Free Practice Report, ETS RD4 Season #17 2024/25

Close practice sessions on Thursday with Schumacher, Mugen Seiki, and Awesomatix dictating the pace on top

The FlySky Modified class saw Michal Orlowski on top at the end of the day. The top drivers had been “on the money” at the Sporthotel Grafenwald`s flowing and challenging ETS carpet racetrack. Orlowski was able to edge out the competition with his Elceram and Cayote powered Schumacher by half a tenth only as Mugen Seiki`s Ronald Völker was on a similar pace with his LRP powered prototype car, followed by the Cayote powered Awesomatix of Marc Rheinard another half of a tenth behind.

Lucas Urbain and Simon Lauter were putting two more Awesomatix cars into the top five before Dominic Greiner`s very strong looking Serpent, and the RC Maker of Yannic Prümper. Christopher Krapp was eight fastest with his Yokomo car followed by Adam Izsay who was the best Xray driver in ninth place. Patrick Gollner (Mugen Seiki) completed the top 10.

At the end of day one it looks like Orlowski, Völker, and Rheinard will deliver us a great fight for the overall TQ in qualifying – can somebody crash the parts on top?

The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Michal Orlowski (PL) 39.292 Schumacher|Elceram
2. Ronald Völker (DE) 39.347 Mugen Seiki|LRP
3. Marc Rheinard (DE) 39.412 Awesomatix|Cayote
4. Lucas Urbain (FR) 39.746 Awesomatix|ORCA
5. Simon Lauter (DE) 39.866 Awesomatix | Hobbywing

GP3F winner Izsay on top, closely followed by Sparbier and Bultynck

In Awesomatix ProStock, Adam Izsay is still running strong after his huge win at the famous GP3F last weekend in Longwy (France). But Izsay only had a very small advantage over second placed Sören Sparbier who looked very fast as well with a Mugen prototype car.

Behind Izsay and Sparbier we saw our reigning ETS Pro Stock champion Olivier Bultynck in third place leading an Awesomatix 3-4-5 ahead of Kretschmer and Rasmussen. Dominic Greiner (Serpent), Lukas Ellerbrock (Awesomatix), Kevin Schmid (Awesomatix), Michael Bolt (Awesomatix), and Andreas Stiebler (Schumacher) completed the top 10 in a field of 70 very fast pro stock racers. Qualifying starts on Friday when it`s time for everybody to show the “real” pace over the full five minute runs!

The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Adam Izsay (HU) 43:137 Xray
2. Sören Sparbier (DE) 43:176 Mugen Seiki
3. Olivier Bultynck (BE) 43:245 Awesomatix
4. Louis Kretschmer (DE) 43:392 Awesomatix
5. Jesper Rasmussen (DK) 43:392 Awesomatix

Reile, Borschel, and Langner setting FWD pace…

With the top 20 drivers within just one (!) second over the three fastest consecutive laps, the Hobbywing Frontwheel class will become a real nail biter when we start qualifying on Friday. Dominik Reile was the fastest driver on Thursday with his Iris car and was a tenth ahead of the two Awesomatix cars of Roman Borschel and Phil Langner.
Mark Valent and Michael Bolt completed the top 5. The fight for the A-Main positions will be spectacular and close and we are already looking forward to the action on track!

The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Dominik Reile (DE) 50.149 Iris
2. Roman Borschel (DE) 50.287 Awesomatix
3. Phil Langner (DE) 50.300 Awesomatix
4. Mark Valent (HU) 50.351 Schumacher
5. Michael Bolt (GB) 50.428 Awesomatix

Dominant Ehrbar fastest in the masters class – can he win here in Daun?

David Ehrbar showed that he is the man to beat in the 40+ master’s class. Ehrbar was fastest in every of the four practice rounds and showed his clear ambitions to already seal the championship title here in Daun. Michel Zierold was his hardest challenger with his Awesomatix, but already four tenths behind Ehrbar.
With Alexander Stocker we saw a former ETS champion of this class driving to a strong third place at his “little comeback”. René Kölbel from Austria was fourth quickest for the day and Mirco Thalheimer rounded out the top 5. The Masters class is hard fought as always and we expect a real thriller for the battles on top and also for the remaining spots in the A-Main!

The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. David Ehrbar (DE) 46:193 Xray
2. Michel Zierold (DE) 46.650 Awesomatix
3. Alexander Stocker (DE) 46.848 Xray
4. René Kölbel (AT) 46.884 Xray
5. Mirco Thalheimer (DE) 46.946 Xray

Koos tops Thursday practice sessions at Sporthotel Grafenwald

In the Orca 21.5 Stock class it was routineer Michael Koos (Awesomatix) who was fastest for the day after four rounds of practice. He will start first into qualifying on Friday morning ahead of the Xray duo Jan Gehrig and Jaroslav Jun. Kriz. They had been followed by two more Xray cars of Bajusz Jun. Zsolt and championship leader Kristian Jensen.

The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Michael Koos (DE) 46.988 (Awesomatix)
2.Jan Gehrig (DE) 47.314 (Xray)
3. Jaroslav Jun. Kriz (SK) 47.317 (Xray)
4. Bajusz Jun. Zsolt (LU) 47.440 (Xray)
5. Kristian Jensen (DK) 47.780 (Xray)

Stiebler and Stenger chasing Ehrbar at day 1 in Daun

Xray`s David Ehrbar was the fastest in the Matrix Formula class on Thursday. He was followed by our reigning ETS champion Andreas Stiebler (Schumacher) and Thomas Stenger (Xray). Qualifying will be interesting between them as both seem to be able to challenge Ehrbar. Jacques Libar and Michael Lipperheide showed a good pace as well and rounded out the top 5 after day one in Daun.

The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. David Ehrbar (DE) 42.732 Xray
2. Andreas Stiebler (AT) 42.947 Schumacher
3. Thomas Stenger (DE) 43.062 Xray
4. Jacques Libar (LU) 43.187 Xray
5. Michael Lipperheide (DE) 43.693 Xray
We are looking forward to all the Friday action here at ETS RD4 in Daun. Stay tuned and follow us during the whole weekend. Check our website ets.racing and visit the YouTube channels of the Euro Touring Series and RC Racing TV. There you will find our live coverage from ETS RD4 Season #17 2024/25 at the famous “Sporthotel Grafenwald ”!