Chassis Focus – Eric Dankel

Chassis Name – Capricorn LAB C02
Engine – Novarossi
Radio/Servos – Sanwa
Remarks – Eric Dankel is using the Capricorn LAB C02 1/10th car here at the Euro Nitro Series ‘Pilot Series’ Rd1 in Germany. He drives a mainly stock chassis but relies on a front spool and the optional massively cut out radio plate for added front flex, an option that many drivers from a variety of manufacturers are trying here in Hockenheim. The solid front axle and radio plate options are mainly used to adapt the setup to the somewhat unique and fast layout of the Hockenheim circuit and to get the best out of the Enneti handout tyres.

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Chassis Focus – Michael Salven

Chassis Name – Serpent S977
Engine – Xceed
Radio/Servos – Sanwa
Remarks – Serpent designer Michael Salven is of course running the new S977 Viper 1/8th car here in Hockenheim. The car is equipped with some of the latest option parts such as the floating flex radio plate, carbon fibre wheel discs and steering knuckle extensions, aluminium servo saver, radio plate brace and also a rear radio plate holder made from alloy. Other than that the car is standard and talking to Michael he told us that can use his standard setup with the handout tyres, only switching to a slightly softer front damper setup to overcome minor oversteering tendencies.

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Chassis Focus – Robert Pietsch

Chassis Name – Mugen MRX5 WC Spec
Engine – Novarossi
Radio/Servos – Sanwa
Remarks – Mugen Seiki’s Robert Pietsch is running the latest incarnation of the MRX5 1/8th car here in Hockenheim called the WC Spec. The reigning World Champion and winner of last year’s Nitro Challenge uses the new wire-type front anti-roll bar, the updated composite front bumper brace and body mount that brings the front body posts to ‘pre wire anti-roll bar’ positions as well as a dual position middle belt tensioner with two ball raced pressure rolls. On the rear end the car sports updated and reinforced suspension mounts with a thicker middle section for added strength. Last but not least Robert’s car sports a new chassis made out of a different alloy material and a new aluminium clutchbell and clutch shoes.

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Chassis Focus – Dirk Wischnewski

Chassis Name – Xray NT1’13
Engine – Novarossi
Radio/Servos – Sanwa
Remarks – Xray factory driver Dirk Wischnewski is running a stock NT1 1/10th scale car here at Hockenheim round of the Euro Nitro Series ‘Pilot Series’. Having run the car in open practice on Thursday he found that the handout Enneti tyres made his car understeer so that he had to adjust the suspension setup accordingly. Dirk now uses a much softer damper and spring setting and also had to cut the radio plate next to the steering crank to allow the chassis to flex more.

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Chassis Focus – Shepherd Velox V10 Pro

Chassis Name – Shepherd Velox V10 Pro
Engine – Sonic
Radio/Servos – KO Propo/Futaba
Remarks – Shepherd are debuting a new 1:10 touring car at the opening race of the Euro Nitro Series ‘Pilot Series’ in Germany called the Velox V10 Pro. 70 percent of the car’s parts are new such as the lower wishbones, suspension mounts, front and rear bulkheads and drivetrain parts. The car now features an adjustable front roll centre using different plastic inserts in the aluminium suspension mounts which allows for easy roll characteristic and weight shift changes. Another new features is the front wire-type anti-roll bar with suspension-side pivot ball mounting, a new smaller front diff and a small and very lightweight aluminium steering bellcrank with adjustable Ackermann set by shifting the steering lever forth and back.

Coming to the rear end the updated version of the Velox V10 features redesigned lower A-arms that point towards the front in order to reduce the wheelbase by 2mm. This also relocates the lower shock mounting position to increase the damper performance and to make for improved shock protection in the event of a crash. Swinging over to the upper camber links these are now made from a ball cup and turnbuckle construction over the previous full arm design. Last but not least come new rear low profile bulkheads and a slightly reshaped lower chassis plate. The new parts help reduce the weight of the car by around 60 grams compared to its predecessor.

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Rain postpones Day 1 of ENS

The much anticipated new Euro Nitro Series will start a day later than originally planned as racers woke to a very wet morning in Hockenheim, Germany, leaving organisers no choice but to postpone Day 1 of the event which should have seen 5 rounds of controlled practice.  With the weather down for the day and set to improve mid morning tomorrow, Saturday, it is hoped to be able to get the event officially underway at around lunchtime.  Sunday’s weather is giving perfect conditions for racing.  Despite this morning’s conditions one driver decided he could do with some wet practice, bravely taking to the track with his touring car but his first attempt on the soaked track lasted just two laps before the engine decided it had consumed enough water. Today’s weather is in total contrast to yesterday’s set-up day when the sun shown down on the home of Formula 1’s European Grand Prix with many drivers including most of the main contenders able to get in some track track time as the host club ran a day of open practice.

View our event image gallery here.