Red RC » International

September 9, 2024

‘We don’t have to show to anyone who we are’ – Ongaro

Two years ago Davide Ongaro reigned in Spain making history as the first driver to defend his IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship, the previous 17 Champions who went before him unable to execute a successful title defence. Having been forced to wait double the length of time to defend his 2018 Perth victory due to the global Covid pandemic, the likeable Italian again finds himself in a unique title defence situation. Originally set to travel to Brazil to chase the title hat trick, São Paulo was cancelled, and now he is this week lining up on the very same dirt he skimmed across for an hour 2-years ago en route to his historic feat of winning 1:8 Nitro Buggy’s biggest prize for the second time. Now a 23-year-old veteran of the sport, this year marks a decade since Ongaro announced himself to the World on his championship debut in Sicily. Having added a 1:10 Offroad World title to his CV last year in Arizona, putting himself into a very exclusive driver’s club, many a driver might find the prospects of lining up for an attempt at three in a row daunting. However with Ongaro one might ask is the Team Associated star a master poker player and just one of the most laid back kids on the block? While Davide was making his final preparations ahead of travelling out to Spain we took the opportunity to have a quick chat with him on the story so far and get his take on where things are at for the second coming of the Worlds at RC Redovan.

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September 8, 2024

‘I feel that I am in the right place again’ – Ronnefalk

In the same year that his official status got upgraded from ‘Kid’ to ‘Teenager’, a then 13-year-old from Sweden would showcase driving skills that marked him as having a talent that was going to take him places. Attending the European Championship that year, his speed on track was enough for US Offroad star Richard Saxton to state to Red RC during our coverage from that Austrian event that EFRA was about to get its first ever B and A Champion. While he didn’t make the Main on that occasion, that hotly tipped talent would go on to become a European Champion not once but three times as well as taking home the greatest prize our sport offers – World Champion. That year was 2009 and that talent was David Ronnefalk and now 15-years on from making that memorable first impression, he goes into the 19th running of the IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship confident he is in the hunt to add a second World title to the one he claimed in Las Vegas in 2016. Just before David made the trip Redovan, Spain, where today (Sunday) drivers hit the track for the first of two days of free practice, we chatted to him to get his take on the race that only comes around every 2-years and that last time round he came rather close to winning.

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September 8, 2024

3 in a row moves Orlowski closer to ETS title defence

Reigning ETS Champion Michal Orlowski moved a step closer to defending his title as the Schumacher driver claimed his third consecutive win of the current season in Luxembourg today. Winner of the previous two rounds in the Netherlands and Austria, Orlowski continued his reign on the asphalt securing the Roound 3 TQ after posting the fastest time in all four qualifying rounds. Awesomatix’s Lucas Urbain, who recorded his first ever ETS win at the Mini Circuit “Ville de Luxembourg” in 2022, would line up second ahead of team-mate & newly crowned European Champion Marc Rheinard. In the opening A-Main, while both Urbain & Rheinard posted faster lap times, they could not find a way passed Orlowski who would wrap up the overall with another win in A2, this time ahead of Rheinard. Winning A3, Urbain secured the second step on the podium from Rheinard with fourth place going to Mugen Seiki’s Ronald Volker. In Pro Stock Awesomatix’s Lukas Ellebrock took his second win of the season with Louis Kretschmer and Round 2 winner & reigning Champion Oliver Bultynck joining him on the podium. The ETS moves indoor for the remaining two rounds, the first of which is in Germany at the end of January.

Image: ETS [Facebook]

September 4, 2024

RC Redovan reveals 1:8 Offroad Worlds Track

The track that will determined the 2024 IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Champion has just been revealed in a video that shows off the latest track build by the team at RC Redovan. Setting a new benchmark as hosts of the World Championship two years ago, RC Redovan was again thrusted with hosting the event after a late cancellation by Brazil on staging the 19th running of the sport’s biggest prize. Taking on the task of having to rebuild the track for the return of the Worlds to Spain, despite the short lead in time the Baldo family have executed it stating, ‘It gives us enormous pleasure and pride to present the new design of our track, host of the next World Championship. Months of hard work in record time now bear fruits “We are going to give you the best world championship in history.” And we firmly believe we have done everything to achieve that! Welcome to RC Redován, welcome to the World Championship 2024.’ Having supported our coverage of the 2023 1:10 Offroad World Championships in Arizona, we are delighted to be teaming up with Ruddog for the trip to Redovan to attended our sixth 1:8 Offroad World Championship. Our coverage will kick off with news from seeding practice on Tuesday, 10th September. Click here to view track reveal video.

