Amazing season from the two yougsters to be decided in Austria. Siebert to finish his season third overall!

Two young drivers made the show all season long in the Orca 21.5 Stock class – Tristan Bergheim and Phil Langner. The two Awesomatix drivers won two races each and Bergheim will bring a one point lead to the season finale in Wiener Neustadt. Langer was on a high as he won the last two races on carpet so it is really tough to pick a favourite here. Everybody is excited about the title decision and we are sure that both drivers will go for a clean and intense fight on track – good luck guys!

Tristan Bergheim – “I want to have fun at the season finale and next season I will move into a different class”

Tristan, we’re expecting a great showdown between you and Phil Langner in the last race of the season. With a win, the title is yours. How are you approaching the race?

I’m taking a relaxed approach to the final and trying to make the most of my opportunities!

Have you been practicing a lot recently or have you been taking it a little easier ahead of the grand finale?

I’ve been practicing since the ETS in Daun and have changed a few things. Apart from that, I’m trying to take a relaxed approach to the final and have fun in Austria.

Overall, you had a great season in the 21.5 Stock class. Will you stay in the class next season or will you race something else?

The season went well for me, I learnt a lot and I hope to finish successfully. I have other goals for next season and will not continue in this class!

Phil Langner – “My father invests so much time in me and I am very grateful to him for that”

You have improved enormously during the current season. Did you really expect to be in contention for the title at the last race?

Honestly, I didn’t expect it at the beginning. After Aigen I saw a chance to fight for a place on the podium, but I didn’t expect to be able to race for the title at all. But it is a really nice feeling and I enjoy it a lot!

You must be looking forward to the last race of the season and the exciting duel with Tristan. How have you prepared for it so far?

I’ve been training a lot with my dad, Manuel (Stankowitz), Totti (Baggendorf) and Nadine (Zühlke) over the last few weekends in Hasloh at the Megadrom, and we’ve also been to Braunschweig once at the MSC Polizei Braunschweig. I just try to do as many laps as possible 🙂

Who has helped you the most to become so fast?

Dad, through all the time he invests in the hobby with me. Manuel (Stankowitz) and Toni (Rheinard) with lots of tips and support. Another thing which is always pushing me are the battles with Totti for the fastest laptimes at the Megadrom in Hasloh!

Have you already thought about the new season and which class you would like to race in the future?

I would like to drive 17.5 Pro Stock but we haven’t finally discussed it. But no matter what, I’m looking forward to Vienna first and then to the new season. See you all at the season finale 🙂

Timo Siebert – “I never thought I could finish P3 in the overall season and I am very happy with it”

Timo, you had a strong season so far and you have alreads secured third place overall in the championship. What does it mean for you and have you expected that before the season?

If someone had told me before the ETS Apeldoorn that I would be in P3 at the end of the season, I would have laughed at them. I didn’t expect it because I’ve been doing the hobby so actively for 4 years now. I am very proud of my development, which would not have been possible without the Mugen team. The third place means a lot to me because I have been following the hobby through my father since I was a baby (my first word as a child was Yokomo). All the training and bothering other people with questions has payed off.

The 21.5 Stock class has now done a complete season. How are you rating this ETS racing class and will you race it again in Season #17?

I think the change from 17.5T to 21.5T was definitely the right decision. The battles in the finals have definitely increased and you can fight and drive better together, but it’s not too slow on big tracks and easier to drive for beginners. I’m going to ride 21.5T again next season and then I plan to step up into 17.5T 🙂

What does the Euro Touring Series in general mean for you and what makes you coming to the races again and again?

The atmosphere and the meeting of so many RC crazy people is what makes the ETS special for me. The fact that you can meet many people from the team in person and exchange ideas and can race and learn together with the elite of RC car drivers.
Since the ETS Daun 2020 was my second race ever, the ETS is very important to me. There is no racing series where I have driven more races than the ETS!

Thalheimer, Zierold, or Kölbel – the winner takes it all!

