November 2, 2023

Kurzbuch finally delivers TQ run in Q4

After difficult first day of qualifying in Japan, Top Seed Simon Kurzbuch finally delivered on his speed with the Mugen Seiki driver taking the TQ for the fourth round of 6 at the 1:8 Onroad World Championship.  The 2015 World Champion would be more than 1.4 seconds quicker than his closest rival Yuya Sahashi as the first of the day’s three qualifiers saw a number of drivers in the top have issues.  Infinity team-mates Jessie Davis and Naoto Matsukura were in the mix for a Top 3 run until they both ran out of fuel.  Having TQ’d the second round yesterday, Capricorn’s Toni Gruber would make a driver error and end his run early.  All this meant that running in the 3rd fastest heat Takaaki Shimo would complete the Top 3 for the round ahead of Dominic Greiner, Shoki Takahata and Dario Balestri.  Having TQ’d the final qualifier yesterday but having had poor results in the previous two, reigning World Champion Takahata described Q4 as a ‘safe run’ adding he would ‘push more’ in the next one.

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November 2, 2023

Hong Nor X3GTS height-adjustable anti-roll bar

Hong Nor has released a new height-adjustable anti-roll bar for its World Championship winning X3GTS 1:8 GT chassis.  Used by newly crowned World GT Champion Toni Gruber in Sydney last month, it not only allows the car to maintain a better balance but also allows for more delicate adjustments of the car set-up.  Hong Nor offer four front anti roll bars for the car, 2.0, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.8mm, and four rear anti roll bars, 2.3, 2.5, 2.8 and 3.0mm.

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]


November 1, 2023

3Racing Cero FWD Sport 1:10 Touring Car

3Racing has released a new entry level 1:10 FWD Touring Car chassis, the Cero FWD Sport.  Featuring pivot mounted suspension, the car shares suspension geometry and key components with the popular Cero Ultra.  Suspension knuckles are common across all Cero models, reducing required spare parts, as well as allowing upgrade to aluminium.  The Lower suspension arms are molded in composite GA, featuring integrated pivot ball mounts.  Fully adjustable ARS rear suspension, infinitely adjustable to adapt to changing track conditions. It has a quick change spur gear mount and the motor mount provides a wide range of adjustability to cater for all blinky motor applications.  The Sport gets comes with a honeycomb TPU front bumper included as standard and the front lower bumper and body mount assembly has been redesigned for increased durability.  A one piece bulkhead cover maintains alignment and rigidity.  Horizontal rear body mount system, lowers centre of gravity and reduces body roll and risk of body tucks.

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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.

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November 1, 2023

Balestri TQ’s opening qualifier in Japan

Infinity’s Dario Balestri has TQ’d the opening round of qualifying at the IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship in Japan.  Top Qualifier at the last Worlds in 2019, the Italian took the round ahead of Capricorn’s Dominic Greiner as Simon Kurzbuch ran out of fuel on his last lap.  The Top Seed after timed practice Kurzbuch looked to be carrying that form into Day 1 of qualifying but having admitted yesterday that the 4-minute run time would be close, this morning it was to cost him the TQ run.  Having hinted at his pace in the final practice when he was fourth fastest, Infinity’s Jessie Davis would complete the Top 3 for the first of the 6 rounds of qualifying 0.579 ahead of Toni Gruber.  One of the four drivers to top timed practice yesterday, Naoto Matsukura didn’t have a good start to qualifying as he needed to pit after the first 1-minute to have his engine tuned.

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October 31, 2023

Butterfield joins Ielasi Tuned

On what has been a productive day for Ielasi Tuned engines at the 1:8 World Championship, drivers Simon Kurzbuch and Toni Gruber taking a 1-2 in seeding, the Italian company has announced top US racer Bryce Butterfield has joined the team.  Commenting on the announcement from Infinity International RC Speedway in Japan, factory Serpent driver Butterfield said, ‘I would like to thank Daniele and Sabrina for the opportunity to run their World Championship winning engines! Looking forward to running these engines into the future! Coming to a track near you.’

Source: Ielasi Tuned [ielasituned.com]


October 31, 2023

Kurzbuch is Top Seed in Japan

Simon Kurzbuch is the Top Seed at the IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship, the Mugen Seiki driver setting the fastest 3-consecutive laps of the day in the fourth & final round of timed practice in a great battle with Capricorn’s Toni Gruber.  The duo swapped position at the top of the timing screens, their engine tuner Daniele Ielasi finding it hard to keep up with which of drivers was currently fastest, but at the end of the 7-minutes it was Kurzbuch who was 2/10ths faster than Gruber.  That time would give the very much back in form 2015 World Champion the tiebreaker in the final seeding points ranking as himself and Gruber both count a P1 & P2 each.  Fastest in the second round, Infinity’s Naoto Matsukura would put himself out of contention for the confidence boosting Top Seed status when he crashed out just before the final 2 and a half minutes of the run which is when the times start to tumble.  Another contender, having topped Round 3, Dario Balestri could not match the lead pace and finished with the third fastest time just ahead of Infinity team-mate Jesse Davis.  Overall that would seed Balestri third.

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October 31, 2023

WMH Racing motor tuning base

Donathen RC has announced the latest WMH Racing product to be added to the range, their base for motor tuning devices. This base is designed to be used with either the Load Master or Motor Test Stand and the Tunalyzer, Motolyser, or motor analyzer. When using the base it allows a great viewing angle of the motor tuning device, placement of your motor holding device, and even a parts tray for your test parts. A compact and robust design for traveling, it is available in 17 colours and has a handy parts tray for rotors, screws, shims etc.

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