The Hernan Matticoli circuit of La Tablada in Buenos Aires, Argentina will play host to the 27th South American Championships from the 27th to 30th of April. The event already drew sign-ins from countries such as Brazil, Chile Ecuador, Peru, the USA and Argentina and it will see the running of 1/8th on-road, Touring and GT classes. More information and sign-up can be found on the official event website here.
This past weekend, Neo17 would once again invade Harper Adams Arena in Shropshire, England. Well know as probably the most popular indoor 1/8 off-road race in the World, this year would see one of the most stacked drivers list from the past few years with all the major teams sending out there top drivers to compete for one of the prestigious Neo titles. After all five rounds of qualifying were complete, it was HB Racing’s David Ronnefalk securing the overall TQ honours. The single 10-minute A-main event saw a great battle for the first couple of laps between David Ronnefalk and Xray’s Ty Tessmann. On lap five Tessmann was able to get by Ronnefalk and open up a lead. Tessmann would then control the race for the next couple minutes before coming under pressure from Kyosho’s Elliott Boots. With time running out, Tessmann would run mistake free and be the only driver to make it by for the extra lap to take home yet another Neo 1/8th E-Buggy title.
After three rounds of qualifying using the rocket round format, the 2017 AOC round 1 in Shanghai, China would deliver some of the finest racing in Asia. With triple A-mains for all classes and double mains for the lowers, Sunday would be filled with happiness as well as heartbreak. Halfway through qualifying in the Modified Sedan class, Infinity’s Akio Sobue seemed to have found a 2nd gear as he was able to dominate the last 2 rounds of qualifying and earn TQ, but most importantly earn the track position that matters most on a tight circuit. Starting from pole, Sobue would make good on his start position to take the win in A1 with the rest battling for 2nd and 3rd. A2 saw Sobue masterfully cover his lines to defend attacks from 2nd place qualifier, Xray’s Alexander Hagberg. Mistake free, Sobue would leave the field to cross the line and take A2 and the overall. A3 of Mod sedan would determine the rest of the podium.
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This Sunday morning the final round of qualifiers was held at the opening round of the 2017 Asian Onroad Championships in Shanghai. With the track grip suited to more his liking, Creation Model Ltd.’s Akio Sobue would reset the TQ time in the Modified Touring Car class and secure the top spot on the grid laying down the fastest run in Q3. Xray’s Alexander Hagberg would earn the 2nd grid spot delivering his fastest time in Q3 and move Naoto Matsukura down to 3rd. The 5-time World Champion made a fatal mistake in Q3 which ended his run prematurely.
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The opening round of the 2017 Asian Onroad Championships is held at RCI V2 in Shanghai, China this weekend. The temperature has risen since Friday’s practice and racers have scrambled to make changes to their cars in order to cope with the hotter, more humid weather. However, with rising temps also means increasing grip levels that usually equate to faster lap times. Since this particular event is using the rocket round system, round 2 was said to be the golden track as tomorrow’s weather is forecasted for heavy rain and humidity in the 90% range. After setting the fastest time in round 1, Infinity’s Naoto Matsukura would lose his TQ to teammate Akio Sobue in round 2 who ran a 29 lap 5:01.89. The field would improve their times dramatically in round 2 with Matsukura securing the 2nd fastest time behind Sobue with 29 5:02.49. European Champion and former World Champion, Xray’s Alexander Hagberg would set a 29 lap 5:03.28, which would ultimately give him 3rd overall.
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The 2017 Asian Onroad Championship is underway with round 1 being held at RCI V2 in Shanghai, China. In it’s 5th year being a part of the AOC, RCI V2 has consistently increased the level of competition inviting some of the world’s finest to take part. From Paul Lemieux in the early days to current IFMAR ISCT World Champion, Ronald Volker, all have enjoyed the delights of RCI V2 and the fine mix of fantastic racing and fun atmosphere. The AOC is more than just a race event, it’s filled with wonderful friendship, culture, and life experiences.
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Bruno Coelho has drawn first blood at the first asphalt race of the Euro Touring Series season, the Xray driver winning with relative ease with another win in A2 on the championship’s first visit to Spain. Top Qualifier for the Madrid based third round, having dominating the opening final, the reigning champion looked like he might have to work a bit harder second time round. With Marc Rheinard make a much stronger start and keeping with the reigning champion with Ronald Volker in toe, initially a more interesting race looked on the cards but it was short lived. With his Infinity stepping out in the first right hander of the lap, Rheinard would spin out, his race effectively done. While Volker would take up the challenge for a time, even with Coelho having a big moment at the end of the straight, the Portuguese ace would complete the perfect weekend to extend his lead in the championship with his parents on hand to watch his master class.
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Marc Rheinard has wrapped up the first ETS race in mainland Spain with a win in A3 that would see the Infinity driver leave Madrid with a 2nd place. With Xray’s Bruno Coelho wrapping up his second win of the season in A2, the third A-Main was a showdown between Rheinard and ETS Round 2 winner Ronald Volker for the runners-up spot. With Rheinard leading away the field as Coelho watched on, the German was untouchable winning with ease from Volker who had to work hard to fend off Akio Sobue for the early part of the race. Also third in A2, Sobue would end up 4th overall ahead of Infinity team-mate Jilles Groskamp.
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