New online RC boutique Monaco RC have announced that they are teaming up with Xray’s Alexander Hagberg and Bruno Coelho. The two IFMAR World Champions will not only be the 2018 brand ambassadors for the new company founded by Francesco Martini, but will also share their extensive product and set-up knowledge in order to maximise the customer’s on and off track experience.
Source: Monaco RC [monacorc.com]
Awesomatix have announced the signing of French Modified driver Loic Jasmin to their Factory Team. The former IFMAR World Championship finalist and 7-times French national champion will be a great addition to the always growing Awesomatix brand and team. He will attend at all major races including all ETS rounds, EFRA European Championship in Austria and IFMAR World Championship in South Africa. Loic has following to say about his change:
I’d like to thank Max and Oleg for the great opportunity to join the Awesomatix Factory Team. I felt it was the time for a change and Awesomatix was the only team I wanted to join. The previous and last results proved their car is one of the best on the market and their professionalism and continued R&D show this is a team to watch in the near future. I’m really looking forward to start working with my new teammates and achieve many good results for the team, my first race being the French Nats round 1 by the end of March. I’d also like to thank Team Yokomo for the wonderful last 7 years together and I wish them all the best for the upcoming season.
Source: Awesomatix [awesomatix.com]
The recent round of the Austrian Team Carpet Brothers 2.0 racing series attracted drivers from Austria and Hungary and it was Ádám Izsay who set the pace in both the 2WD and 4WD Buggy classes. After the four rounds of qualifying Ádám took the TQ in both categories and he also went on to win all A-mains to take the 2WD win from Werner Spannbrückner and Zsolt Bajusz Jr, while the 4WD top 3 was completed by Zsolt Bajusz Jr. and Martin Fischer.
The 2018 International Dutch F1 Masters will be held from the 30th of March to the 1st of April at the MACH track in Heemstede, The Netherlands. The organisers expect about 60 to 70 entries from as far as Australia and New Zealand with 3-times winner, Jitse Miedema, trying to defend his titles using Infinity’s forthcoming F11 formula car. Sign-up for the event is available here and more information can be found on social media here.
Muchmore have announced the signing of Germany’s Eric Dankel to their team. The EFRA European 1/10th Nitro Touring vice-champion and double ENS champ will be using Muchmore products in his upcoming nitro and electric campaigns.
Source: Muchmore [muchmoreracing.net]
Akio Sobue has claimed the biggest win of his career with one of the smallest margins possible, the Infinity driver winning A3 by 0.003 of a second from Alexander Hagberg to be crowned champion of the 16th running of the TITC. With a win a piece, it was Sobue and Hagberg along with Marc Rheinard who went into the final race with a chance of the title after reigning champion Bruno Coelho crashed out of title contention in A2. Hagberg needed the win, Sobue having the advantage of the faster winning time. Starting second behind his Xray team-mate Coelho, the Top Qualifier quickly opened the door to put Hagberg where he needed to be. With Naoto Matsukura and Coelho clashing at the next corner, Sobue and Rheinard made up the Top 3, the stage set for the 3-way showdown. After an initial challenge on Hagberg, Sobue dropped back with Hagberg looking like Xray would retain the title but over the final 3-laps the race came alive again as the Japanese driver reeled in the leader. On the last run through the sweeper, Sobue went for a pass getting out of shape in the process before attempting a pass on the inside of the Swede and there was contact, both cars spinning out. With Hagberg resuming in the lead, with a bigger gap than before the contact, it looked as the race was decided with three turns to go but Sobue wasn’t conceding that easily and launching his car at the finish line he managed the perfect line to snatch a win that left everyone in amazement. Behind Meen Vejrak crossed the line third securing the Bangkok driver the final step on the podium ahead of Marc Rheinard.
Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.
In a dramatic turn of fortunes TITC 2018 is going to see the crowning of a new champion as Akio Sobue took the win in an action packed A2 at RC Addict. Having spun out on the opening lap of the opening encounter, defending champion Bruno Coelho looked to have returned to his qualifying form but with a comfortable lead the Xray driver flipped in the sweeper dropping down the order and out of contention for a third consecutive win at Asia’s most famous race. Coelho was initially followed by A1 winner Alexander Hagberg but was given a huge break when Naoto Matsukura ran into the back of the Swede with Sobue the benefactor moving up to second. Moments later however that became the lead as on the same lap Coelho touched the curbing and flew off the track. Also taking advantage of the two incidents, Marc Rheinard suddenly found himself in second which he would hold to the end after seeing off a valiant challenge from Hagberg. A similar battle went on behind with Meen Vejrak seeing off Coelho for 4th.
Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.
Alexander Hagberg took the win in an exciting opening A-Main at the TITC, the Xray driver withstanding intense pressure from Infinity’s Akio Sobue to cross the line 17/100ths in front. Having had the perfect week leading up to the A1, reigning champion Bruno Coelho’s domination came to an end on the first lap. Starting from the TQ, he would lose his Xray approaching the front straight spinning in front of the pack with Naoto Matsukura unable to avoid him. This let second place qualifier Hagberg go to the front with Sobue in tow and closing. All over the back of the leader, fourth place starter couldn’t find a way by with an attempt at the end of the front straight resulting in contact. With Sobue waiting on Hagberg to retake the lead, this brought Meen Vejrak into the lead battle but after a couple of laps the Yokomo driver dropped off give Sobue breathing room for a second attempt to pass but Hagberg kept his composure to secure the win.
Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.
