The opening qualifier at the second round of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series saw a familiar name at the top of the time sheets in the Czech Republic with Ronald Volker setting the pace. The defending champion managed 25 laps in a time of 5:07.313 with Awesomatix Freddy Sudhoff the German’s closest rival 1.8 seconds adrift. Volker’s Yokomo team-mate Yannic Prumper completed the Top 3 a further 6/10ths off the TQ pace.
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Normally we start our coverage from an ETS event with an update on early practice but as anyone who has been on Facebook over the past 24 hours will know the big news from the second round of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series is the navigational challenges presented to many of the record entry as they tried yesterday to get to Hrotovice. While the Dakar Rally which is currently underway in South America is designed to present drivers with the greatest motorsport navigation test in the World the closure yesterday of Vienna Airport due to snow presented ETS drivers with a similar challenge. Although the race is taking place in the Czech Republic, Vienna in Austria is the closest international airport and the timing of its closing couldn’t have been worse as Thursday is travel day for the vast majority of the 300+ drivers.
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The Yokomo Euro Touring Series returns to the Czech Republic this weekend (January 18-20) after a year out with the second round of the 2012/13 series attracting a record 319 entries on the world famous electric touring car championship’s third visit to the town of Hrotovice. Having opted out of last season’s ETS calendar after it was awarded the date for the opening round of the TLR/Spektrum Euro Offroad Series, the return to the Sport-V-Hotel facility has proved hugely popular with competitors from 25 different countries set to make the trip to the 29th ETS race.
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Shepherd have announced that 2012 1:10 EP World Champion Jilles Groskamp returns to their Factory Racing Team for the upcoming nitro on-road season. The Dutch driver, who raced for Capricorn last season, is going to race 1/10th scale and 1/8th scale and will attend both European Championships as well as the World Championship 1/8th scale in Japan in October. With his experience and his professional engagement he will be an important part of the team to improve their current products and test future developments. Jilles had the following to say:
I’m very excited and happy to be back onboard with Shepherd for the 2013 season. This year I will be racing both 1/8 and 1/10 including the Worlds in Japan for the 1/8. I would like to thank Patrick and the rest of the crew who wanted to give me this opportunity again. See you at the track soon!
Source: Shepherd [team-shepherd.com]
The prestigious Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham provided the venue for the BRCA to demonstrate a wide range of radio controlled cars, the show also hosted the Autosport GT Cup Race for 1:10 GT cars. In front of large crowds of motorsport fans some of the UK’s top racers gathered for the GT cup race including 1:12 scale national front runners Mark Stiles and Chris Kerswell, joining them were current BRCA touring car champion Olly Jefferies and his Associated team mate Zak Smith, these four were expected to be the front running drivers but as the event got underway it became clear early on the race would be a straight fight between Jefferies and Smith, using a Reedy format the Associated pair notched up win after win on day one and carried that form on in to Sunday.
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The annual DHI Cup has opened the 2013 racing season last weekend at a very nice indoor track in Denmark and Martin Hudy sent us this report. “This year the organisers built two tracks, one for on-road racing and one for off-road and the racing as was going on in both categories at the same time, so a lot of action. As usually all the European’s best drivers and factory teams were in the place to fight for the DHI title.
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Schumacher Racing would like to welcome Danny McGee back to their off road team. Danny has been racing at the highest level for several years and has won several British national races. Last year he finished 3rd in 4WD and 10th in 2WD in the highly competitive British championship. Danny will be a top contender in 2013 with the Cougar SV2 and the new CAT K1 buggies. In other driver news Schumacher are pleased to announce two of their top On Road drivers have also signed new deals. 2012 Worlds ‘A’ finalist & multi British Champion Chris Grainger and ETS front runner Martin Hofer have re-signed and are greatly looking forward to racing at the highest level and assisting them with development of new products.
View an image of Chris & Robin here
2006 ISTC World Champion Andy Moore has re-signed with Team HB for the 2013 season. Coming off a strong 2012 season, including a 4th place finish at the IFMAR 1/10th IC World Championships, Andy will be looking for more success in 2013. Andy will be campaigning the HB TCXX and R10 platforms for the upcoming season. He had this to say:
I’m excited to get racing in 2013 after a successful 2012 with both the TCXX and the new R10. This will be my 9th year running for team HB/HPI and I’d like to thank Tatsuro Watanabe and Hiro Kasuya for their continued support. As always I will be at most of the big on road races this year and look forward to seeing everyone at the track.
Source: Hot Bodies [hotbodiesonline.com]
