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January 31, 2014

Exclusive – Atsushi Hara confirmed at SWorkz

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mETDFZv3PM[/youtube]

With lots of speculation over his future since announcing his departure from HB/HPI last August we again talked exclusively with Atsushi Hara and can confirm ahead of its official announcement that he has signed for Speedmaster, parent brand of SWorkz. Having tested many brands of car and talked with numerous companies he finally decided on the Taiwanese company as he feels they offer him the best opportunities for his future going forward, not just for racing. One of the factors influencing the deal was the connection with A-Main Hobbies, a personal sponsor of his but with some big developments in the pipeline between the Taiwanese brand and the US online power house we can expect to see the brand receive a bigger push in the US and Worldwide. In terms of the car, he says that while it needs some work to get the performance up to scratch, the quality is top notch and going forward he will have an updated car for this year’s Worlds in Italy. In our interview Hara also confirmed that he will race for Yokomo in the remaining ETS rounds as well as the TITC and the World Championships in Florida in what is a per race contract.

View the official statement from Speedmaster here

January 31, 2014

Hagberg tops first timed practice at ETS

Hagberg tops first time practice at ETS

Team Xray’s Alexander Hagberg set the pace in the opening round of timed practice at the Yokomo Euro Touring Series, the Swede the fastest over consecutive laps from defending Champion Ronald Volker. The second round of the championship, the German event marks the return of Atsushi Hara to international touring car competition, the former world Champion getting his debut for Yokomo off to a steady start with the 8th fastest time.

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

January 30, 2014

Atsushi Hara joins Hobbywing

Hobbywing have announced the signing of 2000 IFMAR World Champion Atsushi Hara to use their ESC and motors for the 2014 season. Making his debut at this weekends ETS Rd2, having signed a deal with Yokomo to compete in the series, the Japanese star had the following to say:

I am very excited to join Hobbywing team in 2014! A very special thanks to Jack, Michael and Salton for the excellent offer. I’m looking forward to the ISTC Worlds coming in this October. We will show huge performance for this event!

Source: Hobbywing [hobbywing.com]

January 30, 2014

Adrian Berntsen continues with Xray for 2014

Adrian Berntsen renews contract with Xray

Xray have announced that European Junior champion Adrian Berntsen will continue to race the 2014 season with the Xray team. Adrian is focused on the on-road TC class and as such will race the T4 and participate at the major races during the season. The 2013 DHI Cup winner had this to say:

I’m really happy to re-sign my contract with Xray and continue to use Xray high-quality products throughout the next seasons. After coming back to Xray, I’ve achieved my best international results ever and I work hard to continuously improve. I can’t wait to continue cooperate with the best R&D team throughout the next seasons and hopefully achieve many more nice results.

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]

January 29, 2014

Hara rejoins ETS with Yokomo deal

RC racing legend Atsushi Hara will make a return to the Yokomo Euro Touring Series after concluding a deal with reigning champions Yokomo to contest this weekend’s (31st Jan – 2nd Feb) second round in Germany. A two time ETS race winner, Hara has signed with the Japanese manufacturer to also contest Round 3 of the world famous touring car championship which takes place on the Spanish holiday Island of Gran Canaria in March. Teaming up with three time series champion & Round 1 winner Ronald Volker and race winner Yannic Prumper, this will be the 2006 World Champions first competitive ETS outing since Apeldoorn in 2012. One of world’s most popular racers, as highlighted by the reaction when he drove in the ‘Dash for Cash’ in the season finale last year at the Hudy Arena, ETS Round 2 will be Hara’s first international touring car event since his departure from HB/HPI Racing last August. Also joining Hara for the weekend at Yokomo will be 1:8 offroad rival and reigning World Champion Robert Batlle who will make his touring car debut at the Muelheim-Kaerlich event.

Continue reading the announcement here

January 29, 2014

2014 Euro Contest – Announcement

2014 Euro Contest - Announcement

Bittydesign have announced the 2014 running of their Euro Contest, an event born in 2009 with a successful race format with the focus on fun. The Contest is different event, the atmosphere during the race is magic, a big party with music and hot girls. The Barco-Off racetrack continues to host the event, completely re-built in 2012 the layout of the circuit presents a huge amount of dirt that make the driving experience unique and never seen before in Italy in a permanent outdoor facility, a real American style available for drivers at all levels and only 1 hour from Bologna airport. The event will run from the 27th to the 29th of June 2014 and is limited to 192 drivers. A 3 day format, Friday sees free practice, Saturday qualification with Sunday used for the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) followed by Superpole and finals. Full details can be found here.

January 28, 2014

Lorenzo Crolla joins FX engines

FX have announced that the young talented French driver Lorenzo Crolla joins the FX team. Lorenzo choose the FX engine to empower his car in the 2014 season which will include the Worlds, Euros and French Nationals. Lorenzo had this to say:

I got the chance to test and run some of the very first FX engines and after several races I was fully confident that FX will be my next engine I want to run. I have been running the engine for several months already without any single flame out or any technical failures and the performance is simply amazing. I was very happy when FX approached me to be a factory team driver and I want to thank for this opportunity. I am excited for the 2014 season and at the same time very confident in the engine and I will do all my best.

Source: FX [fx-engines.com]

January 27, 2014

Cavalieri retains Reedy Race crown

Against seemingly high odds Ryan Cavalieri has successfully defended his Reedy Race of Champions title by a single point over Associated team-mate Ryan Maifield. The victory at the 20th running of the world famous race makes Cavalieri its most successful champion, this being the 4-time World Champion’s third time to beat the best offroad drivers in the world in the unique heads up racing event that was created by industry pioneer Mike Reedy. The podium at OCRC Raceway, which rose to the challenge of hosting the great race for the first time, was completed by HB’s Ty Tessmann.

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