NURBURGRING, GERMANY
The legendary International Reedy Race of Champions for touring cars is traditionally held annually in the USA at the end of May but 2018 presented the opportunity for a European edition of the unique heads up race format event. With the Euro Offroad Series returning to the world famous mecca of motorsport that is the Nurburgring, running as part of the full size Blancpain GT Series weekend, the use of the 1,950 square metre Ring Arena meant enough space for a unique rc event. Building an offroad and an onroad track side by side. Looking to showcase the hobby in the best way possible, the Reedy format fitted the bill perfectly. As back to back reigning champions of the International Reedy Race of Champions with Marc, Infinity was excited to be part of European edition and the challenge to go to Germany and do the double.
18 invited drivers would do battle over 12 races with Thursday a practice day to get used to the carpet track. With the iconic Tamiya track in California bidding farewell to the Reedy Race this year, the track sold to become a self storage facility, the organisers at the Nurburgring tried to replicate the layout of the outdoor asphalt track and while not quite the same as the real thing the carpet kink copy did manage to catch out many drivers. Joining Marc, who knows a thing or two about winning the Reedy Race as he has been champion a record 7 times, to represent us was Yannic. The event marked both his international race debut with the team and his first ever Reedy appearance.
Day 1 began with the perfect start for both drivers, them each winning the first of the day's four rounds of racing. Yannic backed that up with second places in the next two rounds while Marc got a fourth and a second. The day ended with Yannic adding another P2 as Marc finished second behind Freddy Sudhoff in his final race. Sudhoff held the overnight points lead but Yannic's consistency meant he was second overall with Marc third with a long 8 rounds of racing to go.
Saturday was to be Yannic's shining day as he completed a clean sweep to register the best score possible of 4 points from the four races. This put him top of the points and he further endorsed that position by opening the final day with another win. A tough Heat 10 followed with a P5 but able to drop two rounds, this would be the first potential throw out. Coming back with a third from his 11th race, the final race of the event was to be his worst with a P6 but counting as his second dropped result it didn't matter - he was champion with a total of 15 points. Behind it was a three way tie for second with Marc ending up on 19 points along with Ronald Volker and Sudhoff. After many calculations and re-checks of the points table it was Volker who was declared second with Sudhoff completing the Top 3. Unfortunately Marc was one win short in the tie break to make the podium.
For Yannic the result is a great start to having him onboard our EP team and comes as a great boost ahead of the start of the Euro Touring Series which gets underway next month on carpet in Austria. Yannic has at least a now to remind Marc that he has the better Reedy Race record. You can't better a 100% winning record!
