Jung (ARC): “I am fully involved and comitted to the A11 project”
Enrico, how are you doing mate? Well, it is 2026 now and we see you practicing and racing a lot. You had a very good race at the FEMCA event in China, and you had been super-fast at the TOS in Augsburg. How happy are you right now with your equipment and everything?
FEMCA went very well. Events like this are never easy for a small manufacturer like ARC, but we managed everything well and I was able to win the first final. Unfortunately, due to major delays, I couldn’t start the remaining finals. TOS Augsburg was also very positive. We did a lot of testing and are well prepared for the ETS in Daun.
We have heard that ARC will release a new car called A11 very soon. You have been involved in testing and developing the platform. Can you tell customers what to expect from the A11, especially when you compare it with the current A10?
I’m feeling very good right now. I’m fully involved in the A11 project, so I invest a lot of time testing and developing the car in many different conditions. Overall, I’m very happy with the equipment and the direction we’re going.
When looking onto the ETS Pro Stock championship, you are still in a very good position to fight for a top 3 season finish. It can become the best ever ETS season of your career so far. How motivated are you to make it onto the Pro Stock podium?
I’m very happy that we will release the A11 on January 20th. The car is more than 90% redesigned and is a completely new platform. The main focus was lowering the center of gravity and widening the setup window. The car is much easier to drive and the overall quality is outstanding.
As mentioned before, you had been super-fast at the GDC track in China. How much confidence are you carrying over from that on the road to the world championships?
The season is going really well for me. Of course, my goal is to win a race, and an overall top 3 finish would be a very strong result for my first season with ARC. Definitely. The whole season has been very positive so far, which gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming races. The support from the entire team is great, and I especially want to thank Jones Chu for the trust he gives me, which boosts my confidence even more.
Krapp (Yokomo): “The development we did in the last half year is a significant step forward”
Hi Christopher, how was your start into 2026? We hope you are doing fine with your daughter, wife, and family?
Hello to the whole ETS crew. Happy New year to you all! I had a great start into 2026 which lots of family time! My batteries are fully charged towards this year and I am extremely looking forward to get my 2026 RC campaign started at the ETS in Daun in a couple of weeks time!
You are rocking the current MS2.0 from Yokomo which seems to be an improvement over the previous model. Did you have some time to practice and test on carpet before heading to the biggest indoor race of Europe in Daun?
I am personally very motivated as I traditionally love the ETS in Daun and had great success at this event since ever the ETS is going to Daun. I used the “free” time in the last weeks to test at the beautiful permanent track in Hasloh near Hamburg as I am luck to not live too far from it (2h drive).
Your team is not the biggest now. Do you think it is a disadvantage in case of collecting important setup data at such a big race like the ETS in Daun or is it not that crucial?
Our Team will be small but unique with Olav Dahle and Frederik Hovgaard in the mix for the top spots in the Pro Stock category and myself for sure in the mix in the modified category as always. Since releasing our new model, the MS 2.0 things looking better and better every time we getting out with the cars and the development we did in the last half year is a significant step forward compared to before. Also our general guidline has changed a little bit as you saw with our annoucement of the “ABC driver system” with me in charge for the Global Team Management. This will be the first step for us to invest again more into the top end racing and drivers from now on. Also my teammates are hard working on the setup and thats why we will thrive to be best prepared and succesfull at the ETS in Daun!
Which big races are on your 2026 schedule? Have you already been in China to prepare for the IFMAR worlds or will you just show up at the event and aim for the best possible result? The GDC facility looks amazing – doesn`t it?
