During a break at the 2016/17 Yokomo Euro Touring Series in Germany last month Red RC’s Oli Meggitt sat down with newly crowned World Champion Ronald Völker to talk about the World title he won in China as well as finding a balance between his racing and personal life.
Xray have introduced the 2017 variant of their successful NT1 1/10th 200mm nitro on-road kit. IFMAR World and EFRA European as well as multi-time national champion, the NT1 has proven to be very successful in the past with the 2017 variant again offering many refined areas over radical new designs and so the car is based off of a slightly updated aluminium main chassis that features larger cut-outs in the front and reinforcements in the rear for updated flex characteristics while a mirrored flywheel opening makes for equal left-to-right flex.
Round one of the Xray Racing Series Alpe Adria was held at the Slovenian Mini Circuit Na Logo in Tolmin with drivers from five different countries in attendance. The weekend started off with practice on Saturday that held pretty high temperatures for this time of the year but cooler and even rainy weather was predicted for Sunday. As for the racing action, in 1/10th Electric Touring it was Andrea Ghilotti who took the TQ while in 1/8th Electric GT it was Grega Hrovat on pole. In the three nitro classes the TQ positions went to Gabor Laszlo in 1/10th Touring, Fabio Callegari in 1/8th GT and Nejc MIhelič in 1/8th on-road. Due to the predicted rain kicking in the organisers opted to sit out the rain shower and to shorten the mains.
Continue reading the report here
American offroad ace Ryan Maifield is to make his Euro Offroad Series debut with the confirmation he will travel to the season finale of the five round championship in Wels, Austria (21-23 April). Joining Yokomo’s 1:10 Offroad team for the 2017 season, the 4-times EOS Champion manufacturer will be hoping the input of their high profile signing will lead to the team’s first win of Season #6 since Marc Rheinard won the season opener. With both EOS buggy title’s having been decided at Arena 33 in Germany earlier this month, all drivers will be targeting the win to cap off the season with Maifield’s participation adding an extra dimension to winning at Austria’s largest Hobby Show. Featured on the Euro Touring Series calendar last year, the Modellbau Wels show attracted over 30,000 visitors. At last season’s finale, held at the Nurburgring, Maifield’s great rival Ryan Cavalieri became the first American to win a round of the indoor carpet track based championship but it wasn’t the Team Associated driver’s first EOS outing. Accompanying Maifield on the trip will be the Arizona driver’s longtime sponsor Jason Ruona whose JConcepts brand is an associated sponsor of this year’s Euro Offroad Series.
Source: Euro Offroad Series [eurooffroadseries.com]
Hobbywing have announced the signing of multi-time IFMAR World Champion, Naoto Matsukura to their factory team. The Infinity driver will use Hobbywing brushless speed controller and motors in all of his electric rides in 2017 and he has the following to say about the deal:
I am very happy to join Hobbywing team. I tested 1:10 off-road power combos last month and found it super good. Then I decided to use Hobbywing power in CETC first round to feel it on my touring car and it worked amazing. I think Hobbywing can provide me the best combos in all my electric classes. Thanks to Hobby and Sekido for this good opportunity.
Source: Hobbywing [hobbywing.com]
Schelle Racing Innovations have introduced a carbon fibre gearbox shim set for the Team Associated B64 buggy. Made from 1mm sheet material the shims are used separately or even stacked to raise the rear gearbox and suspension mounts as a tuning option for certain track conditions. Raising the assembly can lead to a more responsive rear end and more entry and mid-corner steering. Strategic cut-outs prevent backwards differential installation and the shims only work on the rear suspension.
Italian company 7075.it have introduced new option parts for the Xray T4 series of touring cars in the form of a battery mount system and two centre brass weights. Starting with the battery mounts, they utilise new brackets that incorporate slots for the mounting tape, doing away with the need to use the respective chassis slots which results in reduced chassis tweak and also a more secure battery mounting as there are less chances to damaging the tape during a run. The brackets are included as lightweight 9g aluminium and heavy 20g brass blocks which gives the possibility to adapt the weight bias and overall weight. The brackets can also be mixed for even greater influence on the weight distribution and to top things off they also use adjustable stops to shift the battery pack forth and back by about 3mm. The alloy parts come black anodised and laser-etched for wear and looks.
RC Excitement recently held their Supercross Showdown Race and in the 4WD Modified Buggy class it was Caleb Jennings who took the win from Jared Phair, coming from the 6th spot and chasing Caleb for a good part of the race, in 2nd and Mike Barkus 3rd. In Modified Truck Jared Phair jumped into the lead right at the tone and he would bring home the win from Jose Rodriguez in 2nd and Luis Moreno 3rd.
View the Mod Truck podium here
