The third ETS race of Season #15 2022/2023 will take us back to a well-known place called Arena33 in Andernach, GER. A circuit where the Euro Touring Series raced a lot in the last 2 years with the reason for that being the Covid-19 pandemic all around Europe. Now we return to Arena33 in regular conditions, and we are really looking forward to hitting the track. In our Preview report we already talked about the upcoming race and what to expect from the teams and top drivers. But there is even more to watch during the upcoming weekend. Learn about our “5 things to watch” during ETS RD3 in Andernach, GER.
1) Hoffmann`s Ice Cream
Whenever Hoffmann`s Ice wagon arrives at Arena33, there is a big group of racers walking there immediately. The ice cream tastes amazing and the staff is always smiling and in a very good mood. The Hoffmann family owns several ice mobiles, which are showing up wherever something great is happening in and around Andernach. Racers, if you haven`t tried Hoffmann`s ice cream until now, don`t miss the chance to try some scoops of ice cream during ETS RD3 at Arena33 in Andernach. We expect the ice wagon to be trackside frequently 🙂
2) Yokomo`s winning streak
Yokomo is a strong force in RC since “ever”, and they have won all possible titles in the world of electric RC car racing in the last 30 years. They had been very successful at the Euro Touring Series as well, winning many races and multiple championships in the past. Since the departure of their former ace Ronald Völker, they had to wait a little bit before they could add even more victories to the company’s profile.
But all changed with the start of ETS Season #15 2022/23, when Yokomo released their current BD11 touring car. The team travelled to Apeldoorn in the Netherlands with only a few impressions from testing and practice. They had no really good idea for which positions they would been able to compete. The rest is history as Yannic Prümper won the race from second on the grid ahead of TQ Ronald Völker (Mugen Seiki), and his Yokomo teammate Christopher Krapp.
At the second race of the season in Austria, it was Krapp who took an impressive win from pole position with the BD11 showing the potential of the car again. While Apeldoorn and Aigen-Schlägl have been two very fast, natural, power demanding, and open tracks, we are now looking forward to the performance of Yokomo`s top drivers at the flat, smooth, and technical Arena33 in Andernach. Watch out for Yokomo at ETS RD3 in Germany!
3) Rheinard vs. Völker
If we would have to point out two top favourites in the Matrix Modified class, we would write down the names of Marc Rheinard and Ronald Völker. They know each other for more than 20 years now and they had amazing battles on different tracks all around the world until today.
Ronald was the man to beat at Arena33 where he won the last three ETS races in a row (one for Yokomo, two for Mugen Seiki). Nobody was able to create enough pressure on the record champion of the Euro Touring Series, while Marc Rheinard finished third and second with his Awesomatix A800MMX last season.
At the German nationals last weekend, things looked slightly different. Marc Rheinard sealed the very important TQ spot and took the win in A1 and A2 to walk away with the national title in the Modified class. It was a race with different tire additive, but with the same tires (Matrix) as we are using at the ETS and Ronald finished second for Mugen Seiki with Yokomo`s Krapp in third place.
It seems that Marc found some extra pace on his home track again and we can expect a real “battle of champions” at ETS RD3 in Andernach, Germany.
But as we said many times before: There are more than enough world class drivers on the line and they all want to split the duo of Völker and Rheinard, or win the race by themselves – it is game on in the Matrix Modified class.
4) Ratheisky family on the line
Jan Ratheisky is one of the most famous ETS racers. He is very well known for his outstanding results in the Formula and Pro Stock classes since he started to race at the Euro Touring Series in 2012. Since then, Jan won seven (!) titles in Formula, and three in the Pro Stock class – nobody has won more titles at the worlds most important electric onroad racing series. What an amazing achievement.
This upcoming weekend we will see Jan racing again, but we will see his whole family competing on track too. It will be the first time for his wife, his daughter Emely, and his son Marlon at the ETS, and we wish them a lot of fun and enjoyment on the track. Svantje, Emely, and Marlon Ratheisky will compete in the Hobbywing Frontwheel class and we are very happy to have them in Andernach with us. Jan`s father, Kai Asmer, will race in the Scorpion Formula class making it a perfect family trip for the whole family. Three generations loving the same hobby – that is what makes RC so special for all of us!
5) Fabulous Freddy on a “one race return”
Another spectacular name on the list of entries is Freddy Südhoff – better known as the „fabolous Freddy in the green machine“ (words of Scotty Ernst). He will race for the first time since his retirement from RC racing 2 years ago. During his very succesful carreer (4th place at the IFMAR worlds 2018) he was running MOdified touring car most oft he time.
But for his „one race comeback“ he has choosen to compete in the Hobbywing FWD class „just for fun“ with a loan FWD car as he is not a sponsored driver anymore.
Nevertheless, everbody will watch Freddy Südhoff wheeling it at Arena33 and a lot of people will be very happy to see him in the paddock again. Let`s see how Freddy Südhoff will compete in an unknown class at the ETS without any practice.
Watch the show
For everybody who will watch us from the distance – we are sorry that you will not be with us in Andernach. But you can enjoy all the racing action from home in our well-known ETS livestreams. You will find them in the LIVE section of our website during the event!
Now it is time for all racers to get the final preparations done on their cars and equipment. Wednesday will be “travel day” for most drivers, and we will all see us at Arena33 for the third round of ETS Season #15 2022/23 – see you there!
Pictures: ETS & Jan Ratheisky