My 2026 race scheduled is set to be the same as always, attending all the ETS races, European Championships and big races in Europe as well as attending the IFMAR Worlds in China for sure! I am not able to practice before in China but that will be not a problem as my teammates from Yokomo Japan went there to gather information as well as some of my teammates from Team Cayote went there as well. So everthing will be fine at the worlds and also the last time I did not go to practise before a worlds was 2022 when I became Vice World Champion in Italy
What a great move from Awesomatix and the Porsche Basel Racing Team. They will raffle off two weekend tickets for the 2026 edition of the 24h race at the famous “Green Hell” Nürburgring. Rear the full announcement:
Awesomatix and the Porsche Basel Racing Team are giving young RC talents a unique chance to experience professional motorsport up close. All U18 drivers competing at the ETS race in Daun will automatically enter a giveaway to win 2 weekend tickets for the 24H Nürburgring race, where the Porsche Basel Racing Team will be competing with their race cars.
What’s included?
2 full weekend tickets (winner + 1 guest)
Exclusive access to the Porsche Basel Racing Team pit garage
Behind-the-scenes insights into race operations, cars and team workflows
Learn from racers who live in both worlds
Team Manager “Hagi” and Chief Mechanic “Peckel” – both active RC racers and ETS competitors in Daun – will share firsthand insights into how professional racing works, from preparation to race execution.
How to win?
At the end of the ETS event in Daun, one winner will be drawn live from a pot containing the names of all U18 drivers. Important: You must be present at the venue to win – so make sure you stay until the end!
Our goal
To give young RC drivers a real look into professional racing and show the parallels between top-level RC competition and 1:1 motorsport – precision, teamwork, preparation and professionalism.
Good luck to all young drivers – this is one you don’t want to miss!
Italian manufacturer Bittydesignhas released a new FWD body called A3-F. The body looks really nice and will (maybe) be their choice for the new ETS season 2026/27. Read the full Bittydesign announcement here:
𝗔 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗪𝗗 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 and ready to hit the track, when thinking about Bittydesign® think about the best, we’re here to leading this category again and the brand new A3-F body is the key-strument to do it.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 that you WON’T need to mount it up to 8-10mm forward as you are common to do with other shells, here the best balance is with the body mounted in neutral and/or a bit forward position, Bittydesign Engineering is second to none when talking about applying our Know-How to racing bodies, we’re into the race scene since 20 years.
Rheinard: “I always see a chance to win the worlds…”
We hope you had a good start into 2026. How and where did you celebrate Christmas and new year?
Yes, I had a good start into the new year. After christmas, I went for a quick 4-day trip to my favourite island Mallorca and after that I was at home to celebrate new year`s eve with friends.
In a couple of months, the IFMAR worlds will take place in China at this fabulous looking GDC facility. It looks like Disney Land for al RC enthusiasts. Together with Bruno Coelho, you are the most winning driver in the touring car class when it comes to world titles (3 titles each). Do you think you can win a fourth title in China, and what would that mean to you?
I believe that I always have a chance of winning. At the last World Championships in Bakersfield, I performed well, was in contention for the overall victory, and ultimately finished third on the podium. Looking ahead to the World Championships in China, I expect all the top riders such as Bruno, Michal, Ronald (and a few others) to be in top form. I’m really looking forward to this event because the facility is simply fantastic. The hotel is close to the track and there are lots of shops and cafés in the area, which makes the stay even more enjoyable. The track itself is very large and I expect a very demanding high-speed race, which will put a lot of stress on the equipment.
Coming into Daun for the ETS, how will your preparation look like in terms of practice and setup for this unique race at the Sporthotel Grafenwald and what do you expect from your first big race of 2026?
The ETS in Daun will be my first carpet race since the one in Wiener Neustadt at the end of the last campaign. I will do a bit of testing at (David) Ronnefalk`s track in Sweden in the days before Daun to get back into the groove. When looking onto the championship, I am in a good position and my goal is to stay second overall until the end of the season. However, a victory in Daun would be nice for me and my sponsors!
As we know, you are not a driver who enjoys practicing so much. Do you think it is one of your biggest strengths arriving at races with a “freer” mind, or is it maybe a weak point which could help you to score even better results on track with more testing going on?
