Yokomo announce European TC driver lineup
Yokomo were in touch to officially announce their complete European on road team driver line up for 2011. The Japanese manufacturer has been virtually unbeatable this year in Europe with German driver Ronald Volker winning everything, with the exception of the Worlds, in the last 12 months. This kind of success has attracted a number of top level drivers to the team for the new year, including French contingent of Lucas Urbain, Loic Jasmin and Cyril N’Diaye. They join an already strong team which includes Yannic Pruemper, Vijami Kutvonen, Martin Hofer, Daniel Sieber and Michal Bok, the latter just joining the squad last November. Under the guidance of Robert Itoh and Umino Yukijiro we can once again expect Yokomo to perform strongly this season.
Ronald Volker (DE)
Current European Champion, Indoor & Outdoor TC
Multiple World’s A-finalist
Age: 26
“I’m more than happy to have the opportunity to stay two more years with Yokomo/LRP. Having had a great last year, I couldn’t be happier with this combination since I started back in 2009 and would like to thank Umino and Reto for the past and future support. With Lucas and Loic now in a stronger Yokomo Team, I’m looking forward we can achieve some great results in 2011 and 2012.”
Yannic Prumper (DE)
2010 World’s A-finalist & multiple Euro’s A-finalist
Age: 17
“My upcoming races for this year are the LRP Touring Car Masters, Off-Road World Championships and European Championships, Indoor and Outdoor TC European Championships, all ETS races, the German Nationals, and the IIC in Las Vegas.”
Lucas Urbain (FR)
2010 French National Champion & Euro’s A-finalist
Age : 21
“First I would like to thank Horizon Hobby and David Spashett for their support last season, they helped me to get the national title. I had a great year full of good memories. However in the end I felt I reached the maximum potential of the car which wouldn’t be updated. Then I grabbed the opportunity offered by Robert Itoh and Team Yokomo to join them for the two next years. It is an honor to join one of the most successful team in the world and I am looking forward to achieve even better this year. The 2011 DHI Cup has already been a success and the European Indoor Championship is coming next month. I can’t wait to get there and fight again with the touring car class top drivers.”
Loic Jasmin (FR)
2009 French National Champion & multiple Euro’s A-finalist
Age: 24
“Today, I’m proud to announce my new partnership with Team Yokomo for the next 2 years. Firstly, I want to thank all the team of Tamiya France for their support during the last 5 years. Now, it’s a new era for myself and I’m really happy to join Team Yokomo and so excited to run the pretty fast BD5 in the coming weeks. A big thanks to Robert Itoh and Team Yokomo to give me this great opportunity. “
Cyril N’Diaye (FR)
2007 French National Champion
Age: 31
“I am very happy to join the team, where the everyone is professional with very good communication. I hope we’ll all have a great season (which started very well with a new Victory of Ruunni(Ronald) at the DHI Cup ), and that I’ll perform very well at Euros and French nationals. After practicing a lot with the BD5W, I am looking forward to race my first official event in Czech Republic for the indoor Euros end of February.”
Martin Hofer (DE)
German Nationals & ETS Finalist
Age: 21
“Being the ‘oldest active European member’ of Team Yokomo, I can look back onto a few great years of racing and testing for one of the best companies in the business. The decision to extend the deal another 2 years was pretty easy and I’m really looking forward to being part of this competitive driver line-up. I will be competing at various ETS races, as well as World, European, and German National Championships in the Modified category trying to represent Yokomo the best way possible.”
Viljami Kutvonen (FI)
2010 Finnish National Champion & Euro’s A-finalist
Age: 18
“In 2011 I will concentrate on the Yokomo BD5 and aim for good results at both the Indoor and Outdoor European Championships. I will also participate in the Finnish Championship Series(8 rounds) for Touring Car and 4 rounds for 1/12th. After finishing high school this spring, I will do as much racing as I am able to. In summer I will try to attend the ETS races in Netherlands and Germany. After that, I look forward to the ETS Series in 2011-2012.”
Michal Bok (CZ)
Multiple Czech National Champion
Age: 25
“This year I plan to race the rest of the ETS series, the LRP TCM and then focus on the Off-road World Championships in Finland, the Off-road European Championships in France, and the On-road European Championships in Vienna, which is close to home so I’ll try to practice a lot on the track. I am very honored to be part of the team in both categories, On-road and Off-road and hope that I’ll be a useful team player.”
Daniel Sieber (DE)
Age: 23
“Last year when I came to the Team Yokomo, it was a great step forward for me and a big chance to improve myself. The support from yokomo at the race and between races is great. My first race with the BD5 was the IIC Las Vegas and the car was very great from the beginning. The car is very easy to drive and very fast. Now I use the Yokomo R12 and my tests were very successful. My next races are the European Championships for TC, 1/12th scale, the LRP Touring Car Masters, the German Nationals TC &1/12th scale, and the big event in Las Vegas, the IIC.”
Source: Yokomo [teamyokomo.com]
