ETS RD4 is a wrap, and the trophy ceremony is also done here in Luxembourg at the fourth round of ETS Season #15 2022/23. The ETS crew would like to thank all drivers for coming, and especially the LMCC Luxembourg for hosting us in a great way – THANK YOU!
The decisions for the overall victories in all our six racing classes had been on the line on Sunday morning where the second and third leg of finals was scheduled. We saw great RC racing again and we let you know about the outcome in our combined A2 and A3 report.
Matrix Modified
Awesomatix driver Urbain wins ETS RD4 in Luxembourg
A2 – The second A-Main of the Matrix Modified class started with a little shock moment as Lucas Urbain (Awesomatix) had a bad start off the line with his Awesomatix A800MMX. He lost some tenths of a second due to this and Rheinard (Awesomatix) was right on his tail. The field approached the first chicane very closely and somehow Rheinard`s car was getting out of shape and touched Völker`s Mugen ride. Völker dropped back to P5 while Rheinard stayed in second. Völker immediately overtook the car in front of him and was back to P4 in the first lap. But after another unlucky collision in front of Völker, he had to retire his car after the second lap of the trace.
Meanwhile, Urbain was leading the race but also had some trouble when his car got loose in the second lap at the entry of the chicane. That little power slide allowed Rheinard to close again, and we saw a nice fight for the lead until the last minute of the race. Rheinard pushed hard to stay in striking distance do Urbain who looked strong for the rest of the run again. After 3:30 minutes, Rheinard was too close to the curbing in the Laguna Seca uphill section and his car ended in the barriers. Rheinard`s race was done. That was a big break for Lucas in the front who was able to take the win in A2 and his first overall victory at the ETS. Yannic Prümper (Yokomo) and Robert Pietsch (Mugen Seiki) took second and third place in A2 with Michele Manzo and Jan Ratheisky completing the top 5.
Lucas Urbain got a lot of applause and hugs when he was coming down the drivers stand and he was really happy and emotional right after the race. Congratulations for your first ETS win Lucas, you did amazingly well!
In the minutes after the race, Patrick Beck had the chance to talk to race winner Lucas Urbain:
Wow I am feeling amazing right now. The second final was a huge challenge as I didn`t get off the line as expected. My car missed a little traction in the first laps, maybe the tires had been a little too cold or so. That also was the reason why I had that little slide in the second lap which allowed Marc to come closer again. But after the first laps, my tires started to work, and I was able to control the race. I noticed that Marc was pushing very hard behind me and when he rolled his car after three and a half minutes, the pressure was gone. In the last minute of the run my gap was huge and I started to think about my possible first ever ETS win. It was very emotional and not easy to bring it home but, in the end, I got the job done and I am super happy as it is the greatest achievement in my whole RC career until now. I like to thank all my sponsors for their current support – without you that would not have happened!
Lucas Urbain (FR) Awesomatix/Orca
A3 – Lucas Urbain watched the last A-Main from the side line and saw Marc Rheinard taking the win from first on the grid. Rheinard won A3 ahead of Ronald Völker and both drivers joined race winner Urbain on the Matrix Modified podium. Yannic Prümper finished fourth overall ahead of jan Ratheisky in fifth. It was a great day of modified racing and we have another driver in the circle of ETS winners with Lucas Urbain now!
Here are the overall results of the Matrix Modified class together with the equipment the drivers used in Andernach:
Winner B-Main: Lorenzo van Leeuwen (NL)
Winner C-Main: Peter Ende (NL) Schumacher
Link to the Results on MyRCM: https://www.myrcm.ch/myrcm/report/de/65827/294570?key=203
Awesomatix ProStock
Lauter to step on the top spot of the Pro Stock podium
A2 – Simon Lauter took another win in the second A-Main of the Awesomatix Pro Stock class. He had a perfect start on used tires and was driving without any mistake during the entire run. Second place starter Olivier Bultynck was running right behind Lauter but could not ride any serious attacks on Lauter`s A800MMX. The leading duo pulled away from the rest of the field and behind them we saw a thrilling fight for the positions between Max Mächler, Louis Kretschmer, Jan Ratheisky, and Frederik Mikkelsen. But in the end, nobody was able to overtake anybody and as these amazing drivers just made no mistakes, they finished in the same order they lined up on the grid.
With his win in A2, Simon Lauter will walk away from Luxembourg with maximum points for the overall championship. The fight for second and third will come down to A3.
