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May 11, 2026

Ongaro wins Worlds Warm-up Race at Thornhill

With this year’s 13th annual The Dirt Lonestar Challenge doubling up as the official Warm-Up Race for the 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship later this year it was Team Associated’s Davide Ongaro who took the win. Racing at the covered Thornhill Racing Circuit in Texas, it would be an Italian 1-2 as Ongaro was followed home by Sworkz’s of Mattia Polito while American Ryan Maifield completed the podium for Tekno. In qualifying it was Ongaro who was fastest in the opening two qualifiers to secure the overall RQ ahead of Sworkz’s Mason Fuller who topped the third & final round. Polito would end qualifying P3 ahead of the Kyosho of recent Asian Buggy Championships Indonesia winner Phi-Long Nguyen with European Champion Juan Carlos Canas completing the Top 5. Winning his Semi final from Canas’ Sworkz, Ongaro would like up on pole for the 1-hour final ahead of the Spaniard, Polito and Brandon Rose winner of the first Semi. From the front Ongaro, who will chase a fourth consecutive World title in September, took control of the race to win by 2-laps. He would make it double winning weekend in Hutto, also taking the eBuggy win comfortably ahead of team-mate Spencer Rivkin and Fuller as Top Qualifier Nguyen dropped to fourth.

Image: Matrix Racing Tires [Facebook]

May 7, 2026

Baird wins Irish Championship opener

Mugen Seiki driver Bradley Baird got his RCCAOI 1:8 Nitro Buggy Irish National Championship title defence off to a perfect start taking the win at the NIMCC hosted season opener. Round 1 of the 5 round new look championship took drivers to Ballymena in Northern Ireland and on the astro track it was Baird who dominated a rain effected qualifying. Topping all 5 rounds he would secured the TQ ahead of Dylan McBurney and Alan Scroggie. In the 45-minute final, Baird continued his form to win ahead of Andrew McClean, who started 4th, with McBurney completing the podium. Round 2 of the championship will see racers compete on dirt at the RCNI track in Bandbridge on June 20/21.

Source: RCCAOI [rccaoi.com]

May 7, 2026

LAP Paradise Int. Buggy Party 2026 – Announcement

With its track going viral on the internet when the world tuned in for its hosting of the Asian Buggy Championships two weeks ago, Malaysian track LAP Paradise RC Raceway has announced details of its annual International Buggy Party Race which takes place December 11-13th. With the track undergoing huge development works in preparations for its first hosting of an Asian Buggy Championships round, its large 3D layout and sealed surface, contrasted by its blue infield, was a huge hit with visiting racers including young Kyosho star Phi-Long Nguyen who took the double win and his main rival & Top Qualifier Mayako’s Pekko Iivonen. Situated in the south of the country in Johor Bahru, LAP Paradise RC Raceway is only an hour drive from major international hub airport Singapore Changi Airport. The amazing Malaysian hospitality also makes LAP Paradise RC Raceway a must visit race destination for 1:8 Offroad racers.

View more track images here

May 5, 2026

Arnaldi wins EFRA 1:5 GP in Luxembourg

Genius Racing’s Bernard-Alain Arnaldi took the win at the first EFRA 1:5 Grand Prix of the season, the Frenchman claiming victory in a rain effected finals day at the Mini Circuit “Ville de Luxembourg”. In Touring Car qualifying it was the Mecatech of Belgium’s Giovanni Verbrugghe who secured the TQ honours, his final run of the three qualifiers the fastest. With Arnaldi second fastest, behind him the qualifying order was Cédric Prevot, Norwegian Marius Hetland, and reigning European Champion Carsten Keller from Germany. Winning Super Pole, Prevot booked his direct spot on the final grid as the rest had to battle it out in their respective Semi Finals. With Arnaldi winning his in the faster time, the 2-time European Champion would line up 3rd on the grid ahead of 2022 European Champion Edoardo Repetti from Italy who won the other Semi. In a wet 20-minute final, weather conditions extremely challenging, setting the fastest lap of the race Arnaldi would come out tops to win by a comfortable margin over Repetti and the Top Qualifier Verbrugghe. The second of the three 2026 scheduled EFRA Grand Prix’s will take place on June 6/7th in Macon, France.

