ENS Rd.1 ETTLINGEN (DE)
07-10 MAY 2026
The opening round of the ENS season in Ettlingen confirmed the competitiveness of Team Infinity in all nitro categories, thanks to victories by Dario Balestri in 1:8, Jilles Groskamp in 1:10 Touring, and Luca Martinelli in the 1:8 Masters +40 class. Our IF18-3 and IF15-2 performed exceptionally well on this well-known and demanding track.
In the 1:8 class, Dario Balestri delivered an extremely strong weekend performance, remaining among the frontrunners throughout qualifying before securing a victory built on speed, experience, and flawless race management. After an intense early battle with Simon Kurzbuch, Dario kept the pressure high during the middle stages of the race, eventually taking over the lead in the second half of the final and controlling the race all the way to the chequered flag without mistakes. An important victory achieved against an exceptionally high-level field.
An outstanding performance also came from Robbin Hertong, who produced an impressive comeback from 11th on the grid to finish in third place with his Infinity ride. His race was one of the most effective drives of the entire event, with excellent pace and a remarkable recovery built lap after lap through consistency, speed, and smart race management.
In the 1:10 Touring class, Jilles Groskamp once again confirmed his international class in an extremely competitive field, especially considering the importance of the season leading up to the World Championship in Gubbio. After highly competitive qualifying sessions, Groskamp drove a smart and consistent final. Despite a difficult start that dropped him down the order early on, he steadily fought his way back and took the lead during the final fifteen minutes of the race.
In the closing stages, Groskamp handled the pressure behind him perfectly, maintaining control until the chequered flag to secure a prestigious victory. Carmine Raiola also delivered a very strong performance, consistently running among the fastest drivers in the final and remaining in contention for the win throughout the race. A well deserved 2nd place finish for him.
Finally, special mention also goes to Luca Martinelli for his excellent performance in the 1:8 Master +40 category, where he secured a well-deserved victory after a very solid and well-managed race.
See you in Ruchpen for Round 2 in few weeks!