Yeah, that`s true – I am not the biggest fan of practice. BUT I take a lot of attention on a good preperation immediateley before big race events. I rebuild my cars, prep the body shells, and make sure that everyting is spot on when showing up. Practicing on track is not bad too, but for the race in Daun it is super difficult as you can never find the same conditions somewhere else. Overall, I like to arrive at a big event with a free mind which helps a lot to start into it unbiased.
Lauter: “My goal is the A-Main at the China worlds..:”
Simon, you raced a lot in the last weeks at events like the TOS for example. Are you confident and happy with your carpet performance going into the Daun ETS?
Hi everybody. I have been Racing a lot recently as we have been in China for the Worlds preparation. I did the TOS in Augsburg and a longer week of practice after the TOS race. There was a lot to learn and good competition which is always helpfull during practice to have some kind of orientation. We tested a lot and found some good things in my opinion, but Daun is always special so I am not sure whether this will work there as well. But I think I know how to react to the conditions
You have made the move from Pro Stock to Modified some years ago and you have become one of the top 10 modified drivers at most of your ETS races since then. What would you say is the biggest difference when it comes to driving the cars and would you recommend even more racers to “try modified” at a time?
For sure the biggest difference is the ESC setting and the finger movement on throttle and brake. In stock you basically put everything to highest Punch and in modified you try to be as smooth as possible. A lot of guys think modified is faster in the corners as well which is not the case as the tires are the Limit. That’s why the most improvements in Modified can be found on braking. I still run rather low brake on the radio to smoothen everything out where the best Modified guys use very high brake and are more capable of limiting themself with calmer finger movements.
Your Awesomatix team is a very strong one and maybe the strongest force out there together with Xray. As 2026 is a world championship year, what is your biggest goal and dream for the new season. You are the reigning world champion in the Spec (Stock) class but we guess you will run modified at GDC in China – right?
I will run modified all year that’s correct. There are some big events this year – with the Double World Championship being the highlight of the year – so my main goal is being as prepared as possible and doing good on the big stage! If everything works out fine I think the A -Main is possible there. I will do my best to make it and enjoy my first IFMAR World Championships in the modified class!
Urbain: “Kicking myself for not doing well in Bakersfield”
Lucas, welcome to 2026 and another ETS race. Before we talk about racing, we like to ask you about your Christmas and New Year`s celebrations. We hope you had a great time?
It was nice to wind down a bit during Christmas, spending time with my family and taking time off RC Racing. It was short lived though as I was already on the road on January 1st to attend the TOS in Augsburg. I didn’t mind though, because this race really is a good one, the right balance between a chill race and a big practice session in the right conditions to get adjusted ahead of the ETS.
With the biggest indoor race of the season right ahead we like to ask you about your current form and your own expectations for Daun. You have been close to a victory at the last ETS in Luxembourg – do you think you can win in Daun?
My current form is there or thereabouts. I haven’t quite found my marks this carpet season yet, but at the same time Daun isn’t really a race you can accurately prepare for. Every year we face widely different conditions there, so I’d rather approach it without any preconceived ideas. Track evolution can really catch you out, and since we have very little practice before Q1 starts, it is probably better to stay open-minded rather than getting stuck on a setup that seemed perfectly fine at another track the weekend before. That being said, I still feel reasonably confident in my ability to win it. It is up to me to put myself in the right mindset and to give myself the right tools to achieve it.
As the new year is picking up the pace slowly, you have already raced for the first time at the TOS in Augsburg. The schedule for the first half of 2026 is pretty stacked with the ETS in Daun, the TITC in Bangkok, another ETS in Wiener Neustadt, and then the maybe most important trip to the IFMAR worlds in China. How excited are you about the coming months?
It is definitely going to be a busy time. I am currently doing my final prep to fly to Italy for the Charity Race as I am writing this. ETS Daun and TITC are pretty much back-to-back this year given how early we fly to Thailand to maximize practice time. Then, I’ll be back on carpet again for ETS Wiener Neustadt, with plenty of testing and club racing in between I’m sure, and the WC as the cherry on top after all that. Constantly switching from carpet to asphalt is not the most ideal scenario. I am expecting endless wrenching sessions ahead, but it is what it is. It is in fact what I signed up for and I’m relishing the challenge of it all.
