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Champions set to battle for EOS title in Germany

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Mike Garrison

0 April 17, 2012, 5:53 a.m.

4/17/2012

By Mike Garrison

LiveRC.com

European Offroad Series Press Release:

Reigning European 1:10 electric buggy champions Joern Neumann and Lee Martin along with US Champion Dustin Evans are set for a title showdown at the finale of the TLR/Spektrum Euro Offroad Series presented by Horizon Hobby when the trio will battle it out to become inaugural Champion of 2WD Buggy, the new series’ biggest class. Neumann, the European 4WD Champion, won the opening round for Team Durango in the Czech Republic but had to settle for third at Round 2 in Belgian where European 2WD Champion Martin, who along with Evans was making his series debut, took victory for Tamiya ahead of the American TLR driver setting the stage for an exciting climax to the season in Dortmund, Germany, this weekend (20-22 April).

Having already wrapped up the 4WD Buggy title with back to back wins at the preceding rounds, Neumann is out to do a clean sweep of the main EOS crowns on offer at what is a home event for the German ace. In addition to having a strong shot at the 2WD Buggy title he is also in contention for the 4WD Short Course title in which it will be a head to head battle with his Austrian Durango team-mate Hupo Honigl.

Having just kicked off his British National Championship campaign in perfect style over the weekend by TQ’ing and winning both buggy classes, Martin was impressive on his series debut with the Vega converted Tamiya 2WD which he has shown to be a very strong package on high grip tracks. Martin will be joined by his TRF/Speed Passion team-mate Marc Rheinard for the event and although the German World Touring Car Champion is not a regular offroad competitor he is a former European 4WD Buggy Champion so should be able to mix it with offroads top drivers in that class. Interestingly Martin will also contest 4WD Short Course this weekend with a prototype truck from his new 1:8 Buggy sponsors Mugen who look set to enter the electric offroad market having up to now focused only on nitro competitions.

Sampling a European style indoor track and racing on a non-dirt surface for the very first time in Belgium, Team Losi Racing’s Dustin Evans’ performance was very impressive with the former Reedy Race champion managing a win in the second leg of the A-Main. Having mastered astro turf and the series’ controlled dBoots tyres, he will now be faced with adapting his driving style again this weekend to suit carpet, a surface his rivals know well, but the 26-year-old has already shown that he is a fast learner. Evans must win if he is to be in with a chance of the title and will be looking to his team-mate Mike Truhe for support as he has the benefit of having raced at the opening round in Hrotovice which was held on a carpet track. TLR, who as title sponsors have been instrumental in making the EOS possible this year, will have an increased presence at the season finale with team-manager Kevin Gahan and TLR engineer Dan Hissam, who was responsible for the design of the 22, also making the trip to Dortmund.

Running as part of Europe’s largest consumer hobby show Intermodellbau Dortmund, which is expected to attract over 85,000 visitors, the concluding round of season one of the EOS has attracted just short of 200 entries including an official factory entry from Team Associated. Associated along with TLR, Tamiya, Durango and Kyosho were staunch supporters of the EOS pilot race last year and will be represented for the first time in the actual series by Brent Theilke, the man responsible for managing the World’s most successful offroad race team, along with World Championship finalist Paul Bradby. Apart from his responsiblity for looking after two of the biggest names in the sport, Ryan Cavalieri and Ryan Maifield, Theilke is himself a very competent competitor recently making the A-Main in 2 & 4WD buggy at one of America’s most prestigious international events the Proline Cactus Classic.