Track Focus – L.Collari RC Raceway

Track Name – L.Collari RC Raceway
Owner – Lamberto Collari
Country – Italy
Location – Bologna
Direction – Anti-clockwise
Surface – Asphalt
Previous ENS races hosted – 1 (2015)

Making its first Euro Nitro Series calendar appearance last year when it hosted the season opener, Italy’s first ever permanent track is again the venue for the start of the 2016 ENS.  Built in 1978, the track is responsible for starting the career of one of the RC racing all time great Lamberto Collari.  Only 6-years old when the track then called Pista Futura was built, it is here where the 9-time 1:8 Onroad World Champion mastered his legendary driving skills and things turned full circle in 2013 when Collari, together with Luca Rauli, took ownership of the track which has aptly been renamed L.Collari RC Raceway.

Retaining its original fast 308 metre long layout over its 38-year existence, one change to the track since last year’s ENS visit is a cleaning of the track surface in January.  Last resurfaced 8-years ago, in preparation for the 1:5 European Championships it will host in July the track was polished with a steel ball cutting agent that clears away the tyre build up and makes the track surface more abrasive providing better traction for the large rubber tyres the class uses.  Unfortunately for the ENS which uses foam tyres, Contact the official tyre suppliers for the opening round of ENS Season #3,  the work has resulted in lower traction.  Reigning 1:10 Champion Jilles Groskamp said the lower traction has made for slower lap times but also means more tyre wear as the cars are sliding around more, especially in the 1:8 division.  On the track layout, the new factory Infinity driver said ‘it’s wide open’ adding ‘while you always need a good engine it is especially important here’.  On double duty this weekend, racing Maxima powered cars in both 1:8 and 1:10, he said in 1:10 ‘it is difficult to find good steering as a result of the high speed’.

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