It is maybe not the nicest question, but you have never managed to qualify for an A-Main at the IFMAR worlds – even while being one of the best in the business since many years. How much would it mean for you to end this kind of “streak” at the GDC facilities in Foshan?
I’ve gotten into the habit of doing quite poorly at both EFRA and IFMAR races. If I’m honest these events often fail to feel special to me and despite their status and heritage, I usually struggle to take them more seriously than a glorified club race (lack of an announcer, “à la carte” rule set, endless arguments about simple things etc…). Last Worlds in Bakersfield were good though, it felt like a proper high-stakes race, and I am kicking myself for not doing well there. I must say I expect quite a lot from the worlds in China this year. When you see the facilities with your own eyes it becomes clear that “just doing things good enough” is not part of their policy, they will make sure it stands out. Of course, it would be nice to get the monkey off my back by finally making it in the top ten, yet I will arguably not be satisfied with “just” doing that, I’ll be hungry for more. The Worlds always seem to hit different though, unknown set of conditions and a new layout for everyone, it is also not a long race, things can easily spiral down for the worse (been there, done that)… So as always it can certainly strike a few surprises. That’s not all though, the Euros happen to be at my home track this year in Luxembourg so it would be hitting two birds with one stone in a very short time frame to end a streak of poor EFRA/IFMAR on my end.
Mächler: “Daun is always the “special event” in the calendar”
Max, how are you doing as a team manager and driver in a world championship year with so many big races on the schedule? Let us know a bit of your thoughts and how you plan to handle all the stress with traveling, testing, wrenching, supporting, and racing in the next months?
This year is extremely packed: 1/12 EC and Worlds, 1/10 TC EC and Worlds, TITC in Thailand, the full ETS season, plus a few standalone events. A Worlds year is always special – it’s the top priority for everyone – and that’s exactly why having a strong team structure is crucial. When I talk about a team, I don’t just mean the drivers. It’s about planning, organization, and execution well in advance to avoid unnecessary last-minute issues. Together with Lucas and Nicole, I’ve built a very solid internal structure around Oleg and myself to stay on top of everything. All major events have been fully planned and booked for months already, which also reflects the strong cooperation within the driver group. We work with shared data and dedicated WhatsApp groups for events like the Worlds and TITC, which helps everyone prepare more efficiently. Due to my responsibilities for the Awesomatix brand, I currently have less time to prepare my own racing program perfectly, which means I’ll race a bit less myself this season. I will grab the transmitter this year with full focus for the double header Worlds in China and the Euros in Sicily and Luxemburg. For the TITC and all the ETS Events I will be present at the events to take care of the trackside support for customers and our racers!
Your team is very strong – and very big. How difficult is it to always care about everybody and to keep the team spirit alive week in and week out?
The size of a Team is never an issue, in case you build it with the correct minded people and drivers! No doubt – at the end only one guy can win its class, but there is more to it. The Teamwork to refine the setups and car design plays a major role in every Awesomatix success. My goal was always to build a Team with guys that genuinely get along and may become even more than just Teammates, because friendship is a much stronger bond than a logo on a shirt. Given this, it’s rather simple for me to keep the spirit high, because everyone is willing to help each other in case there is something up. All of my drivers know that I’m just one message away in case 🙂
As mentioned before, 2026 is a world championship year and we all have seen many pictures and videos from the GDC facility in China. What was your first impression when you arrived there?
The facility that Gavin and the Hongyu GDC team built from the ground up is mind-blowing. Photos really don’t capture the scale of the place. Even the visual impression while driving feels unique at first, mainly due to the combination of track width and the height of the driver stand. We’re really looking forward to the Worlds and to racing under those conditions.
