Free Practice Report, ETS RD6 Season #16 2023/24
Day one at the season finale of ETS Season #16 is over. Five rounds of free practice (4-minute runs) had been on the schedule for all racers at Arena Nova in Wiener Neustadt. The traction came up nicely and all drivers highlighted the fast and technical track layout. The chicane in the right section of the track before coming onto the straightway seems to be a key section while not being easy to approach with the perfect speed. The huge carpet track (34 x 24 meters) will demand everything from the drivers when seeding practice and qualifying will start on Friday!
Matrix Modified
Orloswki leads day 1 from Urbain, Rheinard, Hagberg, and Lauter
The Matrix Modified class was under control of Schumacher`s Michal Orlowski who was the fastest in each round of practice. The Awesomatix top duo of Lucas Urbain and Marc Rheinard followed him three tenths behind with Xray`s Alexander Hagberg taking fourth position at his “ETS return”. Simon Lauter, who won the TITC Open Stock class two weeks ago, finished fifth for the day. Michal Orlowski will try to make this weekend the most special one in his touring car racing career as a possible ETS title is only three days away form him. Will he get the job done? Well, Rheinard and Urbain are in need of a miracle, but it is not over yet!
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Michal Orlowski (PL) 45.199 Schumacher|Hobbywing
2. Lucas Urbain (FR) 45.549 Awesomatix|ORCA
3. Marc Rheinard (DE) 45.568 Awesomatix|ORCA
4. Alexander Hagberg (SE) 45.610 Xray|Hobbywing
5. Simon Lauter (DE) 45.738 Awesomatix|Hobbywing
Awesomatix ProStock
Izsay tops free practice, Bultynck only sixth fastest
In the Awesomatix ProStock class we saw Adam Izsay picking up a good pace during the day. The Xray driver was the fastest, followed by track designer Tim Benson, and our permanent “aircraft delay victim” Jan Ratheisky. Lukas Ellerbrock and Mattia Collina made it into the top five while Awesomatix championship contender Olivier Bultynck had a slower start into the event with P6 for the day.
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Adam Izsay (HU) 49.553 Xray
2. Tim Benson (DE) 49.719 Awesomatix
3. Jan Ratheisky (DE) 49.818 Xray
4. Lukas Ellerbrock (DE) 49.818 Awesomatix
5. Mattia Collina (IT) 49.833 Schumacher
Hobbywing Frontwheel
Izsay, Myrberg, and Stankowitz are the top 3 after Thursday practice
Our new FWD champion Adam Izsay was the fastest FWD driver on Thursday. The Xray driver was a few tenth quicker than TITC winner Andreas Myrberg and his fellow Iris teammate Manuel Stanowitz. Frederik Hovgaard and Pawel Stankiewicz rounded out the top 5 in free practice.
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Adam Izsay (HU) 57.920 Xray
2. Andreas Myrberg (SE) 58.310 Iris
3. Manuel Stankowitz (DE) 58.334 Iris
4. Frederik Hovgaard (DK) 58.588 Yokomo
5. Pawel Staszewski (PL) 58.633 Awesomatix
1up Racing 40+ Masters
Ehrbar leads after day one with Dinger, Kölbel, and Zierold in tow
After the first day in Austria, ETS RD5 winner David Ehrbar leads the pack in the 1up Racing 40+ Masters class. Ehrbar`s Xray car looked strong on the black ETS carpet where he was three tenths faster over his competitors on the three consecutive laps. Ulrich Dinger was second fastest, followed by the two title contenders René Kölbel, and Michel Zierold. Torsten Baggendorf finished the day on P5 while championship contender Mirco Thalheimer is sitting “only” in eight place overnight!
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. David Ehrbar (DE) 52.957 Xray
2. Ulrich Dinger (DE) 53.257 Awesomatix
3. Renè Kölbel (AT) 53.268 Xray
4. Michel Zierold (DE) 53.388 Awesomatix
5. Torsten Baggendorf (DE) 53.400 ARC
Orca 21.5 Stock
Bergheim and Langner with a solid start into championship showdown
In the Orca 21.5 Stock class, Phil Langner was the fastest on track here at Arena Nova on Thursday. His advantage over Tristan Bergheim was at 0.25 seconds at the end of the day and it is crystal clear that these two German guys will go for it this weekend. Kristian Jensen from Denmark was third quickest, followed by Jan Gehrig, and Tobias Baumbach. Tomorrow mornings seeding practice will tell us more about the Bergheim and Langner story on the road to the championship.
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Phil Langner (DE) 53.211 Awesomatix
2. Tristan Bergheim (DE) 53.469 Awesomatix
3. Kristian Jensen (DK) 53.596 Xray
4. Jan Gehrig (DE) 54.967 Xray
5. Tobias Baumbach (DE) 54.275 Xray
ToniSport Formula
Champion Stiebler fastest at Arena Nova
Newly crowned two-times ETS Formula champion Andreas Stiebler had a great start into the weekend. He was fastest on track followed by David Ehrbar, Jan Ratheisky, Robert Kampehl, and Adam Southgate. The track is spectacular for the Formula cars and we are already looking forward to some serious open wheel racing at Arena Nova in Wiener Neustadt.
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Andreas Stiebler (AT) 49.626 Schumacher
2. David Ehrbar (DE) 49.726 Xray
3. Jan Ratheisky (DE) 50.041 Xray
4. Robert Kampehl (DE) 50.860 Schumacher
5. Adam Southgate (GB) 50.959 Xray
