October 2, 2026

Fuller ‘Top Qualifier’ in Texas with 3rd TQ in final quali

Sworkz’s Mason Fuller is the 2026 IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship Top Qualifier, the American securing the honours with a third TQ run in the sixth & final round of qualifying in Texas.  Going into the decider it was down to a two way battle between Fuller and Xray’s David Ronnefalk.  With two TQ runs a piece, Ronnefalk would be the first to present his best effort in Heat 13 of 15 and the Swede delivered by knocking 2-seconds off his Q5 topping time, that run having been the fastest run around Thornhill Racing Circuit.  With Fuller next to go, and having the advantage of not needing to do a fuel stop, he would better that time by 6/10th with a new outright fastest time but with Heat 15 still to run a better time from any of the 12 cars in that group would give Ronnefalk his first Worlds TQ.  Sworkz’s Juan Carlos Canas clearly stepped up to the challenge, the Top Qualifier of the last World Championship, he was on target to TQ the round.  Having just put in a blistering 35.765 second lap, with the crowd still audible in awe of that time, unfortunately the Spaniard would fall foul of the same track roof support post that cost him a strong Q3 run the previous day.  With his car getting caught in a screw at the post, his efforts were for nothing.  While ROAR Champion Seth Van Dalen topped Heat 15 for a P3 for the round, with Fuller taking the Q6 TQ from Ronnefalk this is how they would finish up in the final rankings.  As the defending Champion and winner of Q3, P6 the best he could manage in the final quali, Davide Ongaro completed the Top 3 ahead Canas, and he will line up behind Fuller in the Semi A and while Canas lines up behind Ronnefalk in the Semi B on Saturday.

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October 1, 2026

Fuller produces second TQ run in Texas

Sworkz’s Mason Fuller has opened Day 2 of the qualifying at the IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship with a second TQ run, the American topping the round from team-mate Juan Carlos Canas and defending Champion Davide Ongaro.  Going in the group ahead of Ongaro and Canas, Fuller would be the only driver to run 17-laps of the Thornhill Racing Circuit this morning, Canas missing the mark by 1-second as he snatched P2 from Ongaro on his final lap of the fourth qualifying round.  Behind the Top 3 it was David Ronnefalk, who took Q1 yesterday morning, who set the fourth fastest time ahead of Xray team-mate Chase Lemieux both drivers running in Heat 13 of 15.  The Top 6 was rounded out by eBuggy World Champion Marcus Kaerup with US Offroad heavyweights Dakotah Phend, who had two DNF’s yesterday, and Ryan Maifield just behind him.

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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 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

Fuller closes gap as Ongaro continues to set pace in Texas

Mason Fuller continues his rise up the practice rankings in Texas today, the Sworkz driver closing the gap to World Champion Davide Ongaro with the second fastest time in the fifth round of free practice at the 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship.  Again it was the Team Associated of Ongaro who topped the times around the Thornhill Racing Circuit, the Italian finding more than a second to lay down the fastest 3-consecutive laps we have witnessed yet.  Just 4/10ths of a second off, Fuller bettered his best time by 2-seconds with a run that put him ahead of Xray’s David Ronnefalk and Associated’s Marcus Kaerup.  The second fastest American driver, Brandon Rose took his Team Associated to the fifth fastest time for the round with the Xray of much favoured USA title hopeful Dakotah Phend completing the Top 6.

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September 15, 2026

Wicaksono joins Sworkz team

Sworkz, who just released their latest S35-5 buggy platform, has announced the addition of well known & accomplished Indonesian 1:8 Offroad racer Adrian Wicaksono to its official team line-up.  The Indonesian National Champion and multiple FEMCA Championship Finalist is also the host of his home country’s Asian Buggy Championships round at his ‘bucket list’ track West Side Raceway in Jakarta.  Responsible for designing and building the track which last month concluded the fourth season of the Asian Buggy Championships, Wicaksono work was highly praised by the races biggest international field to date.  Switching from Team Associated to Sworkz for the 2026 season, on the official announcement of his team driver status, Wicaksono said, ‘First off, I would like to thank Scott Yang and Sworkz for giving me the opportunity to run for an incredible brand!  Having Sworkz believing in my racing program has given me the confidence to push for new limits. I hope we can achieve many incredible things together here in the region.  See you all at trackside!’

Source: Sworkz [sworkz.com]


September 2, 2026

Sworkz S35-5 1:8 Buggy Kit

Sworkz has released details of the 5 generation of their competition 1:8 Buggy platform, the S35-5 and S35-5e.  The next evolution in 1:8 Buggy racing builds on the proven success of the S35-4 EVO platform, with the well-known and successful geometry of that predecessor having been carefully optimized in key areas for the S35-5.  This delivers higher cornering speeds, increased traction, and a more forgiving driving feel-without changing the fundamental driving character. Sworkz say this result is a buggy that remains predictable and easy to control, while offering increased consistency and confidence across a wide variety of track conditions.  The S35-5 is built around a lightened T7075 hard-anodised aluminium chassis, based on the proven wheelbase layout of the S35-4 EVO, which has been extensively used by their factory drivers.  In addition, an optional +3 mm extended chassis will once again be available.. This longer version is ideal for fast, high-grip tracks, providing improved stability and easier handling at high speeds.  The buggy gets a redesigned radio tray that offers multiple receiver battery mounting options, flexible receiver positioning, is compatibility with various switch types, and has two transponder mounting locations.  This all ensures clean installation and easy setup customisation.  The S35-5 is equipped with LCD (Large Caster Design) front upper arms, which were already available as an option on the S35-4 EVO and have proven their performance and durability over several years of racing. To improve durability and cleanliness, plastic covers for the front and rear lower suspension arms are included. These covers provide effective protection against dirt and debris while also giving the buggy a cleaner and more aggressive appearance.  The shock system of the S35-5 has been completely updated, with new high-quality X-rings for smoother shock action and improved sealing.  The kit also gets new double-line shock towers, the Upper line based on the proven S35-4 EVO design and the Lower line optimised for high-grip tracks, offering a lower center of gravity and more precise handling.  All-new Samurai Competition spring line has been developed specifically for improved balance and consistency.

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August 17, 2026

Boots celebrates 10th National title with Shrewsbury win

Sworkz/Reds Racing/GRP factory driver Elliott Boots celebrated a landmark 10th British 1:8 Nitro Buggy National title over the weekend with victory at the fifth & final round of the 2026 Championship.  Racing at Shrewsbury with 123 racers in attendance, the 2-time European Champion and World Championship Top Qualifier, secured the TQ as he topped 3 of the five qualifiers. Winner of Round 3 at Slough, the Agama of Erik Lykke was fastest in Q4 to secure second while fastest in the opening qualifier Xray’s Jonathan Skidmore, winner of Round 2 at Blackpool, competed the P3.  Winning his Semi Final from Skidmore, with Lykke winning the other Semi to line up P3, the duo would battle it out for the win over the 45-minutes with Boots eventually taking his 3rd win of the season by less than 2-seconds.  From sixth on the grid, William Skidmore would take the final step on the podium with Lykke, the winner of Round 3 at Slough, dropping back to 5th.  Overall Lykke would finish the championship 3rd in the overall standings behind Jonathan Skidmore and Boots, for whom this was his 5th consecutive BRCA RallyX title win.

Image: Elliott Boots [Facebook]


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