Europe’s fastest model car drivers visit the Mühlviertel

This week, from Thursday to Sunday, the model car race track in Aigen-Schlägl will once again be the meeting place for Europe’s fastest model cars with combustion engines. One week later – from July 18th to 21st – the increasingly popular model racers with electric motors will follow.

This week, however, we’re starting with the petrol racers in the 1:10 and 1:8 classes of the Europa Series. The motto for the drive technology is: small but mighty! Because these models in the 1:10 class are driven with 2.5 cm³ petrol engines. The power is around 1.7 HP, with a minimum weight of 1.7 kg. In the 1:8 class, the engines have a displacement of 3.5 cm³ and produce an impressive three horsepower. The minimum weight is 2.6 kg. These classes are dominated by professional drivers. Every title increases the chance of turning this hobby into a career.

E-racers at the start

The electrically powered model cars will then be at the start a week later: After the extremely successful “ETS” premiere in 2022, more than 200 drivers from 18 nations are taking part in this decision this year. The race track of the Aigen-Schlägl model car club is one of the best in Europe. For this reason, more and more starters are coming to the club’s races. With 122 permanent workstations for the drivers, the facility is the largest of its kind in Austria. Due to the large number of participants in the electric model racing cars, an additional tent with workstations has to be set up for the drivers.

This “ETS” race is run in various categories. Only electric vehicles are allowed to take part. The regulations specify exactly what can be driven in each class. In the smallest class, there are only front-wheel drive cars. It continues with all-wheel drive cars with limited engine power up to the “Modified” class, the fastest class in this series. The vehicles in this class reach a top speed of more than 120 km/h. There is also a Formula F1 class.

A tourism factor

Both race weekends also boost tourism in the region with more than 2,000 overnight stays. The best drivers in the world are at the start, many of them come to the Upper Mühlviertel with their families days before the event for training runs.

Admission is free for spectators throughout the races. Training sessions alternate for all classes on Thursday and Friday. The qualifying runs take place on Saturday and the finals in the evening. Sunday is always all about the finals. The award ceremony takes place on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.