October 21, 2016

Balestri takes Q1 at ENS Fiorano

Dario Balestri has TQ’d the first qualifier at the fourth & final round of the Euro Nitro Series in Italy.  Racing in what all drivers described as difficult conditions, last year’s champion was in a close battle with Simon Kurzbuch for the fastest time until the newly crowned champion went off on the penultimate lap.  Just 3/10ths off the Capricorn driver, Toni Gruber would post the 2nd fastest time continuing his impressive practice pace.  Racing under flood lights Lamberto Collari would complete the Top 3 with practice top seed Andrea Pirani posting the 6th fastest time.

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October 21, 2016

Greiner takes opening qualifier in Italy

Dominic Greiner has taken the opening round of qualifying at the Euro Nitro Series in Italy this evening.  The Serpent driver recovered after struggling in practice to top the time sheets in Fiorano from title contender Teemu Leino by 1.5-seconds.  Having set the pace in practice, Greiner’s team-mate Alessio Mazzeo would complete the Top 3 ahead of a much improved championship leader Dirk Wischnewski.  While Greiner and Wischnewski improved, practice front runners Erik Dankel, Bruno Coelho and Jilles Groskamp would all hit problems.  Dankel would crash & break a rear tyre continuing to finish 12th, while Coelho DNF with a broken engine. Reigning champion Groskamp would suffer a flame out as he came in from the warm-up which turned out to be a broken plug causing him to miss the start as a new one was fitted.

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October 21, 2016

Pirani quickest in practice at ENS Finale

Andrea Pirani has topped practice at the season finale of the Euro Nitro Series in Italy.  Rain yesterday meant drivers would have only three practice rounds to find a set-up for qualifying, the first practice effectively a track drying run.  The WRC driver was quickest in the third & final practice ahead of Italian compatriot Dario Balestri, the pair separated by 0.15 over their best 3-consecutive lap times.  Behind them despite not improving on his pace from the second of the practice runs, ARC’s Toni Gruber would complete the Top 3 ahead of newly crowned champion Simon Kurzbuch.

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October 10, 2016

Video – 2016 IFMAR 1/8th Gas Offroad Main Final

Action from the sixty minute Main Final at RC Tracks of Las Vegas for the 2016 IFMAR 1/8th Offroad Worlds with commentary from Jimmy Babcock

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October 10, 2016

Ronnefalk hits jackpot to become World Champion in Vegas

David Ronnefalk is the new 1:8 Offroad World Champion, the Swede finally delivering on the promise he has shown ever since being crowned European B Champion in 2009.  Starting from 3rd on the grid, the HB Racing driver would win the 1-hour encounter in convincing style once he got passed pole sitter & defending champion Ty Tessmann, his HB Racing team-mate eventually finishing up third.  Making it a European 1-2 in the American’s own backyard, 2012 World champion Robert Batlle would take the runner-up spot recovering from some big early mistakes.  With Ronnefalk claiming the sport’s greatest prize, RC Tracks of Las Vegas would put the spotlight on his replacement as nitro offroad’s next star of the future as David Ongaro, despite his age, mixed it with the biggest names in RC with ease and confidence.  A back pressure pipe would deny him from finishing his first Worlds final as Vice Champion leaving the Italian 6th behind Ryan Cavalieri.  With many feeling the first running of a Worlds final under floodlights would favour the American drivers, it would be Top Qualifier Jared Tebo who would be the best US finisher taking fourth 2.2-seconds up on Cavalieri.

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October 9, 2016

Tessmann on pole in Vegas

Ty Tessmann is on pole position for the 1:8 Offroad World Championship decider.  The reigning World Champion will start his title defence from the front of the grid after a time penalty dropped Semi Final winner Ryan Cavalieri to second. The Associated driver looked to have snatched the top spot on the grid after a thrilling win over Ty Tessmann in the second and faster of the Semi Finals.  The 2014 Runner up driver took the win on the last corner by a margin of 4/10ths of a second but contact with Tessmann would later result in the American being demoted to second which promoted Tessmann to the win and pole for the 16th running of the World Championships.  Winning the first of the Semis ahead of young star David Ongaro, David Ronnefalk will start 3rd with the very impressive Ongaro next up.  For Top Qualifier Jared Tebo, his quest for a first nitro World title will begin from 6th on the grid after he finished 3rd in the same Semi as Ronnefalk, him giving away the race lead on the first lap with a mistake.  The same Semi would also bring an end to 2010 World Champion Cody King’s run of World Final appearances since his title, the Kyosho driver finishing 8th.

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October 8, 2016

1/4 Finals Update – Rivkin books spot in Semi

Spencer Rivkin has booked his place in the Semis, the reigning US National Champion driver winning the first of the 1/4 Finals at RC Tracks of Las Vegas to bump into the same race as Top Qualifier Jared Tebo where he will be the sole Team Associated driver on the 12-car grid.  Behind, Dylan Rodriguez would continue to recover from his disappointing qualifying to bump up for a second time today at what is very much a home race for the Las Vegas driver. Also progressing from race would be TLR’s Renaud Savoya, the Frenchman a podium finisher the last time the US played host to the 1:8 Offroad World Championships, and Mugen driver Cole Ogden.  Having bumped up from the 1/8 Final one notable driver whose event would come to an end was 2014 Finalist Alex Zanchettin, the TLR driver finishing 8th.  In the second 1/4 encounter,  Kyle McBride went through easily for Team Associated winning comfortably from Mike Truhe with Tanner Stees and Joe Bornhorst taking the final to bump ups.  Unfortunately Serpent’s Billy Easton couldn’t progress for a fourth time, finishing 7th.

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October 8, 2016

1/8 Update – Local hero Rodriguez & Easton progress

There was a huge cheer for the winner of the opening race to the final day of the 1:8 Offroad World Championship, as Las Vegas’ own Dylan Rodriguez booked his spot in the 1/4 Finals.  The HB Racing driver would win the 30-minute encounter by 7-seconds from Joseph Quagraine and young Associated driver Alex Kosciuszek.  The last bump spot from the 1/8 Odd Final would go to 2014 Finalist Alex Zanchettin, the Italian benefiting from the bad luck of Xray’s Martin Bayer. Suffering a flame out as he pitted for fuel as the race leader, the Czech driver was still looking good to progress holding fourth with a lap to go but again his car would stop handing Zanchettin the spot in the 1/4 final. Another high profile European to have his campaign end in the 1/8 was Lee Martin, the British driver having had to qualify for the event through last Friday’s ‘Race In’. In the 1/8 Even, Billy Easton took the win continuing his bump up form, this being his 3rd time to bump up after a difficult qualifying.  Behind the Serpent driver was Darren Bloomfield, the Agama driver another of last night’s successful 1/16 Finalist.  There would be a great closing battle for the other two spots which eventually went to Cole Tollard and Marco Natale after a last last lap error from 3rd placed Jerome Aigoin.  The race would mark the end of 2008 World Champion Atsushi Hara as he could only manage 6th having started from 8th.

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