January 24, 2024

Capricorn LAB GT2 EP 2024 – Images

Italian onroad chassis manufacturer Capricorn is set to release its 2024 kit line-up for 1:8 GT competition the first of which is Patrizio Rossi’s latest creation for the electric category, the LAB GT2 EP 2024.  With 1:8 GT racing receiving a massive profile boost following the very successful and competitive 1:8 GT World Championship in Sydney, Australia, in October, the pace of development in the class in recent years has been huge.  Full technical details and specs of the LAB GT2 EP 2024, along with the nitro chassis, will be outlined shortly in a video presented by Capricorn team driver team and reigning GTe European Champion Alessio Mazzeo.

View LAB GT2 EP 2024 chassis images here


December 27, 2023

Battle to have a go at 1:8 Onroad with Capricorn

Former 1:8 Offroad World Champion Robert Battle is to try his hand at 1:8 Onroad racing in 2024 with the news the Spaniard has done a deal with one of the categories specialist manufacturers Capricorn.   While Battle’s focus is still on his 1:8 Offroad programme with Mayako,  he will fit in some onroad racing as he gets to take on the sport’s original category which is something that has intrigued him for some time.  Commenting on the announcement from the Italian manufacturer, Battle said, “I’m glad to be part of a pure on road brand like Capricorn, I always said 1:8 onroad was a class to drive soon or later so this year all come true.  We will do as many races we will be able due to Offroad Calendar, I’m sure I will learn a lot and also have fun like a kid thank you so much to Capricorn for that opportunity, I will let you all know soon all Package!”

Source: Capricorn [capricornrc.com]


December 22, 2023

Elias back with Capricorn for 2024

Capricorn RC is to welcome back international 1:8 Onroad Nitro racer & World Finalist Flavio Elias to its team for 2024.  After four years away from the Italian manufacturer, the Brazilian stalwart of the category rejoins to race their latest LAB C804R as well as now using their ONE brand of engine.

Source: Capricorn [capricornrc.com]


November 20, 2023

Gruber agrees 2-year deal with Capricorn

In a significant driver announcement, Toni Gruber and Capricorn have agreed a new contract that will see the German ace continue with the Italian chassis manufacturer for the 2024 and 2025 nitro onroad seasons.  After 4-years with Shepherd, Gruber joined forces with Patrizio Rossi’s team for the 2023 season with the 27-year-old going on to have an outstanding season.  In 1:10 Nitro Touring he secured the European Championship title which he then followed up with the TQ and a podium finish at the 1:8 Onroad European Championships.  Adding his first ENS Championship title in 1:8 and then becoming the 1:8 GT World Champion in Australia with Hong Nor, he was to be title contender at the 1:8 Onroad World Championships.  Having made his first World Final appearance at the previous World Championships in the United States in 2019, in Japan he was in the mix from the start and after one of the most intense and heavily stacked Main Finals in the category’s history he finished Runner-up just 7.5-seconds off Dario Balestri after 1-hour of racing.  After such a season the continuity with Capricorn and also engine sponsor Ielasi Tuned should see Gruber become even stronger in 2024.

Source: Toni Gruber [Facebook]


November 6, 2023

Capricorn LAB GT2 pivot bushing kit

Capricorn has released their their 2024 pivot bushing kits for its 1:8 GT chassis the LAB GT2.  It kits come in 4 different options – the 4 piece LAB GT2 Pivot Bushing kit 5MM, Pivot Bushing kit 4MM, Upper Rear Arms Pivot Busing kit, and the 20 piece Pivot Busing Full Kit.  The new pivot bushing is made up of an Ergal 7075 hard coated sphere and a PA66 reinforced bushing.  The benefits of the new kit is it’s lightness and, most importantly, it is maintenance free.

Source: Capricorn [capricornrc.com]


November 1, 2023

Gruber takes 2nd qualifier at World Championship

In another dramatic qualifier at the 1:8 Onroad Worlds in Japan, Capricorn’s Toni Gruber took the second round TQ.  Having opened qualifying with a TQ run Dario Balestri wouldn’t even make the start of Q2, his engine expiring in the warm-up.  Having led Q1 until he ran out of fuel on the final lap, Simon Kurzbuch would flame out very early on and then when it looked like Naoto Matsukura was on for the TQ of the second round he too ran out of fuel.  All this allowed Gruber to take the TQ ahead of the Infinity of Kouki Kato and the Sahashi brothers who ran their times in the second fastest heat – Tadahiko faster than Yuya.  After a strong first qualifier, finishing P3, Jessie Davis was on for another Top 3 performance but trying to make a pass on Serpent’s Andrea Catanzani, the Italian made contact with the Infinity driver ruining both their qualifiers and earning Catanzani a time penalty.

Continue reading here


October 31, 2023

Gruber tops first time practice in Japan

Toni Gruber has topped the opening round of timed practice at the 1:8 Onroad World Championship in Japan.  The Capricorn driver’s fastest 3-consecutive laps around the Infinity International RC Speedway gave him a 3/10th of a second advantage over his closest rival, the same margin of time then covering the next 7-drivers.  Better known for his electric onroad exploits, it was Hayato Ishioka who was second fastest driving a Mugen with factory Mugen driver Simon Kurzbuch completing the Top 3.  The best represented brand at this year’s World Championship with over half the field running the Japanese manufacturer’s car, it was Naoto Matsukura who lead their charge with P4 for the first of today’s scheduled four seeding rounds.  Just 1/100th off, Serpent young gun Andrea Catanzani, who was up in the second last year to go on track, kick his day off with a P5 ahead of Dario Balestri and reigning World Champion Shoki Takahata.

Continue reading here


October 28, 2023

‘Every race we start from zero’ – Gruber

Two weeks ago Toni Gruber took the biggest prize of his racing career yet.  Realising the ultimate dream, he clinched his first World Championship title with a very convincing victory at the 1:8 GT World Championship in Sydney, Australia.   The victory didn’t really come as too much of a surprise however as the German is in the form of his life this season.  However, despite claiming the 1:10 Nitro Onroad European Championship for a second time during the Summer, following that up a month later by becoming Top Qualifier at the 1:8 Euros where he finished on the podium, and then rounding out the European season with his first ENS title win, the sport’s newest World Champion goes into the 1:8 Onroad World Championship in Japan with the mindset ‘every race we start from zero’.

Continue reading here


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