March 23, 2024

Coelho & Hamon Top Qualifiers at SIGP

Xray’s Bruno Coelho and Serpent’s Jeff Hamon are the Top Qualifiers at the SIGP in China but the second day of qualifying saw very different fortunes for the two drivers.  Having topped the opening qualifier yesterday, defending SIGP Electric Touring Car Champion Coelho continued that form going fastest in the remaining three rounds for a clean sweep In Xiamen.  In Q2, it was Chinese National Champion Ma Haoran also driving an Xray who was his closest challenger.  Driving a prototype of Yokomo’s upcoming MS1.0, Nicolas Lee repeated his Q1 performance with another P2 in Q3.  Having missed Q1 yesterday due to a fever, while still under the weather it was a much better day for JJ Wang with him wrapping up qualifying with the second fastest time in Q4.  Overall that puts him P3 on the grid for the A-Main behind Lee and ahead of Haoran.  With qualifying in 1:8 Nitro Onroad based on each driver’s single fastest time from the four rounds, Hamon’s Q1 pace was to prove important for the World Championship Finalist.  After a morning rain shower, Hamon would top Q2 but in a slower time and then in Q3 & 4 he suffered one-way bearing failures that resulted in two DNFs.  Hong Kong’s Ray Poon would top Q3 from Italy’s Cristiano Sartor with Wang third and he was again fastest in Q4, this time from Matrix Tires’ Cristian Boni.  Overall the Q1 times of Boni and Sartor gave them 2nd and 3rd overall with Poon set to line-up P4 on tomorrow Main final grid.

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March 23, 2024

Mexico & Argentina join race to host World C/Ship

It seems IFMAR is going to a have choice of countries to choose from for the hosting of the 1:8 Offroad World Championships with Mexico and Argentina putting themselves forward as replacements for Brazil.  Joining Bolivia’s bid yesterday, from Mexico, FEMARAC and the PicNic Royal Club in Guadalajara, have put together a presentation stating, ‘Following the announcement earlier today of the cancellation of Brazil’s planned hosting of the September event, Mexico has come out to present its formal proposal to participate and host this great event in Guadalajara Mexico, one of the most important cities in the country, with every amenities available even to the most demanding of all, as well as a city full of Music (Mariachi), traditional folk dance, typical food of the country and many other nationalities. A headquarters that, due to its international airport and connectivity, allows arrivals from any part of the world at very affordable prices.’  Having previously hosted the World Championships in 2012 where Robert Batlle won his title, Argentina has submitted a proposal to host the 19th edition of the Worlds at the same venue.

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March 22, 2024

Bolivia emerges as potential new World C/Ship host

Bolivia has emerged as a potential host of the IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship following the announcement earlier today of the cancellation of Brazil’s planned hosting of the September event.  The Bolivian RC Federation ‘Febolarc’ (Federación Boliviana de Autos a Radio Control) together with the Candelaria RC Pro club has submitted a proposal to the FAMAR Bloc offering to host the event at their track in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.  Neighbouring Brazil on its West side, Bolivia’s quick reaction to Brazil’s cancellation improves the chance of keeping the 2024 World Championship in South America.  IFMAR stipulate that a new acceptable host must be received within one month of notice of the originally selected venue no longer being in a position to host the race.

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March 22, 2024

1:8 Offroad World Championship in Brazil Cancelled

IFMAR has just announced that it has been informed by FAMAR that the 1:8 Offroad World Championship scheduled for September has been cancelled.  The Brazilian Federation FEBARC together with CASA Raceway in São Paulo had been awarded the 19th running of the World Championships.  In breaking the news IFMAR posted, ‘We were just informed by FAMAR that the IFMAR 1/8th IC off-road event in Brazil, scheduled for 8-15th of September will be cancelled, due to permits and permissions they still have not received from the City Government.  Your IFMAR committee is now discussing and looking for an alternative organizer, who can hold the event on the same dates.’  CASA (Clube de Automodelismo de Santana) has since published further details as to the reasons for the cancellation.

