The Italian NitroBuggy Genzone track played host to the Buggy Winter Cup last weekend. The event kicked off with practice on Friday with the drivers having to adapt to a somewhat difficult track due to its high traction. Come Sunday things had settled and in the end it was Xray’s Marco Baruffolo with the win in the Nitro Buggy class from Mugen’s Robert Batlle. Kyosho’s Riccardo Berton rounded out the top 3 podium result.
Source: Xray [teamxray.com]
SWorkz have announced the signing of former long-time Kyosho driver, Elliott Boots. The former EFRA European Champion 1/8th Buggy Champion will campaign SWorkz’s 1/8th and 1/10th scale platforms and he has the following to say about the deal:
I am very excited to join the Sworkz team for 1:8 and 1:10. I am very thankful for this opportunity and excited for my first race with my new team. Also looking forward to making new friends and team mates.
Source: SWorkz [sworkz.com]
The Trofeo Enneti was held at the Club Automodellistico 5 Colli trac in Gubbio, Italy this past weekend. Run in 1/8th and 1/10th on-road classes the event attracted some of the country’s fastest on-road drivers and in 1/8th IC Track it was Dante Piersante with the overall TQ from Roberto De Cesare in 2nd. In the 30-minute main final Roberto was able to bring home the win some five seconds in front of Dante in 2nd as Gianmarco Di Febo completed the top 3 podium result some three laps down.
Image: Roberto De Cesare
42 drivers attended the final round of the Winter Series at a windy Brookthorpe track with all three steps on the overall Winter Series able to change. Jon Howells (Team Associated) took the initiative and first round of qualifying. Chris Lovell (HB Racing) took the 2nd and 3rd with Jon taking the final round, giving Jon overall TQ on countback. Onto the A-final Jon rolled it on the first corner with Chris rolling at on the next corner. Throughout the race both drivers had challenges which ended up with them together on the last lap. Chris Lovell managed to hold on for the win, with Jon Howells 2nd and an excellent drive by Will Day to take his first A-final podium. The results meant that Chris Lovell (HB Racing) won the series, with Jon Howells (Team Associated) 2nd and Jake Knight (Tekno) 3rd. In the juniors Will Day (TLR) took top spot, with Rowan Ainsbury (JQRacing) 2nd and Jake Westwood (TLR) 3rd.
Source: BRCA [brca.org]
The Palm Desert RC Raceway held round 3 of the Grassroots Race Series this past weekend. Open Nitro Buggy saw Mugen’s Adam Drake walking away with the TQ and Adam would also bring home the win in the 20-minute A-main event, taking the overall victory two laps in front of Anthony Westergaard. HB Racing’ Cole Jenson would end the race on the 3 spot, some 7.6s behind Anthony. In the Open E-Buggy category Anthony Westergaard took the overall TQ but again it was Adam Drake with the overall win, leaving behind Anthony in 2nd some 6.9s down. Cole Jenson again snatched the final podium spot, two laps behind Adam and Anthony. Over in the Nitro Truggy class Adam Drake completed a clean sweep, taking home the TQ and win from Ryan Reese.
The MACCR track in France held the annual Charmes Cup this past weekend. In the 1/8th Nitro Buggy class it was TLR’s Renaud Savoya with the TQ and also the win in the 45-minute A-main event. Two laps behind Xray’s Vincent Meertens obtained the runner-up spot as HB Racing’s David Naldini came in 3rd to round out the podium.
Image: Rusti Design [rustidesign.fr]
The opening round of the 2019 Asian Nitro Championship was held at the Tom Racing Circuit in Hong Kong this past weekend. A lot of weather delays made things challenging for the organisers and racers but even with all the weather delays, the ANC crew and the racers stepped up and managed to get in two hours of practice along with three whole rounds of action packed qualifying in racing well into the night on Friday. After the seeded practice, a resort and three rounds of Friday qualifying, it was Jesse Davis with the overall TQ in 1/8th Open while Andy Moore TQ’d 1/10th 200mm Touring. Cheung Yan Hung came to on top in 1/8th Masters and Kim Yeong Ju top qualified 1/8th GT. Round 4 of qualifying was planed for Saturday morning followed by the finals and as much as everyone wished the rain delay would end, the weather gods would not be so generous. It would be later afternoon when Scotty would make the announcement that racing was called for the day and with Sunday showing more rain all day, sadly that would conclude the ANC Hong Kong Round. This means awards would be given based on the qualifying results.
Elliott Boots has announced his departure from long-time sponsors Kyosho on social media today. During his 8-years long partnership with the iconic Japanese brand, Elliott took two EFRA European titles, four BRCA national titles as well as many international race wins but now Boots decided to end the partnership and move along. Elliott has yet to announce his new chassis sponsor and in the meantime he had the following to say:
It is with a heavy heart that i make this announcement. After 8 years with kyosho I have decided to end my relationship with the team. It has been an amazing 8 years with some amazing results, 2 european titles, 4 british titles and many international victories.
I would like to thank Mitsuo, Kenji, Fitoshi, Zach, Christophe and especially my mechanic and very good friend Mick Cradock for all they have done for me. I want to wish Ricky, CJ, Joao, Rayan, Bryan, Oscar the best of luck in the future races. An extra special thankyou goes to Mick Cradock, we have had many races together and you always gave me support.
I feel like it is time for me to move to a new challenge and experience. I would like to wish kyosho and everyone involved all the best in the future. Further announcements will be known soon. Watch this space.
