Champlin on top of the World Down Under – Schumacher gets first 2WD World title
Broc Champlin is the new IFMAR 1:10 2WD Offroad World Champion, the American securing the biggest accolade in the sport by winning the opening two A-Mains in Sydney, Australia, and claiming Schumacher’s first 2WD World title. Kicking off finals day at the Hills RC Off Road track with a TQ run in the fifth & final qualifier to line up second behind Top Qualifier Marcus Kaerup this was to be a hint of what was to come. With Champlin all over the rear wing of Kaerup in A1 there would be contact on the penultimate lap, the pair touching mid air in the double double. With Kaerup’s Associated going tumbling, Champlin came out of it just in the lead after a drag race down the straight with World Finals debutant Davey Batta. 2-time World Champion Spencer Rivkin would come through from sixth to complete the Top 3 as Kaerup crossed the line in fifth. With a protest against Champlin proving unsuccessful for Kaerup, the Dane would lead away A2 again with Champlin applying the pressure and four laps in as he got his buggy on two wheels, Champlin didn’t need a second invitation to go through to the lead. It was to be a lead the 23-year-old would hold, a mistake from Kaerup putting an end to any potential come back, and crossing the he became the latest IFMAR World Champion on the 40th anniversary of the championships. With the new Champion locked in, Champlin becoming the 15th driver to join the 2WD roll of honour, A3 would decide the remaining podium places. With Kaerup finally convert his pole position into a win this would see him salvage a podium behind Batta, as he, Rivkin, and Daniel Kobbevik all finished on the same points.