Read CASA statement here


March 22, 2024

Coelho & Hamon top Q1 at SIGP

Having established itself as one of China’s biggest annual international races prior to Covid, the SIGP International RC Car Grand Prix makes it return this weekend with Xray’s Bruno Coelho and Serpent’s Jeff Hamon topping the opening rounds of qualifying in Xiamen.  Hosted at the huge double track facility next to the Sunpadow battery factory, in electric Touring Car qualifying it was World Champion Coelho who set the pace ahead of the Yokomo of Nicolas Lee and Hamon.  Bringing together both electric and nitro racing at the 2017 1:10 Offroad World Championship venue, in 1:8 Onroad Nitro it was Hamon who was fastest.  Behind the Australian,  Matrix Tires owner Cristian Boni was second fastest with fellow Italian & Hasi Tuned engines co-owner Cristiano Sartor completing the Top 3 on the first day of action at the SIGP.  Qualifying continues tomorrow Saturday with three more rounds.

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March 18, 2024

Harper takes Essex Winter Series title

Elliot Harper is the new Essex Winter Series Champion, the Schumacher driver taking the title in fashion with TQ & victory at the fifth and final round.  Going into the season finale with two wins to his credit, Harper would open the title decider by taking the overall TQ with two TQ runs.  Behind him on the grid having topped the other two qualifiers would be Alex Thurston, winner of last season’s final round, who since Round 4 has made the switch from Yokomo to Mugen.  The Xray of defending Champion Kyle Branson completed the Top 3 for the single main.  Setting the fastest lap of the race, Harper would edge out a 4-second gap on Thurston who was busy keeping winner of the season opener Branson behind.  In the championship that 3rd was enough for Branson to finish runner-up ahead of Thurston with the season’s 3rd different winner over the popular 5 round series Harley Eldridge ending the season 4th.

Image: Schumacher RC Racing [Facebook]


March 18, 2024

Mazzeo dominates Italian GT Championship opener

Alessio Mazzeo put in a dominant start to the Italian 1:8 GT National Championship, the Capricorn driver completing a double victory at the season opener at Mini Autodromo Stradivari in Cremona in Northern Italy.   Securing the TQ for both nitro and electric, in the triple main electric finals defending Champion Mazzeo would secure the win ahead of Genius Racing’s Alex D’angelo and Schepis Model’s Rosario Giaimo.  In the 45-minute Nitro final, the former European 1:10 Nitro Onroad Champion and World Championship podium finisher would set a new track record enroute to winning by almost a full lap from Giaimo with Serpent’s Andrea Catanzani completing the podium from 6th on the grid.  Qualifying 5th for the final, that was where defending Champion D’angelo would finish the race.

Image: Alessio Mazzeo [Facebook]


March 18, 2024

Boots takes 25th anniversary Dirt Nitro Challenge win

A landmark year for World renowned track builder Joey Christensen’s signature event, it was Sworkz Elliott Boots who took the big win at the 25th anniversary of the legendary Dirt Nitro Challenge.  In Nitro Buggy qualifying it was the British driver who secured the TQ in Perris, California, despite not topping a round with a second and a third fastest times enough to top the ranking after the three rounds from Team Associated’s Spencer Rivkin.  Having topped the opening qualifier Frankie Contreras Jr. completed the Top 3 for Mugen.  The other two qualifying rounds would go to Kyosho’s Ryan Lutz and Tekno’s Ryan Maifield who was chasing his fourth consecutive DNC title having won in 2023, 2022 and 2021.  From the front of the 15-car grid, Boots would take control of the 45-minute encounter eventually winning by 10-seconds from the Xray of 2020 Champion David Ronnefalk with TLR’s Dakotah Phend completing the podium.  For Sworkz there was double celebrations at the event with Juan Carlo Canas taking the eBuggy win from Rivkin after Top Qualifier Ronnefalk retired.  While Maifield’s run of buggy wins came to an end, finishing the final in 10th, the American didn’t leave the DNC empty handed as he crowned Truggy Champion ahead of Phend and Boots.

Image: TheDirt Racing [Facebook]