Kurzbuch & Wischnewski aiming to build on early ENS lead
Simon Kurzbuch and Dirk Wischnewski travel to Germany this weekend aiming to build on the early points lead victory brought them at the Euro Nitro Series season opener in April. Following an 8-week break since the Bologna event, the onroad nitro championship returns to Minidrom Ettlingen which last year made its first appearance on the ENS calendar bringing contrasting results for the two drivers. For 1:10 specialist Wishnewski, his home race would end a 6-year drought of international wins as he notched up both his and Team Shepherd’s first victory in the high profile championship. For Kurzbuch, then as the reigning ENS Champion, the race would effectively end his title hopes as the Top Qualifier finished only 7th. As he struggled, up front it was the new champion to be Dario Balestri who would claim his first 1:8 victory of the ENS.
Benefiting from wet conditions to win Round 1 in Italy, having by his own admission struggled in the dry qualifying ending up only 8th fastest, Wischnewski showed genuine pace in Ettlingen last year, qualifying 2nd. As Round 2 is the last ENS encounter before this year’s World Championships, the German will be looking for a repeat win this Sunday not only to help his ENS title aspirations but, with the majority of his World’s competition racing in Ettlingen, as a psychological boost for Italy in August.
On paper, as a team it is Serpent who look the strongest coming into the weekend. Last year Dominic Greiner was Top Qualifier and leading the race until he ran out of fuel. In qualifying for the season opener he and Alessio Mazzeo qualified P2 & 3 with last year’s season finale winner Mazzeo coming very close to backing that up with another win on the last lap.
Having struggled in the wet final at Round 1, it his first wet race in over 10-years, Bruno Coelho will be looking to get his and Xray’s challenge back on track this weekend. Top Qualifier in Bologna but missing out on the podium, the Portuguese wasn’t really at the races at the German round last year qualifying 9th and finishing 11th but riding high in the ETS the form is certainly there.
In 1:8, World Champion Kurzbuch goes into the weekend as the hot favourite but he can expect strong competition from within his own Shepherd team. Oliver Mack claimed a hugely popular European Championship title in Ettlingen last year and was also strong in the ENS encounter qualifying 4th. Aside from Mack, Kurzbuch’s main competition can be expected to come from reigning champion Balestri. Top Qualifier at Round 1 but losing out on the win in the pits, the Capricorn driver will be out to make amends for that at a track that set him on his way to lifting the prestigious ENS title. Runner-up to Balestri on that occasion, Robert Pietsch will be looking to give Mugen’s MRX6 it first ENS glory.
The big unknown of the weekend is going to be the new Infinity team. Making their debut at Round 1, the Japanese newcomer and its high profile driver line-up are certain to be stronger following their experience gained in Italy. The best represented manufacturer in the A-Main with three cars, Carmine Raiola qualified 3rd and was their best finisher in 6th. With legend of the sport Lamberto Collari and current ENS 1:10 Champion Jilles Groskamp also in the main event, these two very methodical drivers will have analysed every aspect of Round 1 and can be expected to be stronger bringing with them the rest of the large team. Having said all that, Europe’s current inclement weather looks set to play its part in proceedings, however for when it is dry Enneti will be providing the controlled tyre for the weekend.
