July 7, 2017

Kurzbuch takes Q1 from Balestri

Simon Kurzbuch has TQ’d the opening round of 1:8 qualifying at Round 2 of the Euro Nitro Series in Germany.  With rain delaying the schedule, the reigning champion took what would turn out to be the day’s only qualifier from arch rival Dario Balestri, both drivers previous ENS race winner at the Minidrom Ettlingen track.  Behind them Robert Pietsch maintained the strong form he showed in the morning’s seeding practice as he set the 3rd fastest time to make it an all Champions affair Top 3.  Having topped seeding, Bruno Coelho would end up fourth with the ENS France winner taking the blame for less than perfect driving over the 4-minutes.

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July 7, 2017

Dankel again in Q2 at ENS Germany

It was a good first day at ENS Germany for Eric Dankel as the Mugen driver made it two out of two in the second round of qualifying at Minidrom Ettlingen. Having led a Mugen 1-2 in the opening qualifier, the German picked up where he left off when Q2 was finally run after a number showers delayed the day’s schedule. With Dankel having a much greater advantage in the second qualifier it was Alessio Mazzeo, 1.2-seconds back, who would be closest to the German. With a lack of rear grip forcing him to pull off in the first round, Eduardo Escandon would resume his Top 3 seeding form and take 3rd for the round ahead of Dirk Wischnewski with Bruno Coelho and Thilo Tödtmann completing the Top 6. Having got a P4 in Q1, reigning champion Teemu Leino would hit trouble just as the cars completed the warm-up for Q2 – the screw in the pulley on the two speed shaft coming loose with him missing the first 3-minutes of the qualifier as they fixed it.

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July 7, 2017

Dankel leads Mugen 1-2 in Q1

Eric Dankel led a Mugen 1-2 in the opening round of 1:10 qualifying at ENS Germany, the former champion taking a very close encounter ahead of new team-mate Dirk Wischnewski with less than 1/2 a second separating the Top 4.  Behind the German duo, Bruno Coelho would complete the Top 3 followed by Teemu Leino, the reigning champion having a ‘little mistake’ on his final lap.  After an impressive run in practice when he posted the third fastest time, Eduardo Escandon would be the leading driver to hit issues in Q1 with his car unexplainably undriveable. With Dankel having to lift to avoid the out of shape Spaniard, the Shepherd driver would pull off expecting to find something wrong with his car which he didn’t.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.


July 7, 2017

Coelho tops 1:8 practice in Ettlingen

Having taken an unexpected 1:8 win at the Euro Nitro Series season opener in France, Bruno Coelho has topped seeding practice at Round 2 of the championship in Germany. The Xray driver was quickest over 3-laps from reigning champion Simon Kurzbuch with Robert Pietsch completing the Top 3 at Minidrom Ettlingen. With the track’s unique fine asphalt surface challenging drivers in terms of them finding a set-up that gives consistency even over a short run, best of the Italian’s in practice would be Carmine Raiola who posted the fourth fastest time ahead of fellow countrymen Mirko Salemi and former race winner Dario Balestri.

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July 7, 2017

Wischnewski top seed at ENS Germany

Dirk Wischnewski is the top seed for qualifying at Round 2 of the Euro Nitro Series in Germany after the new Mugen signing set the fastest 3-consecutive laps in controlled practice at Minidrom Ettlingen.  Winner of the race in 2015, the German topped the times from Round 1 winner Bruno Coelho with Eduardo Escandon completing the Top 3.  On the podium at the season opener Erik Dankel was fourth fastest ahead of reigning champion Teemu Leino and Mulhouse second place finisher Alessio Mazzeo.

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July 6, 2017

Coelho’s rivals welcome return to familiar ground

With the 2017 Euro Nitro Series having opened in May with Mulhouse in France a new addition to the calendar, it is back to more familiar ground for teams this weekend (7-9 July) as Round 2 travels to Ettlingen in Germany. The third time the championship will visit the circuit, drivers will be hoping to recover ground from the dominant performance of Xray’s Bruno Coelho, who on the technical Mulhouse layout, became the frst driver in the four year history of the ENS to do the double on a weekend. As a result of this impressive achievement, the newly crowned ETS and EOS Champion finds himself leading the way in both the 1:10 and 1:8 standings of the nitro onroad championship but Ettlingen hasn’t been the best of hunting grounds for the Portuguese ace on the previous two visits. With results of 9th in 2015 and a slightly better 6th last year in 1:10, Coelho’s new increased tie in with nitro onroad stalwarts Fabio Domanin and Massimo Fantini mean a lot better can be expected this time round. With Alessio Mazzeo making it an Xray 1-2 in the 1:10 A-Main in France, this line-up should also contribute to Xray being a contender for the win this time out, with the duo appearing to work well together on their debut as team-mates at the season opener.

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July 6, 2017

Adam Drake TQs & wins at DTR Series Rd1

Last weekend Thunder Alley Raceway hosted the opening round of the DTR Series with the event attracting about 150 entries. Mugen’s Adam Drake was the top qualifier in Expert Nitro Buggy and took the win in the 20-minute final by over a lap and in front of Austin Pannone (Team Associated) 2nd and Shaun Kirkman (Tekno) 3rd.

Source: Mugen Seiki [mugenracing.com]


July 5, 2017

Dutch 1/8th IC Track Nationals Rd4 – Report

Round 4 of the Dutch 1/8th Nitro On-road Nationals was held at the MACH Heemstede track for the first time in a couple of years. In the premier NK class Roy Bakker was the man to beat and he would take the TQ from Joey Sorber in 2nd, Martin Zevenhoven 3rd and Robbin Hertong 4th. In the main final and following a somewhat chaotic start, Roy took the lead from Joey, Martin and Robin. Later Martin would find a way past Joey and he would eventually take over the lead following a mishap of Roy. Unfortunately his lead wouldn’t last as he suffered an engine problem three laps later while Joey also encountered problems that lead to a DNF. Up front and after the 30-minutes final, Roy Bakker (Capricorn) would bring home the win some two laps in front of Robbin Hertong (ARC) while Benny Ciere (ARC) secured himself the final podium spot following a strong performance in the final.

Continue reading the report here