Red RC » Events

May 29, 2023

Nicholas Lee wins HKRCSA Cup Round 1

Attracting over 120 entries, the opening round of the latest season of the long running HKRCSA Cup took place over the weekend at Tom Racing Circuit in Hong Kong where Nicholas Lee would take the win. Making the trip from Singapore for the race, the factory Yokomo driver would open qualifying with a TQ run over the Xpress of Japan’s Yugo Nagashima. With four rounds of qualifying, Lee would secure the overall TQ from fellow countryman & new 2023 team-mate Ethan Cheng. A multiple winner of the Cup, Xpress driver Hay completed the Top 3 on the grid for the triple A-Mains. Winning both A1 and A3 from Serpent driver Kenrick Fong, Lee would secure the overall win leaving the rest of the podium to be decided in A3. Keeping ahead of Fong for the A3 win, the result would give Hay second overall in the tie breaker as Fong completed the podium ahead of another Serpent of Patrick Chau. In the Stock class Hong Kong driver Tiger Drity took the win over Lam Suen and Joey Chan for an all Xray podium.

Image: Nicholas Lee [Facebook]

May 28, 2023

Takahata successfully defends JMRCA 1:8 Onroad title

Mugen Seiki’s Shoki Takahata has successfully defended his Japanese 1:8 Onroad National Championship title with a tone to tone victory at Infinity International RC Speedway. Topping all four rounds of qualifying to secure the overall TQ honours from fellow Mugen driver Hayato Ishioka, the reigning World Champion lead all 187-laps completed over the 45-minute final. Proving his closest challenger, the Infinity of former 1:10 Nitro Onroad Naoto Matsukura finished just 6-seconds back having qualifier 3rd. With Ishioka encountering problems that would see him retire after 15-minutes, Shinnosuke Yokoyama would complete the podium having started from fifth on the grid. World Finalist Shinya Shimazaki maintained position qualifying and finishing 4th with Yuya Sahashi completing the Top 5. The Infinity International RC Speedway will host the 23rd edition of RC racing’s original World Championship category from October 27 to November 5. Red RC will be travelling to Japan to tell the story of how the title unfolds.

Image: Atsushi Hara [Facebook]

May 28, 2023

Greiner wins ENS Germany

Capricorn’s Dominic Greiner has won the opening round of the Euro Nitro Series in Germany. The reigning European 1:8 Onroad Champion took victory at the Ettlingen track from Infinity’s Jilles Groskamp who finished less than 6-seconds back at the end of the 45-minute encounter. Having secured the overall TQ on Saturday, Toni Gruber lead out the 12-car field but after just 18-laps hit issues that would drop him to last place. This resulted in Simon Kurzbuch’s Mugen taking over the lead but as the race approached half distance he too hit problems as he flamed out. Groskamp and Merlin Depta then took turns at the front before Greiner took charge of the lead in the final quarter of the race where he would stay to the finish. Setting the fastest lap of the race, Gruber wold recover to salvage a podium finish from the weekend. Bumping up from the B-Main Tobias Hepp would finish fourth with Alex Thurston and Teemu Leino completing the Top 6. In 1:10, Top Qualifier Melvin Diekmann converted for the win ahead of French duo Quentin Leroux and Basile Concialdi.

Image: Oli Meggit

May 28, 2023

Takahata Top Qualifier at Japanese 1:8 Onroad Nationals

Mugen Seiki’s Shoki Takahata will start on the TQ at the Japanese 1:8 Onroad National Championship which are taking place at this year’s IFMAR World Championship host circuit Infinity International RC Speedway. The reigning World Champion and defending JMRCA Champion locked his OS powered MRX6 into the overall TQ when he made it three from three in the penultimate round which brought Saturday’s action to a conclusion. Attracting a field of 63 drivers, with one last qualifier still to run on Sunday morning it is ISTC World finalist Hayato Ishioka who holds second ahead of the Infinity of multiple World Champion Naoto Matsukura and his team-mate Takaaki Shimo.

