electrics’.

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September 21, 2018

Greiner takes opening qualifier at ENS Italy

There was no surprise in the opening 1:10 qualifier at the Infinity Euro Nitro Series in Italy as Dominic Greiner topped the times. A driver who needs to TQ & win this weekend to have a shot at clinching his first ever ENS title, the German’s Serpent was fastest over the 4-minutes by just under a second from Alessio Mazzeo, the Xray driver hampered by a gearbox issue. The driver Greiner is hoping to deny the title, Jilles Groskamp would open the four rounds of qualifying with the third fastest time ahead of Infinity team-mates Teemu Leino, Francesco Tironi and Andy Moore.

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September 21, 2018

Greiner & Kurzbuch top seeding in Fiorano

Dominic Greiner and Simon Kurzbuch are the top seeds for qualifying at the season finale of the Infinity Euro Nitro Series after they topped the two rounds of controlled practice at Fiorano. Fastest in free practice, Greiner repeated the feat in the seeding runs but with a significantly slower time over the 3-consecutive laps. Having had a 6/10th advantage, his rivals closed the gap in controlled practice with the Xray of Alessio Mazzeo going second fastest only 1/10th off the Serpent driver. Infinity’s Teemu Leino completed the Top 3 with Eric Dankel’s Mugen making it four different manufacturers in the mix at the front. Championship leader Jilles Groskamp was next up with the fifth fastest time. Fourth fastest in free practice Kurzbuch put his Shepherd top of the times ahead of Carmine Raiola, the Infinity driver fastest in CP1. Controlled practice would also see Kurzbuch’s main title rival Dario Balestri move up with the Infinity driver completing the Top 3 ahead of free practice pace setter Robert Pietsch. For the third of the potential champions, Toni Gruber, practice ended with the WRC driver dropping to seventh quickest.

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September 21, 2018

Greiner & Pietsch head free practice at ENS Finale

At the end of free practice at the Infinity Euro Nitro Series Season Finale in Fiorano, Italy, it is Dominic Greiner and Robert Pietsch who head the times. Running Serpent’s new 750 chassis, Greiner topped the times from the Infinity of new European Champion Teemu Leino. Former Fiorano winner Alessio Mazzeo was third quickest over 3-consecutive laps with his Xray. 1:10 Championship leader Jilles Groskamp, who can only be denied his second ENS title by Greiner, would set the fourth fastest time. In 1:8, Pietsch’s Mugen was just 0.006 quicker than Infinity’s Carmine Raiola with Toni Gruber quickest of the title contenders in 3rd. Points leader Simon Kurzbuch was behind him in fourth while Dario Balestri found himself down in P11.

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September 20, 2018

ENS Champions to be crowned in Fiorano

The Infinity Euro Nitro Series concludes this weekend (21-23 September) and while the new for 2018 1:8 40+ class champion is already confirmed, the overall 1:10 and 1:8 titles are still to be decided. One of the world’s most popular tracks among drivers both for its layout, facilities and unique atmosphere, Fiorano is once again the venue for the season finale, the race marking the 20th ENS Championship race and the conclusion of Season #5. With the 1:10 World Championships in the US just one month away the fourth stop on the ENS calendar carries even greater significance this year as it is the last major international race before the Worlds and an opportunity for teams and drivers to gauge form for next month. Given the year that is in it, 1:10 has been ultra competitive this season and former champion Jilles Groskamp comes into the weekend leading the points with reigning World Champion Dominic Greiner set to challenge him for the title. In 1:8, the title fight is between three drivers with Simon Kurzbuch also facing competition from the reigning World Champion in the form of Dario Balestri and Toni Gruber.

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July 9, 2018

Kurzbuch takes first win of season at ENS Aigen

Simon Kurzbuch has taken his first win of the 2018 Infinity Euro Nitro Series in Austria. Coming into the weekend with three consecutive ENS wins at the Aigen track, the Shepherd driver continued to add to that tally adding his 10th ENS career win. Capping off the perfect win having TQ’d all four rounds of qualifying, today’s result means the title goes down to the final round in Fiorano in September. In contrast to the reigning champions successful weekend, for his main title rival & points leader coming into the event it was a 10th place DNF for Dario Balestri. Starting 3rd, the Infinity driver suffered an early flame out but on his recovery drive he would later clash with Silvio Hachler with his car suffering damage that would end his race. Pushing Kurzbuch in the first half of the race, Toni Gruber would finish 2nd with Merlin Depta taking advantage of others issue to secure the final podium placing ahead of Lars Hoppe.

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