2023 Season Kicks Off With Huge Entry!
The 2023 Euro Nitro Series officially got underway today, featuring an entry list of nearly 150 drivers. This makes it one of the largest ENS events ever, and certainly the biggest for about 4 or 5 years. We are really thankful to all the drivers and teams for their support! Also helped out by great weather, the famous Ettlingen track is the host for the season opener this year.
1/8 Scale
Greiner leads close field
Defending series champion Dominic Greiner leads the field in the 1/8 Scale class at the end of Friday’s activities. Seemingly in control of the class as he topped the Seeding rounds, ahead of Oliver Kraehemann and Simon Kurzbuch, the Capricorn driver found the field closed up when switching to Qualifying mode.
Q1 went to Simon Kurzbuch, the new Mugen signing snatching the round from rival Greiner on the very last lap. Behind these two, Lars Hoppe kept the Shepherd flag flying with third, with Kraehemann (ARC) in fourth and Rick Vrielijnck (Infinity) in fifth.
Greiner was back on top in Q2, but taking the round by just two-thousandths of a second over his new team mate, Merlin Depta. Teemu Leino showed improved pace with his Infinity to move into third, with Kurzbuch running out of fuel as he crossed the line but hanging on to fourth. Hoppe rounded out the top five this time.
Two more rounds tomorrow will set the Finals grids, so it’s all to play for!
Link to the results on MyRCM: https://www.myrcm.ch/myrcm/report/en/70178/308679
1/10 Scale
Diekmann Dominating 1/10 Scale
With last year’s champion Jilles Groskamp moving over to the 1/8 Scale class now, the favourite this year was clearly Melvin Diekmann. Diekmann kept that message strong by being fastest overall in Seeding Practice, and then topping both qualifying rounds held today.
Juan Hidalgo took the second best time in Seeding, but two poor qualifying rounds sees the Spanish driver needing to do some work overnight to get back to the sharp end. Milan Holthuis is Diekmann’s closes challenger in the Qualifying rankings so far. The Dutch driver took his Infinity to fourth in Q1, and then second in Q2 to sit second overnight.
Leon Fuhrmann is the stand-out driver today, with third in both Qualifiers, to place third overall at the end of Friday – eyes will be on him tomorrow to see how much further the youngster can go! Spain’s honour has been upheld, with Raul Amella fourth in the standings, and a very happy Patrick Fankhauser having two solid runs to be fifth overnight.
Link to the results on MyRCM: https://www.myrcm.ch/myrcm/report/en/70178/308677
1/8 +40 Masters
Masters Class Seemingly Wide-Open After Friday
Whilst Michael Salven stamped his authority on the Seeding Practice, he could not convert that speed into consistent Qualifying runs in the afternoon, leaving the field very open with a wide range of results!
Officially, the overnight rankings show Belgian driver Peter Thys at the top, with a P4 in the opening round and a TQ in the second. Daniel Toennessen was third in Q1 and second in Q2, and thus sits second overall at the end of Friday. John Lenaers made it two Belgians in the top three overall, with second in Q1 and fifth in Q2. The top five is rounded out by Remy Hasler and Luca Martinelli.
Link to the results on MyRCM: https://www.myrcm.ch/myrcm/report/en/70178/308678
1/8 Sport
Wenger In Control Of Sport Class
Swiss pilot and long-time ENS supporter Martin Wenger seems to be the man to beat in the Sport class this weekend. Now with official championship status following it’s debut at the end of 2022, Wenger set the best time 3-lap Seeding time, and then led the two Qualifying rounds today.
Behind Wenger, Jan-Simon Knispel is second overall overnight, with Joachim Grauer third. The rest of the top five is Luigi Pili and Gert-Jan Van Schaik.
Link to the results on MyRCM: https://www.myrcm.ch/myrcm/report/en/70178/308676
Qualifying continues on Saturday with two further rounds, before the Lower Finals get underway Saturday evening. The Main Finals will take place on Sunday!