New season of ENS fires up in Italy

This weekend (17-19 April) a new season of the Euro Nitro Series fires into action at the home of one of the sport’s all time legends Lamberto Collari as the 9-time World Champion owned L.Collari RC Raceway plays host to Round 1 of what is expected to be a fiercely contested second year of the championship. Again starting in Italy, the success of the maiden ENS season can be gauged by the entry for the first of the championships four rounds with the number of drivers up 25% on last year. With this a 1:8 World Championship year, the class widely recognised as the F1 category of rc racing, the opening race has attracted a world class entry with Europe’s best drivers being joined by racers from Japan, the United States and Taiwan.

Heading the 88 strong 1:8 entry in Bologna will be defending champion Simon Kurzbuch. Claiming the inaugural ENS title from former World Champion Robert Pietsch by just 2-points at the season finale, the Shepherd driver faces probably the toughest line-up seen to date. Having focused on 1:10 for the 2014 ENS, a number of prominent drivers have made the switch to 1:8 for 2015 including Kurzbuch’s own team-mate Francesco Tironi. Another Italian who has made the switch is Capricorn’s reigning European Champion Dario Balestri. A winner in 1:10, Balestri would like nothing more than to become the first driver to win in both categories.

The most winning manufacturer of last season winning three races thanks to Pietsch (winner in German) and Collari (winner of both Italian rounds), Mugen’s line-up is strengthened by the arrival of reigning Japanese National Champion & World finalist Shinnosuke Yokoyama. An employee of OS engines, one of the championship new sponsors this season, the 22-year-old hasn’t just made the long trip over to make up numbers and would love to beat the Italian’s in their own backyard. The only other manufacturer to win last season, although driver John Ermen has made the switch to class newcomer ARC, Xray will be pining their hopes on electric touring star of the moment Bruno Coehlo for success in 1:8.

Having made his ENS debut at the season finale in Fiorano last October, Paolo Morganti returns to join championship regular’s Michael Salven and Mark Green with Serpent having high hopes for the American this weekend. Reigning Italian Champion Daniele Ielasi will head an expanded BMT team with the Italian manufacturer having signed multiple world finalist Robin d’Hondt for 2015.

Having just signed 2012 Electric Touring Car World Champion & 2013 1:8 European Champion Jilles Groskamp, HB also have an expanded team with the Dutch ace joining former World Champion Adrien Bertin. Two of the smallest teams in the event, and having had some strong showings last season, WRC and BP Racing will looking to build on that with Andrea Pirani and Mirko Salemi.

In 1:10, reigning champion Eric Dankel leads an equally strong field. The Capricorn driver won twice last season on the way to wrapping up the title at the penultimate round and while four of last season’s championship Top 7 have moved to 1:8, the German faces a no less tougher field. Making only one ENS appearance in 2014, World Champion Alexander Hagberg heads a strong Xray challenge with Coehlo also racing in 1:10. Winner in Austria last year, World Championship Top Qualifier Dominic Greiner leads the Serpent challenge and is joined by electric touring car star Viktor Wilck who joins the team from Tamiya.

A race at which all drivers are racing on a handout tyre from Matrix, last year’s Round 1 Top Qualifier Teemu Leino will be hoping he can convert his always impressive qualifying speed into a victory. Also doing 1:10, Groskamp will strengthen the Japanese manufacturers quest for its first major international win with the R10. 2014 Championship runner-up Dirk Wischnewski will lead Team Shepherd at the high speed L.Collari RC Raceway.

Serpent Primary Sponsor of ENS Season 2015

The 2015 ENS season is about to start this weekend and Serpent is proud to once again be a primary Sponsor of the series, as they have been since the very beginning, to help promote the gas powered onroad racing scene. As always the Serpent Distributor in each of the ENS host countries will support the event and Serpent Europe will offer back-up as needed at all 4 races. A number of Serpent team drivers will also attend the race and they are available for set-up advice to help make you go faster. Make sure to approach them with your questions. In 1/10 scale the Serpent Natrix 748TQ is in action with Mazzeo, Greiner and Wilck, while in 1/8 scale the Serpent Viper 977WC will be in action with front runners Green, Morganti, Merlin and Serpent chief onroad designer Michael Salven at the controls. Serpent wishes the ENS organisers, the club and all participants a great ENS season.

ENS main sponsor Shepherd offers 100% support

As one of the main sponsors and instigators of the ENS Team Shepherd proudly announces to give full support for all Shepherd drivers at the 2015 ENS campaign. The Shepherd factory bus will be at the track from Thursday to Sunday to get all attending drivers covered with spare parts, the latest optionals and various accessories. Furthermore Team Shepherd sends the factory team around Patrick Schäfer to give assistance with technical and setup questions rising up during the races. ENS 2014 champion Simon Kurzbuch again competes in the 1/8th class to try to defend his title. He is joined by Francesco Tironi who switches from 1/10th scale to 1/8th scale for the 2015 season in preparation for the world championship in Brazil. ENS 2014 runner-up Dirk Wischnewski continues to race 1/10th scale trying to better his final position in 2015. Wether for profound technical questions or just for fun conversation, don’t hesitate to get into contact with us.