EOS reaches conclusion at Nurburgring with 4WD title still to be decided

The 2015/16 Euro Offroad Series reaches a conclusion this weekend (29-April/1-May) with the deciding of the 4WD champion the main order of business for the weekend. With Season #5 successfully kicking off at the legendary Nurburgring last September, the Championship finds itself returning to the famous 1:1 race circuit after problems with the original Austrian location. The perfect stage for the high profile 1:10 Offroad Championship, the first visit on the same weekend as the Blancpain GT Championship running on the Grand Prix circuit, some of the world’s best rc drivers will again enjoying racing alongside the rumble of Porsche, Audi & BMW GT cars who this time round are racing on the iconic 20.8 km long Nordschleife circuit. Having made his EOS debut on the first visit to the Nurburgring, it is World Champion Bruno Coelho who comes into the fourth & final round as the 4WD championship leader. Missing the podium then, the Portuguese driver has since won everything with only reigning champion Lee Martin now able to deny Coelho an EOS title in his inaugural season.

While Martin was able to successfully defend his 2WD title at the penultimate round, the Yokomo lead driver, after a perfect start to the season when he won the opening round, hasn’t been able to match Coelho, finding himself third at the next two outings. Needing to TQ & win, and for Coelho to finish outside the Top 3, the British driver faces a challenge but finding himself in a similar position last season when he went into the final round sitting second he managed to get the job done. With Round 3 marking a first EOS win for Yokomo team-mate Marc Rheinard the break through in form could prove vital to Martin in helping his cause of preventing Coelho from getting on the podium.

While Sunday’s 4WD action takes centre stage, the battle for the final 2WD win of the season is a far more open affair with a number of very strong contenders. Back to back champion Martin together with Rheinard will be chasing repeat wins but a number of others will be determined to end their campaign’s on the top step of the podium. Having capped of last season with a breakthrough victory, Schumacher’s international star Michal Orlowski has stepped onto the podium every race and wants it to be the top step this time round and deny Yokomo a 1-2 in the championship.

Making his EOS debut at Mulheim Kaerlich in January, where he qualified 3rd, former World Champion Neil Cragg is back for a second go at the EOS as preparations for a full programme next season. The factory Team Associated driver had the speed but mistakes cost him in the finals and he ended up 5th but with his team manager Craig Drescher having had time to analyse their debut performance expect a much stronger package this weekend. A manufacturer that has put a lot of effort into nurturing a number of young drivers, Associated are starting to see the rewards of that in particular young Finnish cool operator Joona Haatanen. Watch too for Norwegian Joakim Nicolaisen.

Elsewhere former 2WD race winner Hupo Honigl’s second trip of the year to the Nurburgring sees him with a new team. Joining Xray for 2016, the Austrian enjoyed a strong debut with the Slovakian manufacturer in Mulheim qualifying 4th. After a tough 2015 season in which he fell off the A-Main radar, the result from his Round 3 showing should boost the Austrian’s confidence. Last year Coelho surprised the EOS regulars by taking the 2WD TQ for Xray. The man to beat in the newly introduced for this season Stadium Truck class, former multiple EOS Buggy Champion Joern Neumann has endured a second tough season and for the one time king of indoor carpet tracks a podium finish would be a great finish to the season for the Serpent driver.

EOS Season finale moved to Germany

The Euro Offroad Series is set to finish where it started with the organisers forced to find a replacement venue for the fourth & final round in Austria after issues arose regarding the preparations of the temporary Mattsee venue. Having opened Season #5 with a very popular first visit to the famous Nurburgring racing circuit last September, the EOS will now return to the German venue where the 4WD Buggy Champion will be crowned. Able to retain the original April 29 – May 1 date, the season finale perfectly coincides with Round 2 of the the full size VLN Endurance Championship which will host a 4-hour race on the legendary 20.8km Nordschleife circuit.

While the 2WD title of the Yokomo, Xray, Schumacher & Serpent backed championship was settled at Round 3 in Muelheim Kaerlich with Yokomo’s Lee Martin successfully defending his crown, the return to the Nurburgring will decide the 4WD title. Back in September, when it hosted the season opener, it was reigning champion Martin who took victory but the race also marked the EOS debut of 4WD World Champion Bruno Coelho. The Xray driver impressed and despite his limited experience secured third on his first appearance. Since then Coelho has secured two wins leaving him to head the standings going into the season finale with the title now set to be settled between him and Martin on the Sunday at the Nurburgring.