August 21, 2013

Meen V TQs 3rd FEMCA qualifier

Meen V TQs 3rd FEMCA qualifier

Reigning Nitro Touring Car World Champion Meen Veijrak ended Day 1 of qualifying for the FEMCA 1:8 Offroad Championship with a TQ run making him the third driver to top the times at the Chinese event.  The Thai driver took his Mugen to the fastest time of the day outpacing Q2 pace setter Dani Choi, who having finished all the qualifiers in the Top 2 holds the provisional overnight TQ honours, with Kyosho’s Yuichi Kanai completing the Top 3 with his fastest run of the day.  For Q1 pace setter Atsushi Hara Q3 would prove difficult with a series of crashes leaving the pre-event favourite only 14th fastest.

View our complete event coverage here.


August 21, 2013

Choi takes Q2 in China

Choi takes Q2 in China

Korea’s Dani Choi took the second round of qualifying at the FEMCA 1:8 Offroad Championships in China heading Q1 pace setter Atsushi Hara by 5.5 seconds with versatile Thai ace Meen Veijrak completing the Top 3. Choi said despite the track being a lot dustier than in Q1 his Sweep Exagon equipped Kyosho had better traction allowing him to improve his opening time by 5 seconds.  Describing the track as having got more bumpy in Q2, something he said he was able to drive around on this occasion, he said he will monitor the surface before Q3 to decide what changes he might need adding that he is pretty sure he will run a different spring on the MP9.  Running for the first time Alpha’s new Ryan Lutz exhaust to match up with the same named engine, he said it worked really well giving the engine a lot more bottom end power.

View our complete event coverage here.


August 21, 2013

Plutarco Lizardi wins Money for Monkeys race

Plutarco Lizardi wins Money for Monkeys race

Mugen driver Plutarco Lizardi took the first place at the M.A.R.R.O Money for Monkeys event at the VW Race Track in La Paz, Mexico. With temperatures over 100° F and an A main full of the fastest drivers in Mexico Mugen dominated and took the top 3 podium positions with Ernesto Gomez taking the runner-up spot and Anfonso Jaime completing the podium.

Source: Mugen Seiki [mugenracing.com]


August 21, 2013

2013 JConcepts Clash – Update

2013 JConcepts Clash – Update

With the 2013 JConcepts Clash being less than three weeks away the organisers have send out an update on the proceedings. 440 pre-entries are already in for the most unique event of the year that sees pro drivers like Ryan Maifield, Dustin Evans and JR Mitch all signed up and ready to battle once again. 2WD modified, 1/8th nitro expert and 1/8th e-buggy remain the largest classes of competition and a fresh track layout designed by Paul Wynn is in the finishing stages. The track layout flows like water, the shading on the drawing represents elevation which is a focus inside Flowood R/C park along with rhythmic jump sections and speedy chicane driving. Katelynn Ansari, current Monster Energy girl cover model and 2013 JConcepts Clash girl, will be in attendance Saturday and Sunday for photo opportunities, promotion and Sundays awards presentation. Be sure to come out, stop by the JConcepts booth and get an autograph from Katelynn during the weekend’s festivities. There are still some last-minute spots available, feel free to visit RCsignup.com for registration. For those who are not able to attend Red RC will offer live coverage throughout the event.


August 21, 2013

Hara tops opening FEMCA Qualifier

Hara tops opening FEMCA Qualifier

Atsushi Hara, who only last Friday made the shock announcement that he was leaving HB, has taken the opening round of qualifying at the FEMCA 1:8 Offroad Championships in China.  Racing a Mugen, which the former World Champion went out and bought himself in a hobby shop in Thailand, the Japanese ace set the pace in the first of six 10-minute runs by just over 5-seconds from Korea’s Dani Choi and with Japanese Kyosho driver Dani Hiroki completing the Top 3 at Beijing Model Sports Association’s freshly built FT Offroad track.  With a difficult Visa procedure keeping defending Champion Kyle McBride away from contesting this year’s FEMCA Championship, the Far East’s equivalent of the EFRA European Championships, and thereby denying the Australian the opportunity to go for a third consecutive title, Hara’s TQ run endorses his status as pre-event favourite to take back the title he previously held.

View our complete event coverage here.


August 20, 2013

Takaaki Shimo wins at New Taipei City race

Takaaki Shimo wins at New Taipei City race

Mugen’s Takaaki Shimo took the TQ and win at the New Taipei City 1/8 Nitro On-Road Invitational Race. This inaugural government sponsored event saw more than 60 drivers competing with Takaaki Shimo and fellow Protoform team driver JJ Wang as the top invited foreign drivers. Shimo took the win with and JJ was in hot pursuit but dropped off his close chase due to mechanical problems and ended up 4th. Finishing 2nd and 3rd were local Taiwan drivers Jones Chu and Wang Sheng Tsong. This event was the first major international on-road nitro event in Taiwan’s RC scene, which not only saw local media coverage as well as large numbers of spectators at the race.

Source: Protoform [racepf.com]


August 19, 2013

Martin Hansen wins at Danish buggy nationals

Martin Hansen wins at Danish buggy nationals

The Danish 1/8th buggy nationals took place at the RC Center track in Greeve. After a strong showing at the recent EFRA GP Martin Hansen (Kyosho/Team Orion/AKA) once again excelled as took the win in the nitro buggy and also the E-buggy class. The nitro podium was completed by Oliver Fischer (Kyosho/Team Orion/AKA) and Silas Høgholt (Kyosho/OS/AKA).

Source: Kyosho [kyosho.de] | Photo: Oliver Fischer


August 19, 2013

Alex Thurston is 200mm Junior European champion

Alex Thurston is 200mm Junior European champion

At last weekend’s 1/10th 200mm ‘A’ Euros in Austria Serpent driver Alex Thurston took the Junior Championship. After taking the 1/8th on-road Euro Junior title just weeks ago in Halifax, UK this is another important victory for the young man this year. Alex is sidelined by Serpent team mate Jörg Tiit who took the third place on the Junior’s podium.

Source: Serpent [serpent.com]