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January 11, 2023

2023 Desert Classic – Announcement

Hobby Action in Chandler, Arizona have announced the date for the 2023 Desert Classic with the 7th edition of the annual event taking place from March 1st to 5th. An event that has established itself as a major fixture in the early part of the international 1:10 Offroad calendar after filling the void left after the demise of the Cactus Classic. Again sponsored by Stickit1 Racing, the 2023 edition is set to have even more significance on the calendar as a preparation race for the IFMAR 1:10 Offroad World Championships that Hobby Action will host in September of this year. Entries for the Desert Classic are open from the 22nd of this month and the race will be open to all the usual classes.

View event flier here

January 8, 2023

Phend does triple at ‘Clash of Champions’

Dakotah Phend has got his 2023 season off the perfect start with a triple TQ & Win at the 1st Annual ‘Clash of Champions’ at Hoosier RC Hobbyplex in Indiana. Qualifying for 1:10 indoor electric offroad dirt event saw an untouchable Phend take the 2WD Mod Buggy TQ from Team Associated pairing Spencer Rivkin and Dustin Evans. In 4WD Buggy it was Xray team-mates Tom Rinderknecht and Ty Tessmann who filled P2 and 3 on the grid behind the TLR star. In Mod truck took all three rounds of qualifying for the TQ ahead of Tessmann, Rivkin and new TLR signing Cole Tollard. In the triple main finals, Phend wrapped up all three classes by winning the opening two A-Mains of each. In 2WD Buggy, the A3 win gave Rivkin second from Rinderknecht in third. While Tessmann won A3 of Mod Truck second places in A1 & 2 was enough for Rivkin to hold the overall runner-up spot. In 4WD, with Phend again able to sit out A3, it was Rinderknecht who took the win to secure second overall with Tessmann completing the podium.

Image: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

January 8, 2023

Herbert wins Hudy Indoor Champs

Keven Hebert has won the Hudy Indoor Champs at ProLevel RC in Chesterfield, Missouri. Attracting more than 150 entries over the classes, in Modified Touring Car it was a battle between the factory Xray drivers of Hebert and Alexander Hagberg. Setting a fastest time of 32/5:00.870 in the fourth & final round of qualifying, Hebert would secure the TQ from Hagberg who put in his best run in Q3 when the Swede set a time of 32/5:02.688. Behind, the Awesomatix of Kemp Anderson secured third ahead of Donny Lia, both also posting their fastest times in Q3. In the single Main, the top three remained unchanged with Hebert having a 2.3 second advantage over his team-mate at the finish. Behind Anderson, Andrew Ellis got passed Lia for fourth. In 1:12 Mod, it was a reverse of the TC podium with Top Qualifier Anderson taking the win from former World Champion Hagberg and Hebert. In Stock Touring Car Billy Sydor took the win while in Stock 1:12 Fabio Evangelista was the victor.

Image: Xray [teamxray.com]

January 8, 2023

Polito wins ‘OneRace OneMan’ at IBR Padova

Having only announced his move from Kyosho to Sworkz just after Christmas, Italy’s Mattia Polito has opened the 2023 season with the Pro Buggy victory at the annual ‘OneRace OneMan’ event at IBR Padova in Italy. In qualifying it was Mugen’s Berkan Kilic who claimed the overall TQ, but winning his Semi from Berkan’s brother Burak, Polito took pole for the 45-minute final. Finishing second to Berkan in the other Semi, Kyosho’s Renaud Savoya would split the German brothers on the grid with 3rd. In the final it would be Burak who would prove to be Polito’s closest challenge moving up to finish 2nd with Berkan completing the podium. Behind HB Racing’s Theo Lemaire took fourth from Max Hesse and fellow Frenchman Savoya. For defending champion Riccardo Bertin, it was a tough opening to the new season as he had to win the LCQ final to make the A-Main. Despite setting the fastest lap of the final, the Infinity driver would finish P13 and last. In E-Buggy it was again Berkan who took the TQ, this time being able to convert that into the win ahead of his brother and the Tekno of former Champion Marco Barufollo.

Image: Burak Kilic [Facebook]

January 7, 2023

Ongaro confirmed for Philippine Masters

The organisers of the Philippine Masters have announced back to back World Champion Davide Ongaro is confirmed to make the trip to Manila for the April 28-30 event. Ongaro is a previous winner of the Philippine Masters and the attendance of the high profile Team Associated factory driver is a major boost for the Asian 1:8 Offroad scene. As with previous editions of the race, the entry list is expected to be bolstered by further high profile driver announcements. Making its post Covid return to the international racing calendar, the Philippine Masters has established itself as one of Asia’s major international events with 2023 the 11th running of the event. Hosted by QCRCCC and directed by the voice of RC Scotty Ernst, the event takes place in the heart of the capital city at the beautiful Circulo Verde track. Already close to reaching its 120 entry capacity, the race has attracted many of Asia’s top drivers with a strong contingent of Australian racers signed up to enjoy both the racing and hospitality in Manila.

Source: Philippine Masters [philippinemastersrc.com]

December 23, 2022

Ongaro ends RunnerTime Fuel sponsorship

Back to back 1:8 Buggy World Champion Davide Ongaro is set for another change to his 2023 racing package with the announcement he will no longer be using RunnerTime Fuel. Having announced his departure from tyre sponsor AKA earlier this month, the Italian has enjoyed a similar 5-year stint with the RunnerTime netting the 2018 and 2023 World titles in that time. On his Facebook page Ongaro said, ‘It has been 5 amazing years, We have achieved a lot of amazing results together and goals, we have had a lot of fun and you are part that helped me to be what I am. I hope you are happy about what we have done together, races, dinners, good and bad results because they are part of racing. I can only say a big thank you for all the help you have to use during these years, was a pleasure for us to work with you. It’s time now to take different roads, I wish you the best in your future. Thanks a lot for everything. Thanks Matteo Passerini and Runnertime.’

Source: Davide Ongaro [Facebook]

December 23, 2022

All change as Tebo announces AKA departure

With the news earlier in the week that his stint with Tekno RC was over, Jared Tebo has today announced that he will also not be continuing with long time tyre sponsor AKA in 2023. The American started with the brand in 2009 and has been running their products every year since with the exception of the 2016. Making the announcement on social media, in thanking everyone at AKA, he attributed their Three Rib front tyre as being a major part of his 2013 1:10 2WD Offroad World Championship victory. Also switching engine for the new season, it will be interesting to see what new package Tebo hits the track with in 2023. Read Tebo’s announcement here

December 19, 2022

Orlowski doubles at Race Stars Contest

Michal Orlowski’s internationals travels for 2022 may be finished but the factory Schumacher driver made the most of being back home in Poland to take the double win at Race Stars Contest ’22. Held in the centre of the country at the Sports Arena in Zgierz, the race attracted an international entry. In qualifying Orlowski would take the TQ for both 2WD and 4WD from Sworkz Micha Widmaier, with third going to Bartek Zambrzycki in 2WD and Bartosz Zalewski in 4WD. In the triple A-Mains, 2WD would see Orlowski chased to the win by Widmaier with the Serpent of Sweden’s Elias Johansson coming through from P4 on the grid to complete the podium thanks to a win in A3. In 4WD, while Orlowski was in control out front, behind Zalewski, after a bad A1, managed to get his Xray passed Widmaier in A2, before going on to win A3 for second overall ahead of the German.

Source: Michal Orlowski [Facebook]