Red RC » International

July 18, 2009

Stunning comeback from Volker in ETS qualifying

After a disastrous third qualifier in which his car suffered heavy damage, Ronald Volker made a stunning comeback to TQ the last qualifier of the day here at the Muchmore sponsored Euro Touring Series finale ahead of Viktor Wilck. The German driver had his work cut out to get his BD5 rebuilt in time for the run, having damaged the front spool and suspension mounts, but he got it done to put in a run that denied Wilck from taking overall TQ honours. The result means we will have to wait till the final qualifier in the morning to see whether its Wilck or Volker that claims the No.1 spot on the grid.

View our complete event coverage here.

July 18, 2009

Wilck TQ’s first qualifier in Andernach

Viktor Wilck has carried his practice pace through to the first qualifier here at the 2008/2009 ETS finale recording the fastest run ahead of Ronald Volker. The Swede said his Tamiya felt OK for the run and was surprised by how far off his rivals were having not expected his own pace to be good enough to TQ the round. Volker said he had to switch to safe mode for his run after finding his Yokomo difficult to drive on the fresh set of controlled tyres. The car improved during the run but the former European Champion was still not happy with the feeling of his BD5 compared with yesterday.

View our complete event coverage here.

July 17, 2009

Volker sets pace in controlled practice at ETS Rd5

Ronald Volker is the pace setter here at the end of controlled practice with the LRP/Yokomo driver posting a fastest lap of 16.55 to top the time sheets from Marc Rheinard who was on a 16.70. The World Championship runner up switched from an LTC-R to the Speed 6 body for his last run and felt it made his BD5 easier to drive. Volker is running a new chassis, top deck and harder suspension arms on his Yokomo, which are designed to make the car more suitable for European traction levels, and the German is very happy with the results. Slighlty concerned about the weather, he is confident that if it stays dry he is in good shape for qualifiying.

View our complete event coverage here.

July 13, 2009

Jared Tebo wins Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout

Kyosho are reporting on the 12th Annual running of the Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout in Saugus, California. The Shootout is known as one of the biggest electric races of the year bringing in the top drivers from around the country. This year World Champion’s Hayato Matsuzaki and Naota Matsukura made the trip over from Japan as well as a drivers from Australia making it once again an international field. Like always at Hot Rod in the summer, the temperatures were hot…reaching up into the upper 90’s. The track layout was very technical and proved to be challenging for even the World’s best drivers.

Continue reading the report

July 11, 2009

Savoya is European Champion

Renaud Savoya is the 2009 EFRA 1:8 European Champion after successfully defending his 2008 title in a thrilling race here in Austria. The Mugen driver beat fellow countryman Yannick Aigoin to become the first back to back champion since 2005. Third was promising Czech driver Martin Bayer.

Read our full report which is now on our Event site here.

July 11, 2009

Savoya on pole for Main Final

He was the top Qualifier here in Austria and now thanks to victory in his Semi, with the faster time of the two, defending Champion Renaud Savoya will start from pole position over Spain’s Robert Batlle. Setting the fastest lap of the Semis, the French ace cruised to the win and despite one mistake finished four seconds clear of Batlle and now the pair will line up in the same 1-2 order as in Crete last year. Afterwards Savoya said the race went to plan except for his roll in the last two minutes. Batlle felt his Associated, which had a problem in the 10 minute warm-up, was not so bad but now plans to change to a heavier oil in the shocks for the 45-minute final.

Follow our lap by lap coverage of the Main final on our event site here.

July 11, 2009

The Big day arrives in Austria

For Europe’s top buggy racers today is the culmination of months of testing and preparation and in just over seven hours from now one of them will be crowned the 2009 EFRA 1:8 Off Road European Champion here in Wolbling, Austria. While weather was the big talking point at the start of the week, the sun is now beating down on the track for the big day. Currently the lower finals are underway with our coverage, which is supported by Team Orion, Mugen Seiki, LRP and Kyosho, getting underway with a round-up of the 1/4 Finals. For the Semi Finals and Main we will be bringing you live lap by lap updates as Top Qualifier Renaud Savoya looks to defend his title.

View our full event coverage here.

July 10, 2009

Savoya on target in Austria

He took TQ honours on his way to the European title last year and if that pattern is anything to go by it is looking good here in Austria for defending Champion Renaud Savoya with him being crowned the 2009 Top Qualifier. The factory Mugen driver claimed the honour when his only challenger Yannick Aigoin rolled during his final attempt at being the No.1 qualifier. With his second European TQ safe in the bag, Savoya wasn’t quite finished however, going on to put in another superb drive to take his third 185 points maximium of the five qualification rounds.

View our full event coverage here.