World’s best in Gubbio for Euros battle

This week the beautifully presented Gubbio track in the centre of Italy plays host to the 2009 EFRA 1:10 200mm European Championships. After a one year break due to EFRA’s hosting of the World Championship in Portugal last year, the sixth European title will be awarded on Sunday evening to one of the 120 drivers, from 16 nations, up on the Formula one style podium. Among the quality entry are 8 of the 10 World Finalists including World Champion Daniele Ielasi and the Top Qualifier Jilles Groskamp. The defending European Champion Dario Balestri is aiming for a European Championship hat trick on home soil having held the title since 2006 when he won in the Netherlands. Hoping to take the challenge to Balestri will be Top Qualifier in Madrid Teemu Leino and EC Warm Up race winner Guiseppe D’angelo. Other big names on the entry list include former World Champion Adrien Bertin and two time European Champion Michael Salven. In the pits the big story is the debut of the new Velox V10 from Shepherd, with just a single car here for Ielasi, and the new Capricon chassis. Danish ace Martin Christensen, a finalist at both the last Worlds and Euros, will race one of two of the Italian made cars entered.

Drivers have already had two days of free practice and this set to continue until Friday when we will get down to the serious business of qualifying. New for the Euros this year is the 7 minute qualifiers which are set to spice things up, particularly in the pitlane. After a long day of travel we have arrived in Gubbio to glorious 35 degree sunny weather and tomorrow morning our coverage, which is supported by Team Orion, Serpent and Mugen, will kick off in full.

View our event image gallery here.