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October 1, 2026

Ongaro comes good in Q3, Ronnefalk holds overnight TQ

Defending World Champion Davide Ongaro has concluded the first day of qualifying at the IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship in Texas with his first TQ run, but it is Xray’s David Ronnefalk who holds the overnight TQ at the Thornhill Racing Circuit. After topping seeding yesterday, Ongaro would not have the best of starts to qualifying as he managed only P5 while Ronnefalk topped Q1. Worse was to come in Q2 as Ongaro posted the 8th fastest time. With the frustration starting to show on the Italian’s face, while Sworkz’s Mason Fuller impressed with the Q2 TQ, the Ongaro smile would return in Q3 as the Team Associated driver just managed to pip the Xray of an impressive Chase Lemieux to the top of the timing sheets. Lemieux has put in a strong day posting a P4 on his first attempt which he duly backed up with a P3 in the second one before closing out the day with a very competitive 2nd fastest time. Overall it was a good end to the day for Team Associated with Spencer Rivkin putting together a P3, the leading drivers breaking 17-laps for the first time. For Fuller, new tyres left him struggling a little in Round 3 and he ended the day by adding a P4 to his TQ & P3 while Tekno’s Ryan Maifield, who surprised with the 2nd fastest time in Q2, completed the Top 5 ahead of Ronnefalk. The Swede felt he had a really fast car in Q3 but admitted he got carried away and this led to a number of mistakes that put him sixth for the round. Elsewhere having looked to have found his way in Q2, America’s pre-event title favourite Dakotah Phend, like he did in Q1, ran out of fuel. European Champion Juan Carlos Canas had been on a strong final run but the Spaniard had a costly last lap his Sworkz getting hooked up on one of the track’s roof support posts leaving him with a P9.

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October 1, 2026

Fuller takes Q2 in Texas

Despite a mistake, Sworkz Mason Fuller has TQ’d the second round of qualifying at the IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship at Thornhill Racing Circuit. Running in the second fastest heat, the American just missed out on a 17-lap run posting a time of 16/10:00.219 to beat Q1 winner David Ronnefalk, the Xray driver having went fastest in Heat 13 from team-mate Chase Lemieux, this the Top 3 order for the round. A qualifying round that would see mistakes from many drivers, having opened with the second fastest time in Q1 Tekno’s Ryan Maifield would need to be marshalled on his second attempt and with 4-seconds lost he ended up P13. While finishing top of the timing screens in Heat 15, Juan Carlos Canas’ effort was only good for P4, the Spaniard like Ronnefalk having the disadvantage of needing to do a fuel stop to get through the 10-minute run. After a torrid Q1 in which he ran out of fuel, a much happier Dakotah Phend would run the fifth fastest time just ahead of 2-time 1:10 Offroad World Champion Spencer Rivkin who was the best Team Associated for the round. For defending World Champion Davide Ongaro he was again not happy with his car, the Italian only managing P8 to go with his P5 from Q1.

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September 30, 2026

Ronnefalk from Maifield in opening Worlds qualifier

Xray’s David Ronnefalk has taken the opening round of qualifying at the IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship in Texas, the Swede topping the 10-minute run from the Tekno of Ryan Maifield. Having expected he might have been at a disadvantage for the first of the six scheduled rounds of qualifying at Thornhill Racing Circuit by running in Heat 13 of 15, even with a fuel stop Ronnefalk topped the round by 3.4-seconds over Maifield, the American the big surprise of the morning. Three of the Top 6 would eventually come from the 3rd fastest heat group with Maifield and Ronnefalk’s team-mate Chase Lemieux also in there, the young American opening his championship with a P4 run just behind fellow countryman Mason Fuller who topped Heat 14. For defending Champion & Top Seed Davide Ongaro, it would only be a P5 first run, the driver being delayed exiting the pits after his fuel stop but overall not happy with his tyre choice. Running in the top heat alongside Ongaro, Sworkz’s Juan Carlos Canas completed the Top 6.

