Red RC » International

June 24, 2017

EFRA GP Series Rd2 – Practice update

The MRTM Lostallo track in Switzerland plays host to round 2 of the EFRA GP this weekend. Former home of three IFMAR World Championships as well as some EFRA Euros, the huge and fuel consuming track sets the stage for some competitive racing with 47 drivers attending in the 1/8th and 1/10th nitro classes. To the demeaning track conditions add high temperatures of about 34 degree Celsius which results in pretty high traction and in the 1/8th class it was Simon Kurzbuch (Shepherd/Novarossi) who set the early practice pace with a 1:00:150 for his best three consecutive laps. Some 0.429s down, Lamberto Collari (Infinity/O.S. M.Collari) is the only other driver to pull three laps with in the 1:00:00 range. Elsewhere in the 1/10th Touring class it is Germany’s Toni Gruber (WRC/Novarossi) who looks to be the man to beat so far with a 1:02:265.

Source: EFRA [efra.ws]

June 19, 2017

Elliott Boots doubles at 2017 Kyosho Masters

The 2017 Kyosho Masters were held in Sucy En Brie, France this past weekend. The annual event attracts Kyosho drivers from all over the World to race in several categories. 6-times winner, UK’s Elliott Boots was the pre-event favourite for the win in both the Elite Buggy and E-Buggy classes and he would not disappoint. Elliott took a double TQ and he would also be in control of things in the main nitro buggy final that was shortened to 30 minutes because of the high temperatures. Boots would get past pole position holder Joao Figueiredo in the opening stages and he controlled the race from there, taking his fourth straight win of the event some two laps in front of Sweden’s Jessica Palsson and Portugal’s Joao Figueiredo. In the E-Buggy class it was again Elliott who excelled and by sweeping the triple A-mains he grabbed his second title of the weekend from Jessica Palsson 2nd and Stephane Deroch 3rd.

View the E-Buggy podium here

June 19, 2017

Dirk Wischnewski teams up with Mugen Seiki

Mugen Seiki Europe have announced the addition of former European Champion, Dirk Wischnewski to their team. The former Shepherd racer and multiple national Champion will use the company’s MTX6R 1/10th 200mm nitro touring car in his campaign that will see attendances at all major national and international races.

Source: Mugen Seiki [mugen.eu]

June 19, 2017

Nicholas Lee teams up with Power HD

Power HD have announced the signing of Singapore’s Nicholas Lee to their team. The Asian frontrunner will be using Power HD servos in his upcoming campaign, that will include appearances at all major races including the ETS, AOC, CETC and World Championships, while also assisting with research and development. Nicholas says:

It’s my pleasure to join Power HD team, they have series of high quality servos to support my race, I am looking forward for the cooperation.

Source: Power HD [chd.hk]

June 19, 2017

Naoki Akiyama wins ETS warm-up race

The German MC Ettlingen club recently held their International Electric On-road Event that was used by many drivers as a warm-up race for the forthcoming ETS event in July. In the premier Touring Modified class it was Yokomo’s Naoki Akiyama who took the overall TQ with Yokomo teammate Christopher Krapp ending the qualifiers on P2, tie on points with Naoki. In the finals Naoki would score wins in A1 and A3 to take the overall win while Tim Wahl (Xray) would score a win in A2 to grab the overall runner-up spot from Christopher Krapp who had to settle for 3rd.

Source: Xray [teamxray.com] | Image: Naoki Akiyama

June 18, 2017

Coelho cruises to A1 win as Matsukura snatches 2nd

Having wrapped up his second consecutive Euro Touring Series title by taking the TQ in Slovakia this morning, Bruno Coelho made light work of his opposition to cruise to the win in A1. Almost immediately the Xray driver would establish a lead while the rest of the field backed up behind team-mate Alexander Hagberg. Spinning out on the curbing at the one & a half minute mark would end Marc Rheinard’s race as he got collected by Infinity team-mate Akio Sobue resulting in the front left corner being pulling off the German’s car. This would take the pressure from behind off Matsukura allowing him to focus on finding his way passed Hagberg, the Japanese driver forcing a mistake from the Swede on the penultimate lap to get passed for second. Despite setting the slowest fastest lap of the race, Ronald Volker would finish 4th behind Hagberg, the World Champion clearly having to dig deep to make up for his car’s lack of pace.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.

June 18, 2017

Coelho wraps up title with TQ at ETS Slovakia

Bruno Coelho has wrapped up his second Euro Touring Series title after the Xray driver claimed the overall TQ this morning in Slovakia. The reigning champion secured his fourth TQ of the season when he again topped the times in the second of the qualifiers at the rain effected 5th round with the bonus championship for the TQ putting amends to his only remaining title rival coming into the weekend, Ronald Volker. Behind Coelho, Alexander Hagberg made it an Xray 1-2 line up for the triple A-Mains as he managed to better the Q1 time of Naoto Matsukura to move ahead of the Infinity driver. Behind Matsukura, team-mate Marc Rheinard will line up 4th with Volker completing the top half of the grid.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.

June 17, 2017

2nd qualifier deferred to final day at ETS Slovakia

Despite efforts to get the track dry to allow for a second round of qualifying today at ETS Slovakia, the decision has been made to defer Q2 to the tomorrow’s final day at the penultimate round of the championship. Having just managed to get the first round of qualifying completed after a wet start to the day and Friday having been a washout, the rain returned to the Hudy Arena as Q2 got underway stopping the action once again. Starting as a light drizzle it worsened and while many drivers took to sweeping and drying the track once the rain stopped, the evening drop in temperature and lack of sunshine mean’t it never completely dried. Opened for free practice, cars struggling to get around, the decision was then made to call it a day. With Sunday’s forecast showing a nice dry day in Trencin, the organisers have set a 07:00 start time so as to get a second round of qualifying in ahead of running the finals. With just two rounds of qualifying, drivers will count their best round with the fastest time the tie breaker leaving overnight Top Qualifier Bruno Coelho in a strong position to take the overall TQ. Such an outcome would secure the Xray driver back to back ETS titles.

View our complete event coverage here.