Some quick words for the ETS in Daun: Big race, big competition, big chances to win for your team in almost every class. What are your predictions for ETS RD4 with 500 entries?
ETS Daun is always the “special event” in the calendar with the huge amount of entries and long days. Many of our drivers used the recent TOS race in Augsburg to prepare specifically for Daun. With the amount of data collected there, we should arrive with very solid base setups. As always, the final conditions on site will determine the last setup adjustments. With such a talent-packed entry list, nothing is guaranteed for anyone. Everything is wide open, and I’m expecting intense racing and very close battles.
Bultynck: “For sure, the championship is in the back of my head…”
Ollie, we like to wish you a happy new year and hope that you are fine. First question is a tough one: You can already seal the Pro Stock championship in Daun – how much is it in your head while approaching the race and how are you dealing with it?
Hi and happy new year to everybody. Well I am not really thinking about the Championship yet. I’m just more busy to prepare my cars and myself to do my best and try to fight for the win in Daun and for the team, but for sure the championship is somewhere in the back of my head. But a great result in Daun is priority at this moment. So I will do my best there!
Awesomatix is so strong, especially in the stock classes during all the last years. What do you think makes your team so good at all?
We have a good car for sure, but the most important is the team and teamwork we do. The whole team works so hard to develop and test different things to not leave anything on the table. This way I want to thank Max for building this team as it is, its more like family for me, and his hard work behind the scenes! I have to thank Lucas (Urbain) for all the help and helping me prep all my things.
Beside the ETS, which other races are on your schedule for 2026 and what is the race you are most excited about?
I’ll look to do some Longwy races and also look forward to TITC soon. Last year was my first time there and I really enjoyed it. So, I will be happy to be there again. Preparing for the Worlds is also in full swing for 12th scale and TC Spec, so looking forward to that also. I’ll do Euro’s in Luxembourg as well because I love that track. Nationals are also on the board and some TOS races – so will not be a boring 2026!
Ellerbrock: “I want to secure P2 overall in Pro Stock”
Another strong season for you Lukas. Even if it seems that Ollie will win the title, you are ranked in second place before going into the Daun ETS. Would you be happy so save overall P2 behind him when we wrap up the season in Wiener Neustadt?
Thank you. Unfortunately the outdoor races were not the best for me, so the title defence is out of reach. But as always I will give my best to achieve some good results at the indoor events and try to finish P2 overall, which surely would make me happy.
We think you have already been testing for the IFMAR worlds in China. What have your impressions been at the GDC facility, and in the city of Foshan in general?
Yes I was in Foshan for a week of testing with team. The facility is absolutely crazy! Different and huge tracks, great pits, a big shop and just overall an amazing city. I’m already looking forward to come back there for the Worlds.
It looks crazy to see 500 entries on the list and everybody knows how long and hard these days in Daun will be. But it seems that nothing can stop people from signing up for this epic event. What do you like the most about our big ETS race in Daun, and what are your dislikes about it?
500 entries is an absolute crazy number and once again shows what a good job the whole ETS crew is doing every time! Of course those entry numbers also means that the racing is a bit more limited, which is probably the biggest „dislike“. But in the past years I always had a good time in Daun as it’s a great place to socialize with everybody. I’m already looking forward to be there in a few weeks.
Now the time has come — some of you may have already guessed it. I am very happy to announce that I have signed with Team Infinity and am officially starting my new role as a designer. I will give my very best to support the entire team and help bring new ideas to life. It is a great honor for me to be able to work for this amazing team, and I hope we will celebrate many successes together — especially with the goal of providing the best possible experience for all our customers. My special thanks go to the entire Infinity team for the trust they have placed in me, and especially to Kenji Taira and Yoshinobu Nikaido, who set everything in motion and made this opportunity possible. I am looking to the future with great excitement and am happy to be working again with familiar faces as well as new ones. Here’s to a great future!