Image: Mecatech Racing Components [Facebook]

May 4, 2026

Nicholson wins NSW State Title

The New South Wales State Titles for 1:10 Electric Touring Car took place over the weekend with Schumacher’s Simon Nicholson taking the Modified title. Racing at the Australia’s most famous onroad track as host of two World Championships, 68 drivers made the trip to the John Grant International Raceway just outside Sydney. With 3 from 5 rounds of qualifying to count, it was 2024 National Champion Nicholson who secured the TQ topping two rounds. Behind him it was RC Maker’s Jeff Hamon who secured P2, the previous NSW Champion fastest in Q5. Also racing for RC Maker, young Lincoln Codd took the opening qualifier on his step up to Modified to completed the Top 3 on the grid. In the finals, Nicholson would win A1 & A2 to lock in the title. Qualifying P4, RC Maker’s Jeffrey Mackie would win A3 to finish runner up with team-mate Hamon completing the podium from Codd on tie break. In 13.5 Touring Car, ARC driver Marcus Askell took the title ahead of the Xray of Top Qualifier & National Champion Michael Stone. Awesomatix driver Tim Hilyear completed the podium.

Image: Simon Nicholson [Facebook]

May 4, 2026

Double success for Wood at British 1:8 Onroad Nationals

Shepherd’s Tim Wood completed a double win at the latest BRCA 1:8 Onroad British National Championship, Brookland Raceway hosting a double header weekend of the BRCA Championship. After a tough opening race to the season at Halifax last month, that race was won by defending champion Alex Thurston, the World Championship finalist took the Round 2 TQ and win ahead of team-mate David Spashett with Craig Hook completing the podium. Resetting for Round 3, again it was Wood who was the benchmark this time taking the TQ ahead of the similar package of Andrew Hastings. In the half hour final, Spashett unfortunately an early retirement, Wood completed the perfect weekend to claim maximum championship points that put him top of the standings and giving an absent Thurston work to do over over the rest of the season. Craig Hook and Neil Driver completed the Round 3 podium. Round 4 of the championship takes drivers to the Cotswold track on June 6/7.

Image: Shepherd Micro Racing [Facebook]

May 4, 2026

Lee wins Malaysia ISTC 2026

Xray team driver Nicholas Lee made the trip across the border from Singapore to neighbouring Malaysia to contest the Malaysia ISTC 2026 and come away with the Modified win. Attracting over 100 drivers, the SACC RC Park hosted race would face some rain disruptions, but over the four rounds of qualifying it was Lee who set the pace to secure the TQ ahead of the Axon of fellow Singaporean Zaccheus Lam. The Xray of Sean Lee completed the Top 3. In the double finals, Lee won the opening encounter from Malaysian Mugen Seiki racer Shahrin and a repeat win in A2 over Lam gave him the overall win. Lam and Shahrin completed the podium. In Stock 13.5, well known Asian race announcer Daryl Thong made a successful return to racing to take the TQ and win ahead of Faric Au and local racer Yozo for an all Xray podium.

Image: SACC RC Park [Facebook]

May 4, 2026

Kobbevik doubles at INS16 Round 2

Making the trip Stateside, Schumacher’s Daniel Kobbevik completed the double at the second round of the JConcepts Indoor National Series. Racing at the RC One Racing offroad facility in Michigan, the Norwegian would secure the TQ in 2WD on the carpet track ahead of team-mate and reigning INS Champion Broc Champlin, the World Champion topping the opening of the three qualifier. Team Associated’s Aydin Horne completed the Top 3 on the grid. In 4WD it was season opening double winner Chase Lemieux who claimed the TQ, the Xray driver topping Q1. While Kobbevik topped Q2, it was team-mate Brennan Schimmel, fastest in Q3, he lined up P2. In the finals, while Lemieux took A1, Kobbevik took A2 & 3 to secure the overall win with Lemieux and Schimmel completing the podium. In 2WD, Kobbevik took A1 ahead of Horne, but from 4th on the grid 2023 2WD World Champion Tater Sontag took the win from the visitor. Staying out front in A3 Kobbevik completed the double with Sontag and Horne joining his on the podium.

Image: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]