This weekend (18-20 September) the Euro Offroad Series opens its fifth season at the iconic Nürburgring racing circuit in Germany. Marking the 15th event of the high profile 1:10 electric offroad championship, Round 1 of the 2015/16 season takes place alongside the Nürburgring 1000KM, a round of the full size sportscar Blancpain Endurance Series. Heading the entry on the EOS’ first visit to the Nürburgring is defending double champion Lee Martin. Last season in addition to claiming the 2WD Buggy title, the Yokomo driver became the first driver to deny Joern Neumann the 4WD title, the German having held that crown since the creation of the indoor championship.
Building on their success, Yokomo come into the new season with their strongest line up to-date with Martin, who was joined by Marc Rheinard at the season finale, now also having a third high profile team-mate in new American signing Carson Wernimont. Last season, then driving for Schumacher, Wernimont was Top Qualifier in 2WD at the opening round and he will be looking for a repeat performance this weekend with his new team.
Having joined Serpent halfway through last season’s campaign, the final two rounds a steep learning curve for the championship’s one time dominator, Neumann now has the benefit of having had time with his new cars. Fresh from being crowned German National Champion, he will be more determined than ever to regain his reign as an EOS champion. Also making the mid season switch to Serpent, rejoining his former Durango team-mate, veteran offroader Hupo Honigl will be looking for the kind of start to the season he had two years ago when he took his first EOS win at the opening round. Having just clinched the Austrian National titles he travels to German in confident form.
Winner of 4WD at last season’s closing race, Martin Bayer will be a formidable force heading Xray’s campaign. For the passed two season’s Bayer has been in title contention at the final round and the Czech ace would like nothing better than to open Season #5 with a win. One of only four drivers to have won EOS races in both 2WD and 4WD, Bayer will again race alongside Austrian Martin Wollanka. One very interesting addition to the Xray Offroad team line-up this weekend is that of their touring car ace and European 1:10 Nitro Champion Bruno Coelho.
The star of Season #4, winning 2WD at the season finale before going on to become European 4WD Champion, Michal Orlowski heads Schumacher’s quest for an EOS title. Having given the British manufacturer, which also supplies the handout tyre of the EOS, their first win the 14-year-old comes into his first full season with Schumacher as a serious championship contender. Racing alongside Orlowski will be experienced Austrian Peter Pinisch who is also in his first full season with the team.
Expected to debut a new 2WD Buggy at the season opener, David Ronnefalk carries the hopes of HB. Always fast, the Swede had a disappointing Season #4 results wise but with a full year of development time with his new Japanese team’s cars under his belt he will be looking to make amends for last season and try to get that win that has eluded him. A man who has played a pivotal role in Ronnefalk’s successful 1:8 Offroad career, tuning his Orion engine, Adrien Bertin will be his protege’s team-mate when the former 1:8 and 1:10 Onroad World Champion Adrien Bertin makes his EOS debut. It is expected that the Frenchman will have plenty of questions for the 19-year-old.