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September 30, 2026

Ripoll defends French title

Xray’s Maxime Ripoll has successfully defended his FFVRC 2026 French 1:8 Onroad National, doing so in style with the TQ and win at the fifth & final round of the championship which was staged at Feriere aux Etangs. Securing the TQ ahead of Shepherd driver Fabien Baranger, who took his first Elite win this year at Round 3, in the 45-minute final Ripoll took a commanding win ahead of Mugen Seiki’s Christophe Louis with Gerald Colinet completing the podium. Unfortunately for Baranger he would retire from the race after just 13-minutes. As a season, 2025 World Championship finalist Ripoll claimed 4 poles, 3 victories, and two podium finishes on his way to the title.

Image: Maxime Ripoll [Facebook]

September 30, 2026

Reflex Racing GX28 Steel Front Bulkheads

New from 1:28 specialists Reflex Racing come these new optional Steel Front Bulkheads for the KISS V2 front suspension on their GX28. Offered in 2º, 3º, and 4º, this front bulkhead adds about 4 grams of weight to the suspension to shift the weight bias forward on your car. This is suited for higher traction conditions and Lexan body classes where you need to mellow out response and decrease traction rolling. Also for the KISS V2 is a new Aluminium Lower Arm. Although the countersunk washer addition helped the CF Lower Arm become much more durable, this part adds even more toughness, albeit with a slight 1.5 gram penalty. Reflex still recommend to use the lower Screw CS washer and screw for maximum durability.

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September 30, 2026

SkyRC battery-powered Transponder for LapWiz

Following the launch of its LapWiz RC lap timing system in June, SkyRC is expanding the system with the new T04 Battery-Powered Transponder. This compact self-powered unit is designed to offer greater mounting freedom across a wide range of RC racing applications. Measuring just 30.8 × 18.5 × 11 mm and weighing 6.5 grams, the T04 features an integrated 140 mAh LiPo battery providing more than 12 hours of continuous operation, eliminating the need to draw power from the car’s receiver. Built-in motion sensing automatically wakes the transponder when movement is detected while helping conserve power when the car is stationary, and dual IR emitters provide added redundancy for reliable lap detection. T04 also incorporates Bluetooth connectivity, allowing its Car ID to be configured wirelessly through the LapWiz app, while adjustable IR output power lets racers optimise transmission range for anything from compact indoor circuits to larger outdoor tracks. USB-C charging rounds out the package, with an IR transmission range of 4 to 10 metres depending on the selected output setting and track environment. This new T04 Battery-Powered Transponder is expected to be available by the end of October.

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September 29, 2026

Fuller tops opening seeding round in Texas

Sworkz’s Mason Fuller has topped the opening round of seeding at the IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship in Texas. Having shown good speed in yesterday’s free practice, as the event moved up a gear today with times now officially counting for something, the American racer laid down the fastest 3-consecutive laps to take the first of the two scheduled seeding rounds by an impressive 6/10ths of a second over Xray’s David Ronnefalk. Having been the fastest over the previous two days’ 6 rounds of free practice, reigning World Champion Davide Ongaro would complete the Top 3, the Team Associated driver run over half his run with a damaged car. Top Qualifier at the championship 2-years ago, Juan Carlos Canas posted the fourth fastest time, the Sworkz driver feeling he was hamper slightly by today’s track conditions as he ran in Group 13 of 15. Nate Sutherland and Brandon Rose completed the Top 6 times.

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September 29, 2026

Reds Racing 321 Estremo Worlds Edition

Italian engine tuner Reds Racing has released the 321 Estremo Worlds Edition, a Limited Edition 1:8 Buggy engine developed from the championship-winning 321 Estremo platform. Winner of the 2026 EFRA 1:8 Nitro Buggy European Championship with Juan Carlos Canas Carrasco, the Worlds Edition combines performance and thermal management with exclusive components specifically designed for high-level competition. The exclusive Worlds Edition Cooling Head has been developed to optimise engine temperature management, particularly in high ambient temperatures and during extended runs. A more stable operating temperature helps maintain consistent carburetion and performance throughout the run, while improving overall engine reliability and repeatability. The engine is paired with the special 2143 XONE Worlds Edition exhaust system, featuring the exclusive OXD surface treatment. The OXD treatment provides increased resistance to wear, deterioration, and high operating temperatures, helping the exhaust maintain its characteristics over time. In addition, the treatment contributes to improved exhaust gas temperature management, enhancing engine performance and the overall efficiency and consistency of the engine–exhaust system.

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