Inf1nity Statement
With the beginning of the new year, we have decided to further strengthen our design and development department, with the goal of continuing to offer our customers the best possible products and making every moment dedicated to their passion even more enjoyable. We are therefore pleased to welcome Robert Pietsch, who officially joins our organization to support our technical department. Thanks to his decade-long experience and proven skills, Robert will be a significant added value for our future in the RC world. Welcome, Robert!
New from Zoo Racing are the so called ZERDA and LMH Body SHells for 1:10 LMH and 1:12 GT racing. Here are the product information from Zoo Racing for you. The bodies will be available faround January 20, 2026.
HYENA
The Hypercar class is the latest revolution in RC touring car racing, combining state-of-the-art aerodynamics, extreme performance and hyper-realistic design. Designed for high-speed competition, these cars feature a low-slung, wide chassis optimised for maximum downforce and stability at top speed.
With a sleek, aggressive design inspired by full-size hypercars, this class offers the perfect blend of realism and high-performance racing. Look forward to top-level cornering speeds, improved grip and precise handling – pushing RC competition to its limits!
ZooRacing presents the HYEANA, the second hypercar body for the next generation of touring car racing. Developed with state-of-the-art aerodynamics and precision engineering, the HYENA sets new standards in downforce, efficiency and stability for ambitious racers.
The difference between the super successful HYRAX and the HYENA is that the focus here is on MORE steering. More agile cornering – combined with a slightly higher design to make the body more attractive for older touring cars. The longer front and large front splitter result in more downforce and the higher – but shorter – rear section ensures better cornering, whatever the track.
Advanced aerodynamics for maximum performance Every curve and surface of the HYENA is designed for optimum airflow, reducing drag while maximising downforce. The flat, wide body design ensures a secure stance and enables superior cornering speeds and unrivalled stability.
Key aerodynamic features include: Optimised front end – An aggressive front splitter and sculpted wings minimise turbulence and provide high grip at the front axle. Low-drag cockpit design – A sleek, realistic cockpit area reduces drag while providing stability at high speeds. Efficient airflow in the side box – Precisely moulded side ducts channel the air around the bodywork, reducing drag and improving rear balance. High-downforce rear – An integrated rear diffuser and large rear wing maximise traction while controlling air turbulence. Realistic hypercar styling and performance
The HYENA is designed with extremely detailed realism, mirroring original hypercars while maintaining race-optimised proportions. The low centre of gravity of the body improves chassis performance and ensures precise handling and responsiveness on the racetrack.
Key features: Ultra-low centre of gravity for optimum handling and stability Lightweight, high-strength material for durability and performance Realistic hypercar look with detailed aerodynamic elements Optimised for high-speed touring car racing with advanced airflow design The ZOOlite moulding process used in the Hyrax reduces the weight of the standard 0.7mm body by approximately 10g while lowering the vehicle’s centre of gravity. Each Hyrax body kit includes high quality rear wing mounting material and a detailed decal sheet with grille, headlight and tail light designs. This makes your vehicle both performance-orientated and a visual eye-catcher on the racetrack.
Features:
– CAD design – Special, extremely flat hypercar body with more realistic design and lower air resistance – Low yet realistic front end with sculpted bonnet and radiator grille details – Large wheel arches ensure that the tyres do not drag in any position – ZOOlite 0.7 mm standard body weighs approx. 75 g on average including mudguards – Detailed decal sheet – Mudguard attachment – The body requires the latest touring car chassis with extremely low shock absorber position. Older chassis up to 2023 are not compatible due to the low and realistic body construction.
The technical data: Scale: 1:10 touring car Wheelbase: approx. 257mm Width: approx. 192mm front / 193mm rear
ZERDA
ZooRacing is finally entering the popular GT12 1:12 racing class with the ZERDA GT12 body. This GT body impresses with its stylish high-performance design and sets new standards in terms of handling and downforce in this fascinating racing class.
