Well here it is, after 10 hard fought rounds the early championship pace setter MaxMotus finally managed to pull it off to become 2005 ETCC Champion, well done Maximilliano! Barneby's slim chance for glory disappeared (literally!) at the start of the race when his petrol tank exploded sending him into orbit...Edwards landed the race victory as expected from his qualifying form. The ever improving series Marshall, Mike_Nap slipped into 3rd place overall for a last round podium finish whilst the heroic MJanosh ended up an amazing fourth, after his steering wheel came off before the start causing him to steer the car remotely using the electric window switches on the centre console!!! a hard earned result! Over in AMA Snakey_Uk's victory gave him 2nd place in the championship with overall victory and 2005 AMA Championship glory going to Aley, who watched this one from the sidelines along with 3rd place mauri30 - still recovering from the Ski-ing accident mid-season! Well, I guess thats it for this years ETCC, with the imminent arrival of rFactor who knows what the future holds for F1C-ETCC and 2006...One things for sure "I'll be back..." (he said with an Austrian accent). Thanks all for taking part, it was a bit of a rush and a steep learning curve but I hope you all enjoyed it. See you next time online...Ricardo ETCC Round 10 SAN MARINO - Imola Race Podium Class E Race Podium Class A Edwards DontLift Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW MaxMotus DontLift Art-Tech-uk Independant Mike_Nap B.R.O.Racing --- ---

As this seasons ETCC championship comes to a close with the final event at Imola set in the picturesque Northern Italian landscape the field has dwindled to 11 runners in total. Edwards slipped an impressive time in driving the Alfa Romeo 156 to head the championship rivals Barneby and MaxMotus by over a second, lets hope he selects 1st and not reverse for the race start! Over in AMA there is no sign of mauri30 leaving the battle to rage between Art-Tech-uk and Snakey_Uk. Good luck all come race day. ETCC Round 10 San Marino - Imola Qualifying Class E Qualifying Class A Edwards DontLift Art-Tech-uk Independant Barneby TeamXFR Snakey_uk BlacK WidoW MaxMotus DontLift --- ---

Well, MaxMotus plan worked in EXP, his choice of Alfa Romeo power certainly gave Barneby an easy victory. Things might have been different if a couple of mid race duals with MJanosh (Barnebys TeamXFR partner) hadn't slowed the charging Maximiliano down. A semi transparent Edwards didnt help either! MJanosh plumped for a 2 stop strategy and Ricardo a no stopper. The DontLift team member finally taking the flag for a DontLift 2-3-4 in the TeamXFR sandwich. In EXP Heat 2 an early charge by zunik and _Chacal__ had them lapping faster than the slower runners in heat 1 but as the race progressed things settled down until the last lap where _Chacal__ just pipped GSomm to the chequered flag although zunik lead throughout for a hard earned 6th overall . Over in AMA the order remained constant from lights to flag, Snakey_Uk winning with a 36 second lead from Art-Tech-uk and Aley dropping a few laps down with technical issues. However 3rd place was enough for Aley to take the AMA championship lead from mauri30, who would have thought that given the early season pace of the rapid Italian, thats what you get for going on holiday mid-season! This rounds lap chart has Edwards missing (typical), a bad car to pits radio connection meant his pit crew didnt write down any lap times! Heading into the last round of this years championship we venture back to Italy, will mauri30 turn up!? See you all next week. ETCC Round 9 USA - Laguna Seca Race Podium Class E Race Podium Class A Barneby TeamXFR Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW MaxMotus DontLift Art-Tech-uk Independant Edwards DontLift Aley Independant

The early season Quattro choice seems to have returned with 4 of 5 the leading runners choosing Audi A4's for the ups and downs of sunny California. The odd one out is champion elect MaxMotus who qualified 4th in the Alfa Romeo 156 - is he feeling sorry for Barneby by giving the rapid Swede an advantage? Mike_Nap once again leads the North American contingent with a time that should see him dominate his race. _Chacal__ once again got lost on the way to the circuit leaving zunik and GSomm to fight over the pole of TZB Heat 2. Over in AMA mauri30 appears to have vanished...maybe whilst he was away he missed the switch to F1RST3! leaving Snakey_Uk to grab pole from newcomer Art-Tech-uk. Good luck for race day! ETCC Round 9 USA - Laguna Seca Qualifying Class E Qualifying Class A Barneby TeamXFR Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW Edwards DontLift Art-Tech-uk Independant MJanosh TeamXFR Aley Independant