Michel Zierold, Mirco Thalheimer, and René Kölbel – these three drivers can still win the 40+ Masters championship ahead of ETS RD6. For every driver it`s the same: Who wins the race from TQ will be our champion – no matter what the others do. If somebody else will win, things can get more complicated (points wise) and Michel Zierlod will have the most comfortable situation. We quickly talked to all three drivers before the ETS season finale in Wiener Neustadt, AUT.

Michel Zierold – “I will be fully prepared for the final”

The title fight is super exciting in your class. You, Mirco Thalheimer and Renè Kölbel can become champion. How well prepared are you for the showdown?

Preparations are underway. Personally, I first needed a short break. A break like this is a good way to recharge your batteries. Over the next two weeks, I’ll be training so that I’m fully prepared for the final.

You’ve recently launched some pretty cool products on the market. What does it feel like when you suddenly find your ideas on other drivers’ pit tables?

Yes, Boom RC is already my little baby. It really makes my heart beat faster when I see my products on other people’s tables. I would really like to thank every single person who appreciates and buys my products. You can be sure that I haven’t finished yet.

If you become champion, how will you celebrate that night?

Becoming a champion is definitely a big goal that requires a lot of work and a bit of luck. When the time comes, I will spontaneously come up with something special. Even if it doesn’t work out, I have to say that I enjoy my time at events like this. They are memories that stay with me forever!

Mirco Thalheimer – “Even if carpet racing is not my biggest strength, I will do everything I can to be in the mix for the overall title”

Mirco, the season is coming to an end and you’ve managed to record your first race win at the ETS. You are also still fully in the fight for the 40+ Masters title. How would you describe your season?

The season got off to a very positive start in Apeldoorn. Unfortunately, bad racing luck prevented a better result. I had the perfect car in Aigen. Everything was just right, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to take the final TQ due to a wrong decision in the last heat. Starting from P2, I couldn’t find a way past Michel Zierold. He had a perfect race, even though I had the faster car.
Andernach was finally the first ETS victory. I had a perfect car again and was able to convert this into a TQ and race win, although I was extremely nervous in the last A final. Hann.Münden and Daun were very mixed with not so good results. I’m just not as strong on carpet as I am on tarmac. It’s going to be a very exciting final in Wiener Neustadt and I’m really looking forward to the race!

Your mission actually sounds quite simple 🙂 Pole position and victory, and you’re champion. How much would it mean to you to win the title and become Manuel Stankowitz’s successor?

Yes, it sounds simple. But it won’t be. My competitors are extremely strong on carpet and will do everything they can to realise this in the results. An ETS title is something very special, it would mean a lot to me to win this prestigious title. I will do everything I can to be in the mix for it!

You have been a regular at the ETS for many years. What is it that keeps you coming back to the races?

An ETS race is always something very special. Not only on the track, but also off the track. You get to meet lots of people who love this wonderful sport as much as you do. The many conversations, the shared enjoyment of the sport, these are the things that make an ETS so special. Even if things can get a bit rough in the Masters class, you can get on with each other normally again later on. And that’s exactly why I sacrifice most of my annual holiday to be at the start of the ETS races.

René Kölbel – “I owe a large part of this season`s results to my friend Patrick Gollner”

Renè, you drove your first touring car season in the ETS and still have the opportunity to win the championship title with a TQ and victory. What do you personally think about this great situation and your season?

I was persuaded by my mates to start racing touring cars again because I turned 40. The fact that I can still win the championship now is a confirmation of a great season for me, with a lot of work and commitment. Especially from my mate Patrick (Gollner), to whom I also owe a lot!

You won the first race of the season in Apeldoorn. How did you manage to be on pace so quickly?

As I said, after I was persuaded and then went on the track with Patrick for the first time with the Xray X4 I had a good feeling. But to get the first win in Apeldoorn was just MEGA and I would never have expected that. It was one of my best RC moments beside winning my first Formula race at the ETS.

Regardless of the outcome of this exciting title fight, will you be competing in these two classes again next season?

It’s just a lot of fun in the ETS racing series and I hope for a great season finale where I will give it my all again. I’m already planning to compete in both classes again next season yes!

Xray racer Adam Izsay is the Champion of the Hobbywing Frontwheel class at the end of ETS Season #16 2023/24. Izsay sealed the deal with a victory in Daun and made it three consecutive FWD titles for Xray. The racer from Hungary has improved his racing so much in the last three years and we are sure that this ETS championship was not the last title he won. Congratulations champion!

