Following in the foot steps of his Tamiya team mate Jilles Groskamp, Viktor Wilck has signed a deal to use Speed Passion motors for the rest of the season, with an option for 2009. Formerly running with the Team Orion units, the Swedish driver who won the DHI Cup earlier this year, was using the new motors for the first time at last weekends LRP race in which he finished in 3rd position.
Current German 1/8th and 1/10th 200mm National Champion Robert Pietsch has been confirmed to have switched to Italian tyre supplier ATS. Debuting with his new foam at last weekend’s Pre Worlds in Portugal, the Shepherd Velox designer used his Xray NT1 to qualify in 2nd position before going on to finish the hour long final in 3rd behind ATS team mates Dario Balestri and eventual winner Daniele Ielasi.
Source: ATS Tyres
Jilles Groskamp will officially represent Speed Passion for the remainder of the racing season. In the pit area here at the 2nd round of the Much More backed ETS, the top International Tamiya driver confirmed to us that he has agreed a deal with Speed Passion to supply him with motors for the rest of the year. Jilles has run the Hong Kong made motors since the beginning of the season but only inked a deal at the TITC in Thailand 2 weeks ago that will also see the Dutch driver race Speed Passion at this year’s World Championships.
Mirage Racing in the UK have announced that top 200mm racer, and European finalist, Darren Johnson has joined Xray to race the NT1. Darren brings to the team countless National victories and immense knowledge & experience which will help the rest of the team, which consists of Ben Cosgrove, Mark Gilliland and Robin Hammett. Darren, who previously raced for Team Magic, will also run the complete line of GRP tyres.
Source: Mirage [mirageracing.com]
Team Xray Australia have announced that young Australian racer Ryan Maker has signed to race the Xray range of touring cars for 2008. Commenting on his deal to race the T2’008 & NT1, Ryan had the following to say:
Privileged to be racing for Team Xray. I really enjoy being able to race for Xray as their car’s quality and performance is outstanding! I would like to thank Custom Model Cars and Team Xray and Hudy for all their support.
Source: Xray [teamxray.com]
2007 IIC and 2008 DHI Cup winner Jimmy Maddison from the UK has been in contact to tell us that he has signed a deal to run SMC cells for the rest of this year. The Schumacher team driver said he was very excited about the change and is looking forward to working with Danny from SMC to help develop the new Ener-G 4600 cells.
Current Irish 1:8 on road National Champion Clive Connolly has announced that he will double his 2008 Irish campaign and head Team Serpent Ireland’s challenge for 1:10 200mm title honours. The Multiple 1:8 National Champion, who will race a Serpent 960 08 both in Ireland and Europe this season, was attracted to the 1:10 Championship by the competitiveness of the class in Ireland, with this year’s 6 round national series expected to attracted 30 plus drivers per event making for one of the best ever seasons of 200mm racing in the country. For his 1:10 campaign Connolly will race Serpent’s latest 720 08 which will be powered by Mega ZX engines.
Source: Serpent [serpent.com]
Yet another Shepherd signing, this time its German lady racer Sabrina Lechner who following on from last months announcement that she will run IDM motors has agreed to run the German made Velox for this season. Alongside IDM motors, European ‘B’ Championship semi finalist Sabrina will also run the new ATS made IDM tires in this years German Nationals. As with all 3 new Shepherd signings announced yesterday, Sabrina had competed with Mugen until this season.
Source: Fun & Drive [scuderia-fun-and-drive.com]