Extreme downforce and efficient airflow enable extremely precise cornering and direction changes. At the same time, the rear is optimally positioned on the track. The result is easy to drive and fluid handling on all types of track. ZooRacing has reworked all areas from the front to the rear for this completely new bodywork.
From the large front splitter and the narrow and aerodynamically optimised front wheel arches to the advanced, extremely low cab and the large, efficient rear wing. The body is extremely flat and aerodynamically optimised for super-fast and stable cornering and high speeds. This is particularly advantageous in stock racing, where low drag is the key to success. The entire surface of the ZERDA is smooth and free of sharp edges, which prevents unwanted turbulence. This ensures high efficiency and stability of the bodywork in any racing situation.
The rear wing has two different cut lines for long/short cuts and low/high cuts – depending on the local racing regulations or the desired downforce settings. Thanks to the optimised aerodynamics, ZooRacing was also able to give the ZERDA a modern, timeless and appealing design. Last but not least, the ZERDA features ZooRacing’s characteristic cut lines for the wheels and lines for the body mounting holes, which make fitting the body a breeze.
The ZERDA Zerda comes with windscreen masks and a highly detailed decal sheet with window frames and tinted windows, which provides a realistic look and reduces the amount of painting required.
Features:
CAD design
Special 1:12 Racing GT12 body with balanced downforce between front and rear axle
0.4 mm AIRlite body
0.7 mm ULTRAlight standard body
Detailed decal sheet with window frames, tinted windows and window stickers
Round 3 of the Essex Winter Series took place this Sunday at the regular venue in the South-East of the UK.
HARPER WINS MODIFIED TO KEEP CHAMPIONSHIP WIDE OPEN
Elliott Harper secured pole position in the LRP Modified class, but the Schumacher driver had a tight battle with Kyle Branson throughout. Kyle, who took the win at R1 of the series in October, topped the opening round with his Tonisport-backed Awesomatix, before Harper took control to win the remaining rounds. The winner at R2 of the series, Alex Thurston, lined up third with his Mugen Seiki, ahead of Xray’s Harley Eldridge and the Schumacher of Peter Eagles.
In the final, Elliott remained in control and quickly opened up a lead at the front ahead of Kyle. The battle on track was for third, with Harley continually closing in on Alex. After keeping the pressure on, Harley finally found a way past Alex in the final minute of the race to move to a podium position. Almost at the same moment, Kyle tapped a corner, damaging his car. He held on to second place, but Harley quickly closed in. Kyle did all he could to keep Harley behind, but with a damaged car it proved difficult, leading to Harley making an excellent high-speed pass through the infield section on the penultimate lap. TO add to Kyle’s injury, Alex then also managed to sneak through on the final lap to secure a podium result. All this action left Elliott to cruise to victory at the front.
This keeps the overall championship wide open, with Elliott, Alex and Kyle each having a win with two rounds of the series left to run.
FINLAY HOLDS ON IN STOCK TO CLINCH CHAMPIONSHIP
Zak Finlay confirmed his hold over the Rush Stock class with the TQ and Win at the event, but it feels like his grip may be slipping slighty as the chasing pack seemed closer this time. Zak, who also took the win at the EWS International in December, took three rounds of qualifying with his Zombie-backed Awesomatix, with Schumacher designer Andy Murray topping Q3 to line up second on the grid. Finley Whitelock kept himself in the mix for the series podium by securing third with his Schumacher, ahead of the Awesomatix of Sam Nicholls and the Iris of Billy Fletcher.
Zak secured the series win by leading every lap of the final – perhaps finding a little more speed by the final, but also helped by Andy having to constantly think about his team-mate behind as Finley stayed close throughout. However he was never able to try a serious pass and thus the top three finished in the order they started. Billy moved up to fourth with a good pass on Sam half way through the race, leaving Sam to round out the top five after five minutes.