A surprise mistake by Barnaby (under pressure from MM) left the door open for a DontLift 1-2-3 as Ricardo finally got his finger out to join the ever improving Edwards and MaxMotus on the podium. Zunik managed to slip briefly into the top 3 during the pitstop window but, as Barneby tried to limp home with bent suspension, the Spaniard slipped back towards the end as TeamXFR's No.2 MJanosh lifted his game. _Chacal__'s early pace catapulted him through the field initially but he ended with a lonelly 4th place by the end. With mauri30's absence in his home race the 2 car AMA battle switched from qualifying order with Snakey_Uk taking victory from Aley after a Stewards enquiry ruled that the timekeepers had confused the 2 cars intitially publishing the result in reverse order. New for this rounds report is the promised lap chart which combines all the heats to see how the race unfolded, a late running by NickNack and the North American contingent means they are missing from this initial draft. All hosts please make sure you send your result logs to ricardo@f1rst3.com after Laguna, see you there! ETCC Round 8 ITALY - Monza Race Podium Class E Race Podium Class A Edwards DontLift Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW MaxMotus DontLift Aley Independant Ricardo DontLift --- ---

The DontLift batten appears to have been handed over first to VTW and now to Edwards from the early season pace setter MaxMotus. Barneby's recent form has slipped slightly to 2nd place but with the 1st three split by a tenth of a second the race should prove to be a close fought battle. mauri30 feels he can take a mid season break after his string of victories leaving Aley and Snakey_Uk to battle for AMA honours. As expected the leading runners have all switched to Alfa Romeo power for this event. The 2-litre screamers proving ideal for the long straights through the picturesque royal park in the northern suburbs of their home town of Milano - Buono Fortuna for the race and dont eat too much Pizza! ETCC Round 8 ITALY - Monza Qualifying Class E Qualifying Class A Edwards DontLift Aley Independant Barneby TeamXFR Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW MaxMotus DontLift --- ---

Recent form has been reversed as TeamXFR slip down the leaderboard! A surprise spurt from Edwards enabled the Monaco based driver to take victory from fellow DontLift'er MaxMotus. The TeamXFR private battle ended with a 3rd, 4th, 5th for Barneby, MJanosh and Agor after MJ forgot to accelerate across the line at the finish! _Chacal__'s qualifying form slipped as zunik squeezed by for a 1 second lead, whilst Ricardo managed to move up the rankings from a lowly grid position. A rare error caused the AMA championship leader to crash out leaving the Brazilian newcomer NicolaBR to charge to victory in only his 1st race at this level. The summer heat hit the race turnout with numerous drivers not making the starting grid, with a mid-summer pause in the league imminent lets hope the sunstroke treatment works out! ETCC Round 7 FRANCE - Magny Cours Race Podium Class E Race Podium Class A Edwards DontLift NicolaBR Independent MaxMotus DontLift Aley Independent Barneby TeamXFR mauri30 Team DownForce

Barneby's strong run continues with pole position for the return to Europe. His team mate Agor completes the front row as DontLift's form slips with VTW 3rd and MaxMotus 4th. Mike_Nap is the loan American runner surrounded by a brace of Spaniards with _Chacal__ leading the way. mauri30 is on pole for the AMA class but his holiday plans may get in the way of ultimate success in the next couple of rounds. Good luck all come race day. ETCC Round 7 FRANCE - Magny Cours Qualifying Class E Qualifying Class A Barneby TeamXFR mauri30 Team DownForce Agor TeamXFR NicolaBR Independant VTW DontLift Aley Independant

VTW needs to give his team leader some lessons it appears! a second ETCC victory going to the rapid Portugeuse driver in what is, in effect, his home race. MJanosh must have suffered fuel starvation problems, coughing as he approached the line to let TeamXFR team mate Barneby into 2nd place with a distant MaxMotus 4th. In AMA mauri30 felt the pressure and problems for the championship leader let the door open for a 2nd win by Madman_CZ who was followed home by Snakey_Uk and Aley. In Expert MaxMotus' lead has been cut to 28 points by Barneby, will we see a lead change at Magny Cours? A great turnout after the recent championship problems thanks everyone for sticking with it and good luck in France. ETCC Round 6 BRAZIL - Interlagos Race Podium Class E Race Podium Class A VTW DontLift Madman_CZ Team Romo Barneby TeamXFR Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW MJanosh TeamXFR Aley Inependant

Barneby got pole spot again in the heat of Sao Paulo, but German race winner VTW showed his form has lifted by sticking his Alfa alongside the TeamXFR hotshot. Edwards also pipped previous front runner MaxMotus to the 3rd place on the grid, its going to be a busy T1 come race time. Over in AMA mauri30 is back at the front but beads of sweat will be dripping from his brow in the South American heat as Madman_CZ gets ready to pounce once again. Warm welcome to the Spanish and Catalonian hords - good to see you guys, visiting relatives in Argentina?! Good luck all. ETCC Round 6 BRAZIL - Interlagos Qualifying Class E Qualifying Class A Barneby TeamXFR mauri30 Team DownForce VTW DontLift Madman_CZ Team Romo Edwards DontLift Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW

