Red RC » Electric

September 14, 2022

Coelho sets the pace as free practice concludes

Reigning World Champion Bruno Coelho set the early pace in Gubbio, Italy, the Xray driver posting the fastest 3-consecutive laps of the four rounds of free practice at the ISTC World Championship. With a full 1-second advantage, his closest rival would be multiple Champion Marc Rheinard with Ronald Volker and Jilles Groskamp making it a very familiar picture at the top of the time sheets. Setting the fifth fastest time, Yannic Prumper was the fastest of those in search of their first World Title.

Continue reading here

September 14, 2022

Impending bad weather sets early tone at ISTC World Championship

After a long 4 year wait the ISTC World Championship is finally here but the 11th running of touring car’s biggest prize is off to a tense start as impending bad weather looks set to dictate the running of the 4 day event. With the majority of drivers expressing their dislike of the dots added to a number of corners to meet the rule requirement of being 60% different to that which drivers tested on, the protest to allow the iconic circuit to run in its original layout was rejected by the IFMAR International Jury. The next issue for drivers was the packed Day 1 schedule that will end with the running of the first of the six rounds of qualifying. The opening day of the Worlds is normally a much slightly more relaxed affair with drivers easing themselves into things with just controlled practice runs. The rules also state the timetable can’t be altered from what was originally published.

Continue reading here

September 13, 2022

Coelho “less prepared” but “there to fight” to retain ISTC World Championship

In 2014, the world unearthed a then mostly unheard of young Portuguese driver. Initially it was the wiring on his car that had the internet buzzing, but as the ISTC World Championship in Kissimmee progressed people started to realise this guy was something a bit special as he started mixing it with Touring Car’s elite. RedRC actually knows Bruno Coelho a lot longer than most of the current crop of top drivers. His father Cesar was responsible for organising the 2008 Nitro Touring Car World Championships in Lisbon and was a great host to us as we report on the event with Bruno this slightly wild kid jumping around in the background.

Continue reading here

September 12, 2022

“My goal is now more focused on win than just making A-Main”, Krapp confident for World Champs

14-years on from making your World Championship debut some might wonder if you can still have the same level of hunger and mental drive to compete at the highest level of your sport. In a category that requires extreme precision and 110% concentration for intense 5-minute periods, electric touring car is full on from start to finish – no time for easing yourself into it! A class, especially in more recent years, in which it has proven difficult for newcomers to crack the establishment, one driver to progress into the top ranks and be a consistent race contender is Christopher Krapp. Now entering into his 7th World Championship, it is two 4th-place World Championship finishes that make this German more motivated that ever to become IFMAR’s 9th different ISTC World Champion this week in Italy.

Continue reading here

September 10, 2022

“I always want to add another title”, Rheinard excited about WC return

Six years ago the electric touring car scene looked very different. We still had one of RC’s best known brands fielding a high profile factory race team. Tell anyone you race RC cars and they’ll most likely reply ‘I used to have a Tamiya’. Unfortunately the TRF squad is gone from being a major force in A-Mains around the globe but the driver who lead them on one of their most successful streaks is back for his first World Championship battle since Beijing 2016. The Touring Car World Championship without 3-time champion Marc Rheinard was a strange experience but that’s what happened in 2018, the German missing his first Worlds since bursting onto the scene with victory on his 2004 debut in Kissimmee, USA.

Continue reading here

September 9, 2022

“No pressure” as Volker carries Mugen hopes on ISTC World Championship debut

Ronald Volker says there is “no pressure” despite the German carrying the hopes of Mugen as they make their electric touring car World Championship debut in Italy next week. After a hugely successful run of seasons with Yokomo that finally culminated in him claiming the sport’s greatest prize in China in 2016, Volker believes he goes into the 11th running of ISTC Worlds “a better all round driver”. The years of the Umino and Ronald partnership at Yokomo were the envy of many. Ronald simply drove the car that was meticulously engineered & prepared by Yukijiro Umino.

Continue reading here

August 29, 2022

Clean sweep for Orlowski at British Nationals finale

Michal Orlowski wrapped up the British 1:10 Offroad National Championships in style over the weekend when he completed a clean sweep at the season finale at Robin Hood Raceway. With both title’s having been decided at the previous encounter, Orlowski claiming the 4WD title and Associated’s Neil Cragg the 2WD crown, it didn’t deter the Polish driver from adding to his season’s winning tally. On Saturday the factory Schumacher driver secured the TQ before going on to take win number 3 of the season ahead of team-mate Josh Holdsworth with the Associated of Tommy Hall third. Sunday was to be a repeat performance in 4WD. While Yokomo’s Lee Martin topped Q1, Orlowski would go fastest in the next 3 rounds of qualifying. From the TQ, the former European Champion won all three A-Mains for another Schumacher 1,2, Ben Smith finishing 2nd, with Martin completing the Round 6 podium.

Image: Michal Orlowki [Facebook]

August 25, 2022

ISTC World Championship homologation parts lists

The organiser of next month’s IFMAR electric 1:10 ISTC World Championships in Gubbio, Italy, has released documents which refer to all the homologated parts on car that can be used during the event in the various classes. This document also includes the tires to be used and a recommendation on mounting your transponder. Given the recent motor ‘irregularities’ that lead to 2 of the podium finishers at the European Championship being disqualified from Pro Stock, a review of the documents might be worth a few minutes of any attending racers time.

Links to view each document are published on the IFMAR Facebook page click here