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August 30, 2024

1:12 World Champ Mächler confirmed for MonTech NYGP

Reigning IFMAR 1:12 Spec World Champion Max Mächler is the first international entry to be confirmed for this year’s MonTech New York Grand Prix. A former winner at the event, the German will return to New York for the sixth edition of the high profile US indoor race which takes place at 360v2 RC in New Rochelle from October 10-13th. Winning his World title last December in Florida, the Awesomatix team manager’s main focus for his NYGP return will be on the 1:12 13.5T SuperStock class. A Touring Car class winner at the 2019 NYGP, the former European Pro Stock Touring Car Champion is also expected to compete for top honours in the 13.5T SuperStock Touring Car Category. Drivers will battle it out over a total of 12 classes with Touring Car divided into Modified, 17.5T SuperStock, 21.5 Stock, and 25.5 LMH (LeMans Hypercar) while 1:12 offers Modified GTP, SuperStock GTP, Stock GTP, and GT12R. Additionally there are classes for USGT, PRO10, USVTA, and FWD.

Source: Fordham 360 Hobbies & Raceway [Facebook]

August 29, 2024

5th Annual Kinwald Klassic – Announcement

Hobby Action RC Raceway in Chandler, Arizona, has announced details of the 5th annual Kinwald Klassic which takes place on October 11-13th, 2024. One of the 2023 IFMAR 1:10 Offroad World Championship host venue’s two big annual events, the other being the Desert Classic, the Kinwald Klassic is held in honour of Offroad RC great Brian Kinwald. With the multiple World Champion passing away in 2019 after life-long health issues, part of the entry fees is donated to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Southwest Chapter. The race will cater for several 1:10 2WD & 4WD Buggy classes, Short Course, Stadium Truck, as well as vintage 2WD categories for buggies that were racing at the height of Kinwald’s career.

View full race flyer here

August 28, 2024

Sahashi to defend Nitro Touring Car World title

While the cancellation of Costa Rica staging the IFMAR 1:10 Nitro Touring Car World Championship this year was a blow for the racing community in the FAMAR Bloc, the switch to the Huge RC Circuit in Thailand has given a major boost to the 10th running of categories biggest race with reigning Champion Tadahiko Sahashi confirmed to defend his title. With a number of manufacturers confirming at the time they would not be sending team drivers to Costa Rica, the Worlds was set to be void of many of its top drivers including those of reigning back to back Champions Infinity. Following the announcement in July that the Worlds was to return to the FEMCA Bloc, the previous hosts, the switch to the second of Bangkok’s international circuits has resulted in a ‘Who’s who’ of onroad racing entry list topped by Sahashi. Infinity’s reigning 1:8 World Champion Dario Balestri is also confirmed meaning the potential for crowning the first ever reigning 1:8 & 1:10 Champion. Sahashi gained the elusive ‘Double Champion’ status with victory at RC Addict in 2022 to go with his 2013 1:8 WC title. In doing so he became only the second ever driver to win both IFMAR titles, Adrien Bertin’s feat finally being matched 18-years after the Frenchman became the first to achieved it in 2004. While entries are still open for the November 15th to 23rd event, there are already 7 IFMAR World Champions confirmed with it widely expected Huge RC Circuit owner & former Electric Touring Car World Champion Surikarn Chaidajsuriya will bring that number to 8. Other factory entries include Capricorn, with current 1:8 GT World Champion Toni Gruber, 2012 World Champion Meen Vejrak & 2016 Worlds Runner-Up Alessio Mazzeo, while Serpent are sending Jeff Hamon and Bryce Butterfield. Red RC will travelling to Huge RC for the final stop on our 2024 World Championships coverage schedule.

Source: IFMAR [ifmar.org]

August 25, 2024

Isaacs confirmed to defend MonTech NYGP titles

Having stamped his authority on the 2023 MonTech New York Grand Prix, double Champion Sam Isaacs has been confirmed as heading the entry at the sixth running of the event at 360v2 RC in New Rochelle, New York, this October 10-13th. The Awesomatix driver, and this year’s ROAR Modified Touring Car Onroad Carpet National Champion, was the big winner of the NYGP last year claiming the TQ in both Mod Touring Car and Mod 1:12 en-route to his double victory. The result puts the American driver on the high profile US race’s role of honour along with former World Champions Marc Rheinard (2022 NYGP Champion) and Ronald Volker (2019 NYGP Champion). This year’s event will see drivers compete for victory over 12 classes on the 105ft x 48ft Carpet track. In Touring Car drivers will battle it out in Modified, 17.5T SuperStock, 21.5 Stock, and 25.5 LMH (LeMans Hypercar). In 1:12 there is Modified GTP, SuperStock GTP, Stock GTP, and GT12R. Additionally there are classes for USGT, PRO10, USVTA, and FWD.

Source: Fordham 360 Hobbies & Raceway [Facebook]