VTW came strong at the German round of ETCC, finally loosing the comfy chair reputation and switching from the racing SEAT to Alfa Romeo power. Barneby and MaxMotus kept there order at the flag enabling Barneby to claw ever closer to the Expert league leader in the championship standings. For the AMA league there has been a bit of a revolution with Madman_CZ slipping a victory in over season favorite mauri30. The next round is over the Atlantic at Brazil's Interlagos, hopefully see you there if I can scrape the airfare together! ETCC Round 5 GERMANY - Hockenheim Race Podium Class E Race Podium Class A VTW DontLift Madman_CZ Team Romo Barneby TeamXFR mauri30 Team DownForce MaxMotus DontLift Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW

Well, a chaotic time was had by all in qualifying! The night before qualifyng began the local circuit staff decided to move the exit curbs on T1 and didn't tell anyone. A few drivers killed there cars driving through the subsequent pot holes so this rounds grid is a little mixed up - but not at the front. The MaxMotus/Barneby battle rages on with a pole by Barnaby clear of the rest by over half a second - maybe the switch to Alfa power has helped there but will his tyres last the distance? VTW managed to buckle 2 wheels and ends up near the back of the grid with it all to do. Over in AMA newcomer Madman_CZ has given mauri30 a scare ending up 1 tenth away from pole, the race should prove entertaining and the added pressure on mauri30 should give Snakey_Uk a shot at the lead as he hovers ever closer. Lets hope the races prove hassle free, good luck all. ETCC Round 4 UK - Brands Hatch Qualifying Class E Qualifying Class A Barneby TeamXFR mauri30 Team DownForce MaxMotus DontLift Madman_CZ Team Romo Edwards DontLift Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW

MaxMotus responded perfectly to the Barneby led TeamXFR steamroller by capturing a strong victory infront of his home crowd at Brands Hatch. A close fought battle between DJCuicky and new boy Cawwa resulted in light contact but both made it to the finish and Mike_Nap put in a strong performance beating regular front runner Edwards to 6th place overall. The championship has turned into a 2 class event with MaxMotus and Barneby running for victory and the 2nd tier of MJanosh, DJCruicky, Edwards and VTW seperated by just 12 points for 3rd place honours. VTW's slip was caused by a group of relatives which had hidden in the boot of his car just before racing commenced. He noticed a weight inbalance at first but the screaming kids soon gave the game away. Over in AMA the field has thinned with a DNS for 3rd place leaving mauri30 & Snakey_Uk to battle for the honours. For the next round we move onto the German HockenheimRing for those of you who do not have this circuit click here to download (Thanks to KA). ETCC Round 4 UK - Brands hatch Race Podium Class E Race Podium Class A MaxMotus DontLift mauri30 Team DownForce Barneby TeamXFR Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW RacinG MJanosh TeamXFR --- ---

As we come to the 4th round of this years ETCC the form book is settling down, Barneby continues his dominent streak with pole position, only this time he has support from 3 other TeamXFR members as agor returns and 'new boy'! Cawwa makes an appearence. The Swede should show well after a year out to convert from Alfa Romeo to Audi quattro power! Another excellent showing from VTW shows that maybe the Audi isn't everything, although its only the Portugeuse hotshot that can tame the SEAT. Edwards has jumped ship and joined the Audi ranks for this event and will be fighting for a pit garage along with Maxmotus, MJanosh and Barneby who are all in the Ingolstadt A4's for Expert TZB Heat 1. Over in AMA its everything as usual with Snakey_Uk chasing the champion elect mauri30. A welcome goes out to the Austrian newcomer hawkeye2005 who has his work cut out in the front wheel drive Alfa 156. Once again a great turn out, good luck with the race everyone. ETCC Round 4 UK - Brands Hatch Qualifying Class E Qualifying Class A Barneby TeamXFR mauri30 Team DownForce VTW DontLift Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW RacinG MaxMotus DontLift hawkeye2.. Independent

