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February 10, 2016

Andy Moore & Hiroyuki Kasuya depart HPI/HB

In a shock announcement former IFMAR World and EFRA European Champion, Andy Moore as well as team manager Hiroyuki Kasuya have announced their departure from HPI/HB. Both ended their contracts by mutual consent after being with the company for more than 10 years. The news comes after recent problems with the HPI company, in particular HPI Europe which was put in administration in January and we are sure it is not the last team driver to announce his departure in the coming days and weeks. This is what Andy has to say:

I’d like to inform everyone that I have by mutual consent ended my contract with HPI Inc. I want to especially thank Tatsuro Watanabe, Toshihiko Hara and Hiroyuki Kasuya for their help and support over the years. And of course my team mates and work colleagues both past and present for the great times and lots of memorable moments. During almost 12 years together we’ve had some fantastic results becoming World Champions, European Champions, National Champions and multiple TITC Champions along the way. I’d like to wish everyone at HPI all the best for the future and look forward to seeing you all at the track soon.

Read the full statement from Hiro here

February 9, 2016

Alexander Hagberg teams up with Pro-Spec

Pro-Spec have announced the signing of IFMAR World Champion and EFRA European Champion, Alexander Hagberg to their team. The Swede will use the company’s products and accessories such as chargers, power supplies, fans, wires and more in 2016 and he has the following to say about the deal:

I want to send out a big thank you to Mr. Kenji Hosoda for supporting my extensive racing program in 2016! It seemed as a no brainer to join this brand, considering the high quality of these Japanese products. Since Pro-Spec is the Japanese distributor for ORCA, it had an impact on my decision as well. I will be using many items from the Pro-Spec product line up such as chargers, power supply, fans, bottles, wires, weights and more!

Source: Pro-Spec [pro-spec.jp]

February 8, 2016

Coelho claims 1st carpet win at ETS Germany

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Bruno Coelho has claimed his first carpet win of the Euro Touring Series, the Portuguese driver leading an Xray 1-2 at the second round of the championship in Germany. Starting the weekend by securing his first TQ on carpet, the 2-time asphalt ETS race winner would flip in A1 handing team-mate Alexander Hagberg the win but a faultless A2 would set the stage for a showdown in the deciding third leg. While clearly having improved his pace for A3, Hagberg would push Coelho hard but the Vice-World Champion had enough in reserve to cement the win. In what was somewhat a battle of the second division such was Xray’s pace all weekend, it was Marc Rheinard who would claim the final step on the podium. The result means Coelho now moves into the joint lead of the championship standings with Round 1 winner Rheinard. Even though he would get passed Rheinard in A3, Ronald Volker would finish fourth with the result marking the Yokomo driver’s first time to miss the podium on carpet since he began his current 5-consecutive seasons reign as ETS champion.

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

February 8, 2016

Electric Buggy 40+ Race – Announcement

The organisers of the Electric Buggy 40+ race have announced that the 2016 edition will take place from the 19th to 21st of August. This year’s event will see a slight change in schedule as both the 2WD and 4WD classes will be run alongside, with Friday being the official practice day followed by qualifying on Saturday and finals on Sunday. The daily evening program, that will play a big role again in 2016, will also receive some slight changes with all details becoming available in due time. In the meantime more information about the race can be found on the club’s website here.

February 7, 2016

Riccardo Berton wins Montpellier GP

The annual Montpellier GP was held in France this weekend, attracting the usual breed of national and international top drivers. Kyosho’s Riccardo Berton would take the TQ and he would take the overall win in the 1 hour final, some 15 seconds in front of runner-up, Yannick Aigoin (Xray). Rayan Medjoubi (Kyosho) rounded out the podium result from 4th placed Jerome Sartel (TLR).

View the final result here

February 7, 2016

Coelho wins A2 with faultless drive

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Having rolled his Xray on the first lap of the opening A-Main at ETS Germany, Bruno Coelho put in a faultless A2 drive to win comfortably ahead of A1 winner Alexander Hagberg and Ronald Volker. While the Top Qualifier ran an error free race the same couldn’t be said for others with Marc Rheinard, Viljami Kutvonen and Yannic Prümper all breaking their cars. Prümper wouldn’t even last a lap, an error sending him right into the path of 10th place start Marco Kaufmann with the massive impact putting both cars out in the spot.

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

February 7, 2016

Hagberg wins A1

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Alexander Hagberg took an easy win in the opening A-Main at the Yokomo Euro Touring Series this morning in Germany, a first lap error from Top Qualifier Bruno Coelho handing the Swede an unassailable lead. Behind the Xray driver, Marc Rheinard would survive a first lap error of his own, out of which Ronald Volker came off worst, to finish second. Starting 6th on the grid, Akio Sobue would complete the Top 3, the Tamiya driver seeing off Viljami Kutvonen and the recovering Yokomos of Volker and Yannic Prümper.

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

February 7, 2016

Coelho on pole at German ETS

Bruno Coelho will line up on pole position for Round 2 of the Yokomo Euro Touring Series in Germany tomorrow, the Xray driver heading a 1-2 in qualifying for the Slovakian manufacturer. Taking the opening two qualifiers Coelho claimed his first carpet TQ ahead of Alexander Hagberg, the 2014 event winner topping the final qualifier in Muelheim-Kaerlich. The only driver who could deny Coelho the overall TQ, having topped the penultimate round when both Xray drivers had issues, Marc Rheinard would only manage a P5. With a TQ to count however the championship leader importantly secures third on the grid ahead of reigning champion Ronald Volker.

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