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April 4, 2024

Ongaro late confirmation for Philippine Masters

Having originally looked set to miss this year’s Philippine Masters due to Warm-up Race commitments for the IFMAR 1:8 Buggy World Championships, the cancellation of Brazil hosting the Worlds means reigning back to back World Champion Davide Ongaro will return to Asia’s biggest annual 1:8 Offroad race for a fourth time. A winner of the event event prior to Covid, the Team Associated star successfully returned to the famous 3D layout Circulo Verde track located in the heart of Manila last year as the Philippine Masters made its return to the international stage after the forced 2 year break. Taking the TQ ahead of the Mayako of former World Champion Robert Batlle and the win ahead of Sworkz’ Micha Widmaier 12 months ago, this year the Italian’s competition for the April 18-21 event is set to come from an entry list that includes Kyosho pairing Ryan Lutz & Kyle McBride and Sworkz’ Joern Neumann. The 12th running of the Philippine Masters, the race is also the second round of the ambitious four round Asian Buggy Championships which is currently lead by American Lutz who won the opening round in New Zealand in February.

Source: Asian Buggy Championships [Facebook]

March 29, 2024

Sweep officially confirmed as ISTC Worlds spec tyre

South Korean tyre manufacturer Sweep has been officially confirmed as the controlled tyre for this year’s IFMAR 1:10 Electric Touring Car World Championships which takes place at Finishline RC Raceway in Bakersfield, California, in November. Details of the spec D-36R3PGS (Part number 3036217) tyre were published in the latest Stage Report from the organisers together with confirmation of Mighty Gripper Yellow V3 as the spec additive. Sweep’s D series compound was developed following a raw material shortage issue early last year with the new compound made from totally new materials which are more stable and have a more consistent supply. The D series compound provides much more consistent laptimes between first and second run and even third runs. There is also improved durability on sidewall meaning less issues on high speed straight aways. The D compound was supplied as the controlled tyre at the recent TITC in Thailand with it having zero issues with the super hot weather and very difficult track conditions, many of the top drivers complimenting its performance. Another improvement is the wheel from Sweep which has a better fit with D series tyres making for a better balance. The tyres contain EXP-S soft thick inserts for longer lifespan and consistency. The D-36R3PGS tyre will be supplied for the 1UP Racing West Coast Invitational race at Finishline RC Raceway at the beginning of May with reigning World Champion Bruno Coelho confirmed for Mike Reedy Memorial Invitational Class at the event.

Source: Sweep Racing [sweepracing.com]

March 29, 2024

IFMAR announce 1:8 Offroad Worlds return to Redovan

IFMAR has made the somewhat surprise decision that 2022 World Championship hosts Redovan in Spain will again host the 1:8 Offroad World Championship in 2024. With it a week since it was announced that originally selected hosts Brazil would be unable to run the event for the FAMAR Bloc, alternative host countries quickly surfaced keeping hopes alive of the Championships remaining in South America. Bolivia was quickest off the mark followed by Mexico and then former hosts Argentina. However on discussing the situation the IFMAR Board of Directors have made the somewhat controversial decision to revert to the previous host bloc EFRA, with the well known Baldo brother’s family owned track given the task of once again hosting the sport’s biggest race. Executing an excellent World Championship in 2022, where Davide Ongaro defended his title win from four years earlier in Australia, last year the track also hosted the European Championships for a second time. IFMAR’s own rules stipulate that a new acceptable host must be received from the Bloc within one month of notice of the originally selected venue no longer being in a position to host the race which was the case. With this in mind IFMAR’s decision is one that is sure to divide opinions and alienate the RC community in South America but it also raises questions about the process for selecting World Championship hosts going forward. In our opinion while the ultimate goal of any World Championship is to crown the best driver in the World it should also be an opportunity to showcase RC Racing in its best light to new audiences, something we believe is often missed or over looked.

Read full IFMAR announcement here

March 27, 2024

McBride confirmed for Philippine Masters return

Fresh from his National Championship double title win over the weekend, Kyle McBride has been confirmed for making his return to the Philippine Masters in Manila next month. The Australian was a regular visitor to the event prior to Covid but missed the return of the event last year as he took a break from international competition in 2023. Now back on the international stage with Kyosho, having attending the opening round of the Asian Buggy Championship in New Zealand last month, the World Championship finalist is looking forward to the second round in the Philippines. The 12th running of what has become Asia’s biggest annual 1:8 Offroad race, McBride said, “Super excited obviously, the Philippines track is one of the best in the world in my opinion. We’ve had the pleasure of going there quite a few times in the past. They are super nice people, Edward and all of his crew offer lots of hospitality and it’s always a world-class event. Obviously a lot of top drivers are going this year so it’s going to be one of the big ones. They always build super technical but fast and flowing layouts. We can’t wait.”