BLAKE CONFIRMED AS FWD CHAMPION
Dan Blake continued his domination of the ToniSport Front Wheel Drive class, once again lining up on pole position and winning the A Final. As in previous events, Michael Chapman looked close throughout qualifying, especially after topping Q1, but Dan kept seeming to find more pace as the day went on, extending his lead from Q2 onwards. Former BTCC Champion Jake Hill took third on the grid, with Nathan Parker lining up fourth and Thomas Looney fifth.
Once again, Dan was in control of the final, leading from start to finish to secure the championship with two rounds remaining. Michael held on to second place, and Nathan moved into a podium position with a great pass on Jake at the very first corner. Jake finished in fourth – his first EWS podium feeling even closer – and Thomas took fifth in the race.
The series continues in February with Round 4, and whilst the Stock and Front Wheel Drive titles are decided, it may give a clearer picture of who the podium contenders will be – as well as moving someone in Modified closer to the overall series win!
After almost nine years away from active competition, Steven Weiss is making his return to the RC scene and officially joins RC Maker. The former Vice European Champion brings not only his passion for RC racing, but also a wealth of experience and technical expertise.
Steven will support RC Maker as a Technical Advisor, assisting the team at all major races. With his deep knowledge of car setup, car development, and race strategy, he will play a key role in helping the team grow stronger and move forward.
With Steven Weiss on board, RC Maker gains a highly experienced and motivated expert who will have a lasting impact on the team’s performance both on and off the track. Welcome back to the RC scene, Steven!
Steven Weiss says: “I am very proud to be part of this young and talented team. I first met Ryan in 2008 at the IFMAR World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, and now, 18 years later, we are working together again. Even though I stopped my active racing career in 2016, my passion for the sport never stopped. I have followed RC Maker from the beginning, starting with the release of the SP1. I am really impressed by the design, the performance on track, and how fast the brand has grown in such a short time. Being part of this journey means a lot to me, and I am proud to work together with RC Maker. I am fully motivated, ready for this challenge, and excited about what’s coming next.”
Timo Siebert adds: “I am very happy that we were able to convince Steven Weiss of our team and the path we want to take. We already worked together for the first time last weekend in Hasloh, and it was very productive and constructive for the entire team. He is a real asset to us.”
Welcome to the Team Steven! Lots of success and fun ahead
The ETS crew around Scotty Ernst and Uwe Rheinard wishes you a Merry Christmas and a great time with your family and friends. Enjoy a few days off from all the stress of life and simply have a good time.
We would like to thank you for another fantastic year of racing in the Euro Touring Series – perhaps the most successful year we have ever had. Without you, none of this would have been possible, and we will continue to do our utmost to offer you great events in the future.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor
Team Cayote
our Primary Sponsors
FLYSKY — AWESOMATIX — HOBBYWNG — MATRIX — 1UP RACING
With the IFMAR worlds taking place at the newly buit “Hongyu GDC” facility in the city of Kung-Fu – Foshan (China) – the FEMCA championship race was kind of an inofficial warm-up race for the biggest proce in our sport. The GDC facility is unbelievable from what we can see on pictures and videos and is somthing like a new mekka in the world of RC.
Infinity driver and current world champion Bruno Coelho was able to win the race ahead of Awesomatix racer Lucas Urbain, and reigning ETS champion Michal Orlowski (Schumacher). Ryosuke Yamamoto (Infinity) and Pekko Iivonen (Schumacher) completed the Top 5 ahead of Naoto Matsukura (Infinity) and Akio Sobue (Axon). In the 13.5 Stock class, it was also the Top Qualifier Shin Sawada (Xray) who took the title. After a bad start to the finals spinning on lap 1, the Xray driver won A2 & 3 from team-mate Adam Izsay. Unfortunately the delayed time schedule meant ARC’s A1 winner Enrico Jung had to leave for his flight back to Germany so it was Jan Ratheisky who completed an all Xray podium in Foshan.
Many top drivers attended the race, others (Rheinard and Völker for example) flew in to practice in the week after with not having to face a racing schedule.