Looks like the championship leader MaxMotus is starting to crumble under the pressure as Barneby's steamroller rumbles ever closer, even chavwards beat the DontLift Captain! Mind you rumour has it that the Macedonian Madman MJanosh out M'd MM causing the champion elect to have his worst result to date. Ricardo managed to fend off the Volvo's of DJCruicky and flying scotsman, feret, early on. But no matter what he did the turret of DJ's tank (sorry, car) sat firmly in the rear view mirror for the whole race! Over in AMA the BMW triplet was 3 abreast at half distance! although Aley was a lap down after early problems. Snakey_Uk (or should that be Sneaky_Uk) surprised mauri30 by going the distance without a stop giving the rapid Italian a surprise as he exited the pits. A close battle then ensued but once past the championship leader maintained the status quo with a 30 second lead as the flag dropped. Great close racing by all and a great championship, all the cars are now packed away on the container ship heading north for the UK, although its the same timezone as South Africa its still a long trip in rough seas, lets hope the ship arrives safely at Southampton docks, ready for the land trip to Kent! I'll be on the quayside to await its arrival, see you all at Brands Hatch - lets hope the earth works are finished at Westfield by then (see photo). ETCC Round 3 SOUTH AFRICA - Kyalami Race Podium Class E Race Podium Class A Barneby TeamXFR mauri30 Team DownForce VTW DontLift Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW RacinG MJanosh TeamXFR Aley Independant

With 7 qualifying rooms open in the dying minutes the competition for pole position was wide open. Championship leader MaxMotus had connection issues and his last ditched attempt provided 3rd place to the dominant performances of Barneby and VTW who both set personal best times in their qualifying runs, which Max had no reply for - he is human after all! Once again Barneby's strong qualifying run placed him at the head of the field and Mjanosh pipped edwards who in turn had pipped Ricardo and DJCruicky at the last chance saloon to complete a strong Expert Heat 1. Welcome newcomers GAbOS, GSomm and AMA runner WEST, Snakey_Uk's BlacK WidoW RacinG team mate - looks like a team effort is mounting in AMA to try to fend off mauri30's clean sweep. Some championship contenders were missing from this South African event, the trip past the equator just too much for them, but assuming they return for Brands Hatch it looks like the numbers in ETCC are on the increase, a great showing by all - looks like we are in for a cracking race but watch that tyre wear and good luck! ETCC Round 3 SOUTH AFRICA - Kyalami Qualifying Class E Qualifying Class A Barneby TeamXFR mauri30 Team DownForce VTW DontLift Snakey_Uk BlacK WidoW RacinG MaxMotus DontLift WEST BlacK WidoW RacinG

The scene is set for a closely fought ETCC 2005 championship. With 2 rounds complete M&M are leading the Expert and Amateur leagues in the form of Maxmotus and mauri30. Barneby's local knowledge and a strong qualifying run placed him at the head of the field and after an action packed race he ended where he had started, taking victory from expert championship leader Maxmotus. Having missed the first round hopefully Barneby's success infront of his home crowd may lead to a sponsorship deal to enable him to complete the 2005 season. Mjanosh, Barneby's TeamXFR team mate, drove a faultless race in his heat to end up 4th overall - let's hope that TeamXFR's success will lead to the rest of their team entering the championship, they need numbers to make a dent in DontLift's dominant position. There were 27 Expert runners, a great showing but its always a case of "more the merrier", however the Amatuer field could really do with more contestants, only 3 turned up for Mantorp! with an easy win for mauri30 consolidating his early season form. So, if there are any AMA ETCC drivers out there then seats are available at Alfa Romeo, BMW, Audi, Seat, Volvo and Honda ... what are you waiting for!? ETCC Round 2 SWEDEN - Mantorp Park Race Podium Class E Race Podium Class A Barneby TeamXFR mauri30 Independant MaxMotus DontLift Aley Independant VTW DontLift Snakey_Uk Independant

After a long week of training and the domination of Don't Lift on Oschers the qualify result is quite suprising. We got in EXP a new polesitter Barneby, well done !

MaxMotus came in second and VTW third to show how strong Don't lift still is. Come on guys we need competition :P.  Well done all.

Results EXP :

1. Barneby
2. Maxmotus
3. VTW

In AMA there were only 3 drivers who qualified. I know its easy to get on the podium this way (lol), but i do want to invite you 3 for next race on Expert ! Well done never the less.

Results AMA :

1. Mauri30
2. Snakey_Uk
3. Aley

Now lets get on to the race week and do some nice clean races. Good luck everyone !

Hello and welcome, well good start to the league, 28 EXP drivers wow well done, little upset only 5 ama but who knows we can drum up more drivers.

Congrats to Mini admin max for his amazing qual performance, maybe all those gumi bears he gets paid might of actually helped him this time.

Mauri30 in ama take the lead with a very fast time.

Good luck in race

Hi guys,

Letting you know first race has been extended for qual, this race only, let ppl know.

go luck