Red RC » Gas

March 23, 2010

Lamberto Collari takes victory at Euros Warmup

The warm up race for the 1/8th scale European Championships took place last weekend under cold weather conditions in the south of Italy at the Locorotondo track, host of this year’s main event. Qualifying saw Worlds top qualifier Robert Pietsch put his Mugen on pole position ahead of new Motonica signing Walter Salemi in 2nd, with 9 time World Champion Lamberto Collari in 3rd and Dario Balestri taking the final direct qualifying spot in 4th. In the final Collari drove a flawless race while Pietsch hit trouble, as did Salemi, allowing the Kyosho driver a simple run to the win. He crossed the finish line a lap in front of Dario Balestri, who had a fast closing Andrea Cristiani only 1.5 seconds behind. Belgian Serpent driver Ilia van Gastel set the fastest lap in the final with a 15.277, 6/100s quicker than pole man Pietsch.

Click here for the final results

March 23, 2010

Joaquin Desoto Jr dominates Ipanema GT Worlds

Last weekend the Homestead RC Raceway in Florida, host of next year’s 1/8th World Championships, played host to the Ipanema GT Worlds. Qualifying saw Joaquin Desoto Jr dominate qualifying turning a 13 laps in 5:03, about 4 seconds ahead of 2nd place qualifier Joerg Schaedler. Desoto, driving a Novarossi powered stock OFNA DM-1 was the only driver to turn laps in the 22 sec. range. In the finals it was a close race between the Joaquin Jr and Schaedler, with Desoto leading the way. Different pit strategies and tire choices made the race interesting and exciting to watch with Joaquin going with harder tires for the final, making his car a little slower but very consistent in the long final. Good pitwork and smart driving allowed him to manage the gap to 2nd place without having to overheat the tires and he took the win by about a 12 seconds ahead of Schaedler in 2nd, with Mike Lyday taking the final step of the podium in 3rd.

March 22, 2010

Dirk Wischnewski joins Matrix Tires

Matrix Tires in Italy have added another top name to their driver roster with the signing of current 1/10th scale 200mm European Champion Dirk Wischnewski. The German driver, who has also previously won the European 1/10th scale 200mm ‘B’ title, has completed a deal that sees him join a team which includes current World Champion Daniele Ielasi, Worlds TQ Jilles Groskamp, former World Champion Adrien Bertin, Alexander Hagberg, Martin Hudy and Paolo Morganti to name a few. Dirk will be looking to defend his European title in Sweden this summer with his Matrix shod Xray NT1 as well as aiming for the title at this year’s World Championship in Houston, Texas.

Source: Matrix Tires [matrixtires.it]

March 22, 2010

Renaud Savoya takes Australian National title

The Australian buggy Nationals took place last week at the SDMCC track in Adelaide. It was French Mugen/RB driver Renaud Savoya, who is currently residing in Australia, that took the TQ spot following qualifying having also led the way in practice. The semi finals was more of the same from the double European Champion, who cruised through his race to take the pole position for the main event lining up ahead of Kyle McBride who had won the other semi. In the main Renaud didn’t have it all his own way at the start with fellow Mugen racer McBride piling on the pressure. It wasn’t to last though and by the closing stages Renaud had lapped the field as early contender Craig Luaghton dropped out with a flat RX pack, and McBride had his transponder stop counting. The final two laps however were to add a bit of drama as the French man damaged his car and had to limp it home allowing 2nd place finisher Matt Griffin to claw a lap back, but there wasn’t enough time to do more and the positions remained the same. Andrew Gillot driving a Losi 8ight took the final step on the podium.

View some race video action here

March 20, 2010

Daniel Ielasi gets fueled by Capricorn

Capricorn have announced that current 1/10th 200m World Champion Daniele Ielasi has chosen to use Carpicorn Fuel for the 2010 season. Expanding their partnership which has already been in place for a number of years, with Ielasi winning his World title with a Carpricorn modified Kyosho, the Shepherd/IDM driver is hoping this already successful partnership will yield more victories this year with two European titles on offer as well as the defense of his World Champion crown this summer in Houston, Texas.

Source: Capricorn [capricornrc.com]

March 19, 2010

Bobby Flack joins Shepherd/CEFX

Shepherd Racing have announced that front running 1/10 IC Track racer Bobby Flack is joining the Shepherd/CEFX team for 2010. Bobby brings years of experience and speed to our team making it even more likely you will be seeing the V10 in the winner’s circle this year. Here is what Bobby had to say about joining the team:

I would first like to thank RC America and Xray for all their support over the past 5 years. They have been great to race for and work with over that time. I truly appreciate everything they did for me. With that said I am very excited about this new opportunity with CEFX and Team Shepherd. I am looking forward to working with Josh and the rest of the team this season. Hopefully, many great results will be coming soon!

Bobby joins the team of defending IFMAR World Champion Daniele Ielasi, IFMAR Worlds Top Qualifier Jilles Groskamp, Josh Cyrul, Brian Thomas and another top level driver soon to be announced for this years IFMAR WC in Houston. The Shepherd team is looking stronger and stronger heading into this years World Championships later in the summer.

Source: Shepherd [team-shepherd.com]

March 18, 2010

Cavalieri & Maifield Win Big In Vegas

Team Associated are reporting on the 2010 Silver State Nitro Challenge which moved from Boulder City Raceway in Boulder City, NV to down into the valley of Henderson just a short drive from the famous Las Vegas Strip. Also new for 2010 was the race promoter. World-famous track designer and event promoter Joey Christiansen brought his “Dirt” crew to transform the Silver Bowl track into a Supercross-style layout while taking into account the treacherous surface and weather conditions.

Continue reading the report here

March 17, 2010

Oscar Cabezas confirmed at Motonica

Although having already raced the first round of the National Championships, taking pole position, Motonica have confirmed Oscar Cabezas in their team for 2010. The reigning Spanish National Champion, will race the company’s P81 in both the Spanish Nationals and the European Championships which takes place in Italy during the summer.

Source: Motonica [motonica.com]