November 7, 2024

Coelho opens World title defence with Q1 TQ

Reigning World Champion Bruno Coelho has opened his Electric Touring Car World Championship title defence with a TQ run in the opening round of qualifying at Finishline RC Raceway in California.  Having set the pace in yesterday’s free practice, the Xray driver carried that form into the opening two seeding rounds but in SP3 a traction roll would mean he would be the fifth car to leave the line in Q1 as arch rival Michal Orlowski got to go first.  With the sun setting in Bakersfield, and temperatures dropping as the top heats went out on track, Q1 conditions would challenge all the drivers but chasing a third consecutive title it was Coelho who came out on top.  Ahead of him on the track but behind him on the time sheets Orlowski’s Schumacher would stop the clock 1.3-seconds off Coelho.  A further 1.7-seconds back Akio Sobue completed the the Top 3 for the first of the six rounds followed by Ronald Volker, Marc Rheinard and Alexander Hagberg.

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November 7, 2024

Coelho tops opening seeding round in Bakersfield

As things start to get official here at the IFMAR ISTC World Championships in Bakersfield, California, it was Bruno Coelho who set the pace in the first of the 3 seeding rounds, the reigning World Champion’s closest challenger continuing to be Michal Orlowski.  With yesterday’s wind having died down and the morning sun bringing some extra temperature, drivers posted their fastest laps of the event so far around the Finishline RC Raceway with Coelho’s advantage over 3-consecutive laps 1/10th of a second on Orlowski.  Behind them it was Warm-up Race winner Akio Sobue who was 3rd fastest ahead of Marc Rheinard with Infinity’s Jin Sawada and Schumacher’s Mattia Collina completing the Top 6.

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November 7, 2024

Ronnefalk confirmed for SIGP International Offroad GP

The organisers of the SIGP International Offroad GP in Xiamen, China, have announced David Ronnefalk as the latest driver who will compete for a share of the race’s total prize money of almost $25,000.  The Xray driver & 2016 1:8 Buggy World Champion is the third World Champion winner to be confirmed for the December 11-15 race with Team Associated’s Davide Ongaro and Xray’s Bruno Coelho having already been announced to race at the 3-circle ARC International RC Racing Track.  The same venue that hosted the 2017 IFMAR 1:10 Electric Offroad World Championships, the race schedule will be made up of 5 classes including racing for 1:4 offroad bikes with the main action expected in 1:8 Nitro Buggy and 1:8 eBuggy.  Red RC will be travelling to the SIGP for the post Covid return of the event to the international race calendar.

Source: Sunpadow [sunpadow.com]


November 1, 2024

Xray XB2 ’25 1:10 2WD Buggy

Xray has unveiled its latest 1:10 2WD Competition buggy with the release of the 2025 iteration of its XB2 platform.  Available in both Carpet and Dirt editions, the platform features a thinner 2.0mm aluminium one-piece chassis which improves traction while a Unified mid-length chassis balances rear traction & steering response.  The rear chassis section has been widened to improve stability and a new unique Flat Chassis Brace adds tunable flex control.  Redesigned RF (C) arm holder integrates with Flat Chassis Brace. Updated longer side guards extend flex control & include a new fan mount position.  The new 3G gearbox has been updated for the lower chassis brace and the buggy also get a new lowered motor mount.  An Aluminum rear roll center holder adds a 3rd roll center position & clearance for the rear anti-roll bar collar.  Other updates include shorter front arms for improved handling characteristics while redesigned rear arms add a 3rd shock mounting location for additional tuning options.

View the full XB2’25 presentation here


October 29, 2024

Menicucci announces Xray departure

Long time Xray driver and top Italian Electric Touring Car racer Alessio Menicucci has announced his departure from the Slovakian manufacturer.  Posting the announcement on Facebook, the reigning Italian National Champion who was a regular on the international tour said, ‘After 13 years I have to announce that from now on I will no longer be part of Team Xray. We have taken away many satisfactions, we have had many disappointments, we have won and we have lost, always giving 100%. I must especially thank all my teammates for sharing beautiful days and many laughs together, Martin Hudy for having trust in me, Francesco Martini for being my mentor, Fabio Domanin for his unconditional support and support. Thank you very much. The friendships created will go beyond the color of the shirt we wear. I’m looking forward to discover what the future brings, but I already know that I will continue to give 100%.’

Source: Alessio Menicucci [Facebook]


October 27, 2024

Hagberg wins Masters of Foam

Former 1:12 World Champion Alexander Hagberg has won the annual Masters of Foam race in Belgium.  Establishing itself as one of the major races on the international 1:12 calendar, this year’s event saw Hagberg take his Xray to the overall TQ honours ahead of defending back to back Champion Ollie Payne.  While the British Schumacher driver topping the opening qualifier, Hagberg would set the pace in the remaining three rounds.  Hungarian Adam Izsay would complete the Top 3 on the Modified grid ahead of the fellow Xray driver Mathias Nedrebø from Norway.  Making the trip from the United States to the Miniatuur Racing Club Zwevegem track, MonTech NYGP organiser Donny Lia would qualify his Awesomatix 5th.  In the triple finals, Hagberg would win the opening two 8-minute encounters to secure the overall win reversing the 2023 results with Payne finishing 2nd.  Izsay completed the podium.  In the 13.5 Stock, Payne would defend his 2023 title.  Securing the TQ from Belgium’s Ollie Bultynck and Lia, Payne wrapped up the overall victory by winning the A1 & 2 with Izsay claiming 2nd overall as A3 winner Lia complete the podium ahead of team-mate Bultynck.

Image: Alexander Hagberg [Facebook]


October 25, 2024

Xray X4 ‘25 1:10 Electric Touring Car

Xray has unveiled its latest 1:10 Electric Touring Car contender with the release of the X4’25.  The back to back World Champion manufacturer’s newest kit features all-new shorter shocks positioned 3mm lower than previous geometry improve cornering speed, mid-corner steering and stability, as well as reduced traction rolling in high traction conditions.  New shock holders relocate the upper shock mount position to compliment shorter shock geometry.  All-new link style upper suspension arms are included in the kit as an alternative to the traditional CFF upper arms for maximum adjustability & improved handling in certain conditions.  Te X4’25 also gets a new flex limiting top deck shims for improved stability with the kit also including wider wheel hubs for better all-around performance out of the box.

View the full X4’25 presentation here


September 29, 2024

Dominant Coelho claims European 4WD title in Sweden

Xray’s Bruno Coelho is the new EFRA 1:10 4WD Offroad European Champion after a dominant performance in Malmo, Sweden.  The first time the European Championships have been held on an indoor carpet track, the former 4WD Buggy World Champion took the European title in the category for a second time with the absolute perfect score.  In qualifying the Portuguese driver topped all 5 rounds with his Hobbywing powered XB4’25 to secure the TQ ahead of defending Champion Michal Orlowski, the Schumacher driver securing the 2WD title for the first time earlier in the week.  Sworkz’s Micha Widmaier completed the Top 3 for qualifying ahead of the Team Associated of 2022 Champion Marcus Kærup.  Continuing his form into the A-Mains, Coelho took the first one by 1.4-seconds from Orlowski.  While his Polish rival was slightly closer in A2, Coelho sealed ther title with another win.  A3 would see Orlowski take the win ahead of former back to back Champion David Ronnefalk who came through from P6 on the grid but third for Widmaier would see the Austrian complete the overall podium.

Image: Hobbywing Technology [Facebook]


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