Simon Lauter had the following words for our media team:
My whole weekend was very good. I have never been here before and like to highlight the track at first. It is pure enjoyment to race on the Mini Circuit “Ville de Luxembourg” and I can only recommend this location here. My car worked perfect all weekend long. Qualifying was a close affair and I have never seen so many super close results on a track which is so demanding on the driving side. I like to send greetings to Tim Choice (Wahl) who could not be with us this weekend. He prepared our team very well in the last months and we are all benefiting from that. Now, time to prepare for the Indoor season!
Simon Lauter (DE) Awesomatix/LRP
A3 – The last A-Main of the Awesomatix Pro Stock class was a close fight between Max Mächler, Olivier Bultynck, Jan Ratheisky, and Louis Kretschmer. Max was able to get into the lead in the middle of the race and took the win to secure second overall. With Bultynck in third place overall, it is a complete podium lockout for the Awesomatix team in the Pro Stock class. Jan Ratheisky (Xray) finished fourth, and Lous Kretschmer in fifth position!
Here are the overall results of the Awesomatix Pro Stock class together with the equipment the drivers used in Andernach:
Winner B-Main: Sören Sparbier (DE) Serpent
Winner C-Main: Kevin Sparbier (DE) Mugen Seiki
Winner D-Main: Trygve Bull Freng (NO) ARC
Link to the Results on MyRCM: https://www.myrcm.ch/myrcm/report/de/65827/294571?key=203
Hobbywing Frontwheel
Masterclass from Schulz as he takes overall victory in Luxembourg
A2 – Stefan Schulz took the win in the first A-Main of the Hobbywing Frontwheel class. And with the start of the second final, there was no doubt that he would win the event. His Xray car looked amazingly fast on track and Stefan`s driving was absolutely on point as well. A combination which was just impossible to beat for the rest of the field. Stefan drove a perfect final in A2 and took the win with a massive gap of 8.6 (!) seconds from Jacques Libar and Roman Borschel.
Right behind the top 3, a nice and close fight for fourth place was going on between Kevin Sparbier, Steven Olsen, Sören Sparbier, and Max Weffers. Kevin Sparbier had the best outcome and took fourth in A2.
Stefan Schulz was delighted after A2 and said:
My Xray X4F was unreal. It felt as good as never before and I am more than happy with my performance. I didn`t make one single mistake all weekend long and that is something I am always happy about because it is the key for good results. The track here in Luxembourg was maximum fun to drive on, and I like to thank everybody for the great racing action in the FWD class.
Stefan Schulz (DE) Xray
A3 – The third A-Mainwas another great show of FWD racing – this time between Jacques Libar and Steven Olsen. Steven was able to take the win the race in the last corner (Laguna Seca) before the timing loop to snatch away second overall from Libar. They both shared the podium with race winner Stefan Schulz as Roman Borschel and Kevin Sparbier completed the top 5.
Here are the overall results of the Hobbywing Frontwheel class together with the equipment the drivers used in Andernach:
Winner B-Main: Robert van der Wolf (NL)
Winner C-Main: Sascha Ott (DE) Xray
Link to the Results on MyRCM: https://www.myrcm.ch/myrcm/report/de/65827/294568?key=203
Orca 17.5 Stock
Schmid becomes another first time ETS race winner in Season #15
A2 – For some unexpected reasons, Dominik Reile had another very bad first lap. This time he made a mistake in the down slope of the Laguna Seca and drove through the grass. Kevin Schmid and Jasmin Donath passed by and took the leading positions in A2. But as Jasmin Donath also made a costly mistake, she had to retire from the race and it was kind of “Merry Christmas” for Kevin Schmid out front. He took the win with 6.4 seconds ahead of sixth place starter Daniel Pöhlmann, and Joshua Winkler. Dominik Reile was not able to recover from his first lap trouble and finished only eight this time.
It was the first win for Kevin Schmid at the ETS, and he was almost speechless when our reporter asked him about his feelings:
I am feeling fantastic right now and I have never had so many emotions in my whole life, I think. My race was good, and after Dominik made the mistake in lap one, I was lucky and took the lead. But once I had that massive gap to the others, I started to think and tried to make no mistakes. I was starting to tremble, and it was kind of standing on top of a huge waterfall looking all the way down into nowhere. I like to thank all my supporters, especially Simon Lauter who is always there for me during race weekends. I am still speechless and can`t believe that I have won an ETS race!