Congratulations Adam, nobody can overtake you anymore in the rankings of the FWD class – you are the champion. How does it feel to win the ETS class with the highest number of entries since many years?

Thank you, it feels very good as FWD not only has the most entries, but it’s also a very competitive class. I was practicing and testing a lot to be able to win as many rounds as possible and luckily it turned out well for me!

As we mentioned, the FWD class always has the most entries. What do you think makes this class so famous at the ETS and many other racing series?

I think it’s really popular because it has the perfect speed with the Hobbywing ETS combo, not to fast but still really enjoyable to drive for every level of drivers. Also if you don’t race for the top positions you don’t need to worry about the setup as the car works nearly everywhere with the same setup, on the other hand if you fight for the win your setup needs to be on point as the racing is super close that’s why I also like the class so much.

You have raced ProStock and/or Modified together with FWD at most of the races. How difficult is it to switch from slower to super fast and backwards all weekend long?

I always prefer to drive more classes and I also practice like that usually, so after some time I got used to the big change especially between FWD and modified, but for sure it needed some practice at the beginning as it is not super easy.

For sure, the FWD cars are not crazy fast. From your point of view: What are the most import things to get right on the car setup to be as competitive as possible?

Yes they are not crazy fast, but in my opinion that makes the racing so close and enjoyable. To be in the top 10 for sure your setup needs to be on point just like in the other classes, since it’s slower it’s also more difficult to find that tiny bit of advantage, but still the car must be easy to drive as the racing is always so close and you can not miss a single corner.

What was your hardest FWD race this season and the closest battle you can remember?

Almost all 5 rounds were equally difficult, at the beginning of the season I was still learning the class and needed to figure out the setup, but still every round was a close battle for the win. I think about some super close fights with Roman Borschel, especially in Andernach and Daun. I enjoyed it a lot to fight with him!

Schumacher driver Andreas Stiebler from Austria is a dominant force in the ETS Formula class. He won the championship last season and has now successfully defended his title against the best Formula drivers in Europe. Andreas is one of the most sympathic guys you can imagine, always helpful, and very fast on track. Congratulations champion!

Andreas, you secured the championship title in the Formula class at the last race in Daun – congratulations on that. How much does it mean to you that you were able to defend your title from last season?

Thank you very much! Yes, it means a lot to me that I was able to defend my title from the previous season. Winning it once is great, but showing that you can do it again is something special. I would like to thank the whole Team Schumacher for their great support on and off the track. And of course to my family and friends, who always cheer me on!

You were up against tough rivals like Ratheisky, Ehrbar and Kölbel again this season. Did you have to invest more time and training than last season to continue to hold your own against these fast guys?

I already realised before the season that it would be even tougher with the strong and dense field of riders. I didn’t really invest any more time, as the experience I gained in the previous season was already very helpful. When I got my Icon 2 Worlds, I spent a whole day familiarising myself with it. I then used a training day to provoke the handling characteristics that I wasn’t quite so happy with in Hann. Münden and that couldn’t be solved in the short time available on the race weekend, thus perfecting my setup step by step. That proved to be the case in Daun and I was able to adapt my Icon 2 Worlds to the track in Daun with a small setup change.

Have you already celebrated or will you only do so when the season is officially over?

I haven’t really celebrated yet. I don’t think that will happen until the season is over. But after the race in my home country (Wiener Neustadt) I will definateley celebrate a little bit with the important people 🙂

In addition to the Formula class, you also raced ProStock this season. How satisfied are you with your performance there? You could see that you were getting faster and faster.

I’m very happy with my performance and how I’ve improved over the season in ProStock. I didn’t think I’d be in contention for the bump-up to the A final in a race this season. Let`s see what will happen next season!

What would you say to someone who has never attended an ETS before and might not be confident enough to go?

Just take part. The motto is that taking part is everything. Just try to have fun at such a big racing event. You get to know so many great, nice and helpful people, which also allows you to improve your own skills. I think racing at the ETS makes every driver better as the conditions to learn are just perfect all the time!