Source: Asian Buggy Championships [Facebook]

March 26, 2024

Payne wins season finale, Harper takes RugRacers Series

The fifth & final round of the Hertford Radio Car Club run RugRacers Series saw Schumacher’s Ollie Payne take the win but it was team-mate Elliot Harper who took the overall 23/24 Series title. While four drivers had a chance at the title going into the season finale, other commitments meant winner of the previous round Alex Thurston, Harper and Hayley Eldridge where absent, the latter competing at the ETS in Vienna where she was making history in becoming the first ever female to make the Modified A-Main. In qualifying Payne took the top spot, 4-seconds ahead of the returning Olly Jeffries with Matthieu Dambrine securing 3^rd position on the grid. The first final saw a commanding win from Payne where he would pull away, managing the gap for the rest of the run to take a comfortable 3-second win over the Awesomatix of 16-time BRCA Champion Jefferies. A2 began with Jeffries chasing Payne and looking for an opportunity to get by but the Top Qualifier would stay out front to win the round and secure himself runner-up spot in the championship while her efforts over the previous rounds secured Eldridge third in the final standings.

Source: RugRacers [Facebook]

March 25, 2024

Balestri wins Ielasi Tuned International Cup

The 2024 edition of the annual Ielasi Tuned International Cup took place at Pista Leno in Italy over the weekend where it was Infinity’s Dario Balestri who took the 1:8 win ahead of Mugen Seiki’s Simon Kurzbuch and Capricorn’s Toni Gruber. In qualifying for the race put on by former World Champion Daniele Ielasi, it was 1:8 GT World Champion Gruber who took the opening qualifier ahead of Balestri but the reigning 1:8 Onroad World Champion go to the top in Q2 & 3 to secure the overall TQ from Gruber. With two P2 runs young Xray star Filippo Domanin secured P3 on the grid for the 45-minute final ahead of Kurzbuch with Thomas Lorenzi and last year’s winner Francesco Tironi completing the Top 6. Balestri lead away from the start but about half way into the race had issues with Gruber going to the front but then the German would have problems of his own. In the end some very quick pit work for a last minute fuel stop helped keep Balestri ahead of Kurzbuch, the pairing enjoying a great battle for the win as Gruber completed the podium just 3 seconds back after 194 laps of racing.

Image: Ielasi Tuned [Facebook]

March 25, 2024

Toia doubles at New Zealand Offroad EP Nationals

Team Yokomo’s Logan Toia completed the double at New Zealand’s Offroad EP Nationals, the 16-year-old securing the 2WD Buggy title for the first time and successfully defending his 4WD championship. Hosted by the Taranaki Radio Control Car Club in New Plymouth, this year’s Nationals attracted 65 drivers for a total of 190 entries. In qualifying, it was three rounds per class to the best two deciding the grids with 2WD producing TQ runs from three different drivers. Kasey Dawson took the opener with Shane O’Connor topping Q2 before Toia TQ’d the third one and that was how the lined up for the final with Dawon the Top Qualifier. In 4WD Luke Duthie topped Q2 & 3 for the TQ from Toia who was fastest in the first round. The 2WD finals were a similar story to qualifying with a different winner in each of the triple mains and it coming down to a tie breaker between O’Connor, winner of A1, and Toia, winner of A3, the latter’s faster time giving him the title. Winning A2, Dawson completed the podium. In 4WD, Toia retained his title by winning A1 & 3, with Duthie winner of A2 finishing runner-up while fourth place qualifier Dawson completed the podium ahead of O’Connor.

Image: Logan Toia Racing [Facebook]

March 25, 2024

Lemieux & Champlin winners at JConcepts Spring INS

Xray’s Chase Lemieux and Schumacher’s Broc Champlin came out the main winners at the JConcepts Spring Indoor Nationals hosted by RC ONE Racing in Michigan. The second stop on the 2024 INS calendar, Spencer Rivkin having completed the double at the 14th season opener at Trackside Hobbies last month, in 2WD Buggy it was Champlin who secured the TQ ahead of Aydin Horne who opened the three rounds of qualifying with a TQ run before Champlin went fastest in Q2 & 3. Qualifying for 4WD would see TLR’s Dakotah Phend claim the TQ with Horne again lining-up second with Champlin P3. Starting the 2WD finals from P3, Lemieux took A1 from Champlin with that order reversed in A2 meaning it was all to play for in the third encounter. While Champlin made an early break from the chasing pack, Lemieux was chasing him down until he collected a lapped car and while he continued he would retire shortly after, the race now Champlin’s for the taking but it wasn’t to be. With Horne jumping out of lane and head on into the path of Champlin, it would take a corner off his car, handing Tom Rinderknecht the A3 win and the overall victory to Lemieux on tie-break. In 4WD, Champlin would get the overall win taking the opening two A-Mains to wrap things up early with the podium being completed by Phend and Horne.

Image: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]