Völker, Rheinard, and Orlowski setting the early pace on a technical track layout at Arena Nova
As always, the Modified class was spectacular to watch on the ETS carpet track with this year`s more technical layout (compared to 2024). After four rounds of free practice, it was Mugen Seiki factory driver Ronald Völker who found himself on top of the list.
Right behind Völker, it was Awesomatix driver Marc Rheinard who was running in second, followed by our newly crowned back-to-back ETS champion and TITC winner Michal Orlowski (Schumacher). Both had a very similar pace compared to Völker and these three drivers will go into qualifying as the ones to beat.
David Ronnefalk was the fastest Xray driver while Lucas Urbain (Awesomatix) rounded out the top 5 in free practice at day one of the ETS season finale in Austria. We will have two rounds of seeding practice coming up (one tonight, one tomorrow morning) before we head into qualifying.
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Ronald Völker (DE) 40.110 Mugen Seiki|LRP
2. Marc Rheinard (DE) 40.258 Awesomatix|Cayote
3. Michal Orlowski (PL) 40.370 Schumacher|Elceram
4. David Ronnefalk (SE) 40.432 Xray|Cayote
5. Lucas Urbain (FR) 40.521 Awesomatix|ORCA
Xray on top as Izsay turns the hottest laps at Arena Nova
In the Awesomatix Pro Stock class we saw Adam Izsay (Xray) posting the three fastest consecutive laps of the day in the fourth and final round of free practice. Izsay was a tenth faster as TITC Open Brushless winner Sören Sparbier (Mugen Seiki), and our Pro Stock championship leader Lukas Ellerbrock (Awesomatix).
Schumacher driver Mark Valent was doing well in fourth place and Xray`s very own Martin Hudy posted the fifth fastest time at the opening day of the ETS season finale in Austria. We will have two rounds of seeding practice coming up (one tonight, one tomorrow morning) before we head into qualifying.
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Adam Izsay (HU) 43:209 Xray
2. Sören Sparbier (DE) 43:342 Mugen Seiki
3. Lukas Ellerbrock (DE) 43:512 Awesomatix
4. Mark Valent (HU) 43:629 Schumacher
5. Martin Hudy (SK) 43:659 Xray
Staszewski fastest in free practice
Pawel Staszewski from Poland was quickest over three consecutive laps with his Awesomatix car. His advantage over second placed Dominik Reile was at only 0.025 seconds and the leaders had been followed by championship contender Frederik Hovgaard, Olav Dahle, and championship leader Mark Valent. With the top 10 only separated by 0.6 of a second, we already got a first flavor of what to expect from the rest of the weekend in our Hobbywing Frontwheel class with it`s 80 entries!
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Pawel Staszewski (PL) 49.862 Awesomatix
2. Dominik Reile (DE) 49.887 Iris
3. Frederik Hovgaard (DK) 49.959 Yokomo
4. Olav Dahle (NO) 49.962 Yokomo
5. Mark Valent (HU) 50.072 Schumacher
Champion Ehrbar tops Thursday practice
David Ehrbar sealed the overall championship at the last ETS race in Daun. But who thought this would slow him down was completely on the woodway… Ehrbar was the fastest driver of the 1up Racing 40+ Masters class on Thursday when the Xray driver outpaced Michel Zierold, Manuel Stankowitz, Eric Anderson, and René Kölbel. Who will win the vice championship title behind Ehrbar on Sunday?
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. David Ehrbar (DE) 45:887 Xray
2. Michel Zierold (DE) 46.144 Awesomatix
3. Manuel Stankowitz (DE) 46.192 Xray
4. Eric Anderson (US) 46.258 Awesomatix
5. René Kölbel (AT) 46.473 Xray
Jensen and Kriz – the championship contenders on top after day 1
In the Orca 21.5 Stoick class we will see a showdown for the overall ETS championship between the two Xray drivers Jaroslav Jun. Kriz, and Kristian Jensen. Both had the best pace during free practice where Jensen was more than three tenths faster on three consecutive laps. However, Tobias Baumbach took third for the day and was followed by Kai Gerhardt, and Bajusz Jun. Zsolt to complete the top 5.
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Kristian Jensen (DK) 46.475 (Xray)
2. Jaroslav Jun. Kriz (SK) 46.812 (Xray)
3. Tobias Baumbach (DE) 46.848 (Xray)
4. Kai Gerhardt (DE) 47.102 (Mugen Seiki)
5. Bajusz Jun. Zsolt (HU) 47.111 (Xray)
Xray duo Libar and Stenger dominating Thursday practice at Arena Nova
Jacques Libar was closely followed by his teammate Thomas Stenger (gap of 0.066) after day one in Austria. Outgoing ETS champion Andreas Stiebler was third quickest with his Schumacher car, followed by our new ETS Formula champion David Ehrbar (Xray), and René Kölbel (Xray). Four Xray cars in the top 5 – a real statement from the Slovakian manufacturer!
The Top 5 after Thursday practice (over 3 consecutive laps)
1. Jacques Libar (LU) 43.067 Xray
2. Thomas Stenger (DE) 43.133 Xray
3. Andreas Stiebler (AT) 43.519 Schumacher
4. David Ehrbar (DE) 43.668 Xray
5. René Kölbel (AT) 43.897 Xray
We are looking forward to all the Friday action here at the ETS season finale in Austria. 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 find our live coverage from ETS RD5 Season #17 2024/25 at the amazing Arena Nova!