Kevin Schmid (DE) Awesomatix
A3 – The last A-Main of the Orca 17.5 Stock class went to Joshua Winkler. He had a brilliant drive and was able to pass Dominik Reile in the last lap of the race. A very important result for Winkler which brought him up to P2 on the podium in the end. Jasmin Donath will step on the last spot of the podium in third place while TQ Dominik Reile had to settle for fourth overall here at ETS RD4 in Luxembourg.
Here are the overall results of the Orca 17.5 Stock class together with the equipment the drivers used in Andernach:
Winner B-Main: Christophe Choque (LU)
Winner C-Main: Christoph Nungässer (DE)
Link to the Results on MyRCM: https://www.myrcm.ch/myrcm/report/de/65827/294565?key=203
ToniSport 40+ Masters
Mateo from Gran Canaria wins Masters class at Mini Circuit “Ville de Luxembourg”
A2 – Toni Mateo has strong nerves. That is nothing new for us, but he proofed it again in the second A-Main of the ToniSport 40+ Masters class. Right after the start, Manuel Stankowitz started to hunt Mateo down and was in striking distance for the entire race. It finally was not enough for Stankowitz who pushed too hard in the last lap, allowing Ullrich Dinger to take second place. Toni Mateo made no mistake out front and brought home a well-deserved win in the ToniSport 40+ Masters class.
A visibly freezing Toni Mateo told us after A2:
I had a bad start again. I need to get better on this as I had a lot of bad starts this season and I don`t know why. But luckily, I could defend my position against Ulrich (Dinger) and Manuel (Stankowitz) who looked slightly faster than me. It was a great weekend here in Luxembourg, but now I am looking forward to fly back to Gran Canaria where sunny weather is waiting for me 😊.
Toni Mateo (ES) Awesomatix
A3 – With race winner Toni Mateo watching the last A-Main from the side line, it was Manuel Stankowitz who took advantage of a clear track in front of him. Manuel drove a solid race and his gap over second placed Ulrich Dinger was 0.7 seconds as they crossed the finish line. With the results from A3, Stankowitz and Dinger joined Mateo on the podium of the ToniSport 40+ Masters class at ETS RD4 in Apeldoorn.
Here are the overall results of the ToniSport 40+ Masters class together with the equipment the drivers used in Andernach:
Winner B-Main: Elibert Sievers (NL) Awesomatix
Winner C-Main: Roy Braten (NO)
Link to the Results on MyRCM: https://www.myrcm.ch/myrcm/report/de/65827/294566?key=203
Scorpion Formula
Ratheisky crowns perfect weekend with winning the Formula class
A2 – The second A-Main of the Scorpion Formula class was another show of beautiful Formula racing at the front. Ratheisky brought the field around the first corners from his pole position and was able to maintain this place until the end of the run. Andreas Stiebler found a way by second place starter Luka Jovicic and started to close the gap to Jan Ratheisky. Over the finish line, they only had been separated by 0.3 seconds, but it was enough for Jan to seal the overall victory in Luxembourg.
Jan had the following statement for us:
I really enjoyed racing in the Formula class and I like that the competition got closer since we are running with the foam tires. My weekend was good and I always tried to make no mistakes with Luka and Andreas right behind me. Congratulations to them for their results here in Luxembourg. See you at the next one!
Jan Ratheisky (DE) Xray/Nosram
A3 – Luka Jovicic won the third and last A-Main of the Scorpion Formula class. A great result on his home track, which earned him second place overall behind 2018 world champion Jan Ratheisky and 2022 world champion Andreas Stiebler. Luka Jovicic was showing great driving all weekend long on his home track and P2 is a well-deserved result for him. Andreas Stiebler takes third on the podium just one week after the biggest win of his RC career (world champion in Italy).
Here are the overall results of the Scorpion Formula class together with the equipment the drivers used in Andernach:
Winner B-Main: Susanne Reile (DE)
Link to the Results on MyRCM: https://www.myrcm.ch/myrcm/report/de/65827/294567?key=203
The outdoor season has come to an end now, and we had soma amazing events going on in Apeldoorn, Aigen-Schlägl, Andernach, and Luxembourg. We are in the closing stages of talking with some facilities for indoor events in the winter season and we will let you know very soon where and when ETS RD5 and RD6 will take place.
We like to thank everybody for coming and racing here at the Mini Circuit “Ville de Luxembourg”. Have a safe trip home and we see us on the track very soon!