Image: Atsushi Hara [Facebook]

May 28, 2023

Gruber TQ’s ENS season opener

Capricorn’s Toni Gruber has TQ’d the opening round of the Euro Nitro Series in Germany. With 2023 a big year for 1:8 Onroad with the return of the World Championship after a four year break, this year’s ENS is an opportunity for Europe’s top drivers to get in some top level competition ahead of the trip to Japan in October. The first of three rounds that make up this year’s series, Gruber secured the overall TQ in Ettlingen when he topped the final two qualifiers with his Ielasi Tuned powered C804. Behind the German, former World Champion Simon Kurzbuch secured P2 for Mugen having TQ’d the opening qualifier. Fastest in Q2, reigning European Champion Dominic Greiner will start P3 ahead of Capricorn team-mate Merlin Depta with Team Shepherd’s Lars Hoppe and Infinity’s Jilles Groskamp completing the Top 6. In 1:10, Melvin Diekmann secured the TQ topping 3 of the four qualifiers for Capricorn with Q3 pace setter Milan Holthuis lining up second.

Image: Toni Gruber [Facebook]

May 22, 2023

Electric to run as ‘World Cup’ at IFMAR 1:8 GT Worlds

The organisers of the IFMAR 1:8 GT World Championship in Sydney, Australia, have announced they will have a 1:8 Electric GT class as a supporting ‘World Cup’ race during the event from October 8-14th. Having also run as a ‘World Cup’ race at the inaugural 1:8 GT Worlds in Homestead in 2020, the electric class will continue as a support race given the low numbers achieved last time. While expect slightly higher numbers at John Grant International Raceway than the 18 that was achieved three years ago in the US, IFMAR says this is not enough to warrant a true IFMAR World title. While the official Warm-up Race run by the hosts New South Wales Radio Control Racing Car Club was effected by rain, several drivers have tested on the Monday after that event to check tyre wear for the 1 hour main final and it was confirmed that the Q3 tire from PMT, which is the controlled tyre for this event, can make the 60 minutes without any problems. More news on the Sydney event will be available in the 2nd Stage report which should be available end of June.

Source: IFMAR [imfar.org]

May 22, 2023

Hamon lifts Mod Touring Car NSW State Title

Jeff Hamon lifted the Australian NSW State Titles in electric Touring Car over the weekend at the Newcastle On Road R/C Car Club. Better known for his nitro onroad exploits, the Serpent team driver took the Modified title with victory over the Xray of Top Qualifier Ari Bakla with multiple champion Simon Nicholson completing the podium for Yokomo. Racing on the tight track, Hamon, winner of the recent 1:8 GT Worlds Warm-up race, qualified third behind Nicholson with John Puse fourth. Opening with the win in A1 of the triple A-Mains A2 would see a DNF as Bakla took the win. All to play for in A3, Hamon got to the front early and despite Bakla having the fastest car on track, he kept him at bay to win and secure the title.

Image: Jeff Hamon [Facebook]

May 17, 2023

1:8 Buggy Euros Warm-up Race – Announcement

Famed Spanish offroad track RC Redovan has announced that it will run the Warm-up Race for this year’s EFRA 1:8 Nitro Buggy European Championship over the weekend of June 16-18. Having hosted last year’s IFMAR World Championships, the Baldo brothers owned track previously host the European Championship in 2016 and has become one of the world’s most iconic tracks thanks to its elevation change from the left to the right side of the massive track. The timetable for the Warm-up Race will see Friday practice, Saturday qualifying and Sunday Finals. One very important detail to note for racers is that under Spanish law, if you do not have a special license of precursors, in order to use 25% nitro fuel you will be required to buy the fuel within the grounds of the circuit. The organisers will have fuel available from the main brands including Runner Time, Merlin, Energy and Nitrolux. As at the World Championship, the fuel must remain deposited at the circuit from Friday to Sunday for all drivers including Spaniards. Registration for the Warm-up Race is open now – click here

Source: RC Redovan [Facebook]