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March 10, 2023

Ongaro set for 1:8 GT Worlds with Gimar Engines

Best known for his offroad exploits, back to back 1:8 Buggy World Champion Davide Ongaro has announced a 1:8 GT only programme with Italian engine brand Gimar. Ongaro is the star driver for Team Associated and Japanese engine manufacturer OS Engines in offroad and has added two 1:8 Buggy World titles to both brands illustrious history but is joining forces with Giovanni Crea’s Gimar engines for a GT campaign that includes both the European and World Championships. A huge boost for the GT category which will run only its second ever World Championship later this year in Sydney, Australia, having Ongaro on the grid will be a massive profile raiser for the class. Kicking off his onroad exploits next week at the Italian GT Nationals, his Gimar Venus engine will be fitted to the chassis of another Italian brand Genius Racing – this same engine & chassis combination used by France’s Alain Arnaldi to become the 2022 European GT Champion. Like Ongaro, another driver best known for his Offroad achievements, Joern Nuemann is the reigning 1:8 GT World Champion.

Source: Gimar [rcgimar.com]

March 9, 2023

IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship Stage 1 Report

Later this year the IFMAR 1:8 Onroad Nitro World Championship will return after a prolonged 4-year break with the Infinity International RC Speedway in Japan hosting the 23rd edition of the RC racing’s original World Championship. The organisers of the event, lead by legendary race mechanic Masayuki Miura, has issued the Stage 1 Report and highlighted some important points for overseas drivers. Drivers are reminded to check whether they require a visa to enter Japan from their home country. With Covid, Japan was closed a long time and they have only opened up recently so there are still some rules around Covid and currently you need to be vaccinated to enter. This situation could change so persons planning to travel for the October 27 to November 5 event should check the ‘Visit Japan‘ website for latest government rules. Another important issue is the fuel. The organiser has two fuel brands available, Maxima and Nitrox from OS Engines. For logistic reasons they need to know asap the choice of each driver. Japan last hosted the 1:8 Onroad Worlds in 2013 when Tadahiko Sahashi took victory for Serpent. Last year he joined Adrien Bertin as the only driver to do the nitro double when he won the 1:10 Onroad title in Bangkok with Infinity. Winning the title in 2019 at the no longer existing Steel City RC Speedway, reigning 1:8 Champion & factory Mugen driver Shoki Takahata will be the first Japanese driver to try and defend his title on home soil. Japanese drivers have won the title 3 times since inaugural Worlds was held in 1977.

View Stage Report here

March 7, 2023

Rivkin completes clean sweep at Desert Classic

Spencer Rivkin completed a clean sweep at Desert Classic over the weekend, the Team Associated driver winning 2WD, 4WD and Mod Truck at the 7th edition of the annual race. A home event for the Arizona driver & reigning 2WD World Champion, this year’s Desert Classic was more significant than usual due to the fact that the Hobby Action RC Raceway will host this year’s IFMAR World Championships in September. Top Qualifier of all three classes, in 2WD Rivkin took win from Schumacher’s Broc Champlin, a result that would be repeated in 4WD Buggy where Aydin Horne completed the podium. In the single 8-minute Mod Truck A-Main, Rivkin would lead home the TLR of Dakotah Phend and Reedy’s Dustin Evans.

Image: Spencer Rivkin [Facebook]

March 5, 2023

Volker crowned inaugural MIBO International Champion

Ronald Volker has been crowned the inaugural MIBO International Race Champion, the Mugen driver turning around his form for the Mains to dominate the final day in the Czech Republic. Having had a difficult Saturday, the former World Champion opened Sunday’s action with the fastest time of the weekend in the final qualifier to become Top Qualifier. Having denied Xray’s Antoine Brunet pole position, Volker would pull clear of the French driver in A1 as he took his first step towards the overall crown. A2 would be a repeat, with no one able to chase down Volker. With the title in the bag, Volker wasn’t done completing the perfect day to put his car at the top of the results sheets for a fourth time. Behind, Brunet would be rewarded for a great effort in Hrotovice with second overall ahead of Xray team-mate Oliver Havranek. Showing good pace Eric Daniel would finish 4th in front of Christopher Krapp, the Yokomo driver having a character building few days.

Continue reading here

March 5, 2023

Coelho completes Offroad double at MIBO

Bruno Coelho has completed the Offroad double at the new MIBO International Race, the Xray driver repeating his earlier 2WD victory, only this time things went to A3 to decide the 4WD Champion. Winning the opening A-Main from the TQ ahead of Bartek Zalewski, the World Champion would have a moment in A2 that allowed the talented teenager to go to the front. Despite Coelho best efforts, he couldn’t find a way back to the front. With a number of errors would give Zalewski time to catch his breath after coming under attack from the Portuguese driver. In A3 Coelho would early in the race hit a track marker and get collected by the pursuing Zalewski and as the two cars tangled Jessica Palsson went through to take a lead. Coming under immense pressure from Coelho, just like Zalewski had a round earlier, she didn’t crack taking an impressive win but like in 2WD it was again a third place finish overall for the Swede. With Coelho and Zalewski tied with a win and a second each, it would be the former’s A1 winning time that secured him the overall win.

Follow our coverage of the MIBO International Race here

March 5, 2023

Coelho takes 2WD at MIBO International

Bruno Coelho has taken the 2WD Buggy title at the inaugural MIBO International Race, the Xray star making his return to racing on carpet after more than 3-years and took the overall win ahead of up & coming talent Bartek Zalewski and Jessica Palsson. Starting from second on the grid behind Top Qualifier Zalewski, Coelho would wrap things up early by taking the opening two A-Mains. After a rough A1 and diff issues in A2, with a fresh diff in his Xray Zalewski would win A3 to secure the runners-up spot while a very consistent performance netted Schumacher driver Palsson a trio of second place that saw her complete the podium line-up.

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March 5, 2023

Volker takes TQ from Brunet at MIBO International

Ronald Volker is the Top Qualifier for the inaugural MIBO International Race. The Mugen driver claimed pole position in the Czech Republic when he posted the fastest TQ run of the weekend in the fifth & final qualifier this morning (Sunday). His second TQ run equalling the tally of Xray’s Antoine Brunet, it was the only 25-lap run of the weekend that gave the German the tie break over his French rival here in Hrotovice. Summing up the deciding run, Volker said, ‘there was some pressure going on as I needed to TQ that one. In the beginning Eric (Dankel) was all over, he had great pace. I managed to keep it a clean run and as I hoped the track was slightly quicker than yesterday’. Looking to the triple finals, the former World Champion said, ‘this is a very very tough track because of the boards so it is important to have as easy a car as I can. As always on carpet it is not too easy to pass so once I have a car I can hold my line I should be good. Obviously I am hoping to not find myself in the position of having to defend’.

Continue reading here

March 5, 2023

Zalewski 2WD Top Qualifier at MIBO International

Bartek Zalewski is the 2WD Top Qualifier at the MIBO International in the Czech Republic, the young up & coming Polish talent taking the TQ from 4WD Top Qualifier Bruno Coelho. Coming down to the fifth & final round of qualifying, with two TQ runs on Saturday giving Zalewski the overnight lead, Coelho would top Q5 from Zalewski but that P2 would improve the 16-year-olds points tally and secure him the overall TQ by 2-points. Coelho’s second TQ run in 2WD, he will start second with Q3 winner Zsolt Bajusz lining up third and Jessica Palsson fourth. Reacting to his TQ Zalewski said, ‘I’m happy. My goal for the finals is to be consistent and be as fast as I can and see what that brings’.

Follow our coverage of the MIBO International Race here