Red RC » International

March 4, 2023

Coelho doubles Q1, Zalewski doubles Q2

There were double TQ runs in each of the opening two rounds of Offroad Qualifying at the MIBO International, Q1 being ruled by Bruno Coelho, and Bartosz Zalewski making his mark in Q2. Opening the action with 2WD, top seed Coelho took a very convincing TQ run from Xray team-mates Martin Bayer and Max Gotzl before topping the 4WD times from Zalewski for the perfect start to qualifying. Retiring from Q1 in 2WD, Zalewski made amends second time round capitalising on many mistakes from Coelho to secure the TQ. With his confidence running high, the Polish driver then added a 4WD TQ run again taking advantage of mistakes by Coelho who finished well down the order, as Bayer claimed P2 ahead of Gotzl.

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March 4, 2023

Volker takes Q1 from Dankel at MIBO International

Ronald Volker has taken the opening round of qualifying at the MIBO International Race, the German topping the times from fellow Mugen driver Eric Dankel. Behind, No.2 seed Antoine Brunet would set the third fastest time from Xray team-mate Oliver Havranek, the latter having been at the top the timing screen for the early part of the heat. Third fastest in seeding Christopher Krapp suffered with his driving in Q1, report his Yokomo as working fine he made three mistakes that left him only 15th fastest. Summarising his run, Volker said, ‘it started off slow, I’m not sure why, but then I had a nice clean run’. Topping the first of the five qualification rounds by 1.1 seconds from Dankel, the former World Champion plans to try a different tyre prep for his second attempt in the hope of getting his car to to speed quicker than in Q1. He said, ‘Unlike other races the additive and cleaner here is open so I will slightly change my tyre prep plus I will also switch to a harder diff.’

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March 3, 2023

Inaugural MIBO International is GO!

1 Race, 2 Tracks, almost 250 entries, and tons of action – the inaugural MIBO International Race is GO with drivers easing themselves into the busy weekend schedule with an evening of free practice in Hrotovice, Czech Republic. The central double sided drivers stand has had a constant flow of both onroad and offroad drivers since the 17:00 start, all eager to dial in their cars ahead of the five rounds of qualifying, four of which make up Saturday’s schedule. In touring car a lap is running at 13-seconds while over on the the buggy track quick laps are running in the late 17-seconds for 4WD and mid 18-seconds for 2WD.

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March 1, 2023

Mibo International Race – Preview

This weekend the small town of Hrotovice in the Czech Republic will play host to the inaugural MIBO International Race, a race that is a long time dream of international touring car racer Michal Bok. While the venue has been visited by some of the best drivers in the world as Bok hosted rounds of both the ETS and EOS in years passed, this weekend he brings both classes together as a follow on to his hugely successful pre pandemic Mibo Cup Series. Two tracks under one roof with onroad and offroad action taking place side by side, the first edition of what is planned to be a major annual event on the European race calendar kicks off on Friday evening with practice. In touring car Mugen’s Ronald Volker and Yokomo’s Christopher Krapp lead the entry while Offroad is headed by Xray’s Bruno Coelho. The World Champion makes the switch to buggy after a very successful start to 2023 in Touring Car that includes victory at the legendary TITC in Bangkok last weekend. With 240 entries reflecting the competence racers have in Bok’s Mibosport race organisation’s ability to put on quality events, there is set to be plenty of exciting race action right across the classes.

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February 28, 2023

Widmaier confirmed for Philippine Masters

Micha Widmaier is the latest factory driver to be confirmed for the return of the annual Philippine Masters, one of Asia’s most high profile 1:8 Offroad international events. The German will travel to the beautiful Circulo Verde track located in the heart of capital city Manila to lead the Sworkz challenge at the 11th running returning of the race. The multiple German National Champion will be joined on the track by Sworkz founder Scott Yang who himself is an accomplished racer. Taking place from April 28-30th, the event returns after more than a two year break and will see the capacity entry lead by Team Associated’s back to back World Champion Davide Ongaro and former World Champion Robert Batlle for the Mayako team.

Source: Philippine Masters [philippinemastersrc.com]

February 27, 2023

Wahl wins Open Brushless at TITC

He has been more involved in the background lately acting as mechanic for multiple World Champion Marc Rheinard, but over the weekend Tim Wahl added a significant title to his own CV with victory of Open Brushless class at the TITC in Bangkok. The biggest category at the legendary Touring Car race with 118 entries, the German took his ORCA OE1 WLE powered Awesomatix A800R to a dominant victory. Securing the TQ early on his way to topping all four qualifier at the Infinity RC Addict track, Wahl won the opening two A-Mains comfortably from fourth place qualifier Natthawat Rungcharat. With Wahl sitting out A3 that went to no.2 qualifier Kriengsak Suttiprawat to give them second place on the podium ahead of Rungcharat.

Image: ORCA [orcarc.com]

February 27, 2023

Maifield defends Dirt Nitro Challenge Buggy title

Ryan Maifield has taken the big win at the Dirt Nitro Challenge, the Tekno driver winning a thrilling 1:8 Nitro Buggy final to defend his title from TLR’s Dakotah Phend. The 24th running of World renowned track builder Joey Christensen’s signature event, the race in Perris California started on one track but switched to a hastily prepared smaller covered track as rain arrived replacing the SoCal sunshine. In qualifying it was Phend who had the pace topping both qualifiers, his opening round the faster time. Second fastest in Q1 it was HB Racing’s Cole Ogden who would line-up directly behind Phend for the 45-minute final followed by Xray’s Ty Tessmann and Maifield, his best run being a P3 in the second qualifier. With the running order Phend from Maifield for most of the race, things turned just inside 10-minutes to go with a bad lap from Phend allowing Maifield to the front. Despite Phend’s best efforts, it was going to be yet another DNC title for Maifield as they took the finish separated by just 1.6-seconds. Tessmann would complete the Buggy podium having won the previous day’s Nitro Truggy Final from Phend and Maifield. Phend would a the win in eBuggy with victory over Juan Carlos Canas and Mason Fuller.

Image: Ty Tessmann [Facebook]

February 25, 2023

Coelho is Top Qualifier on TITC Return

Making his return to the TITC having missed the last edition of the race in 2020, after which the race itself was forced into a 2-year Covid break, Bruno Coelho is the Top Qualifier for the 19th edition of the famed Bangkok race. The Xray driver held the provisional TQ after the first day of qualifying at Infinity RC Addict, but went even better on Day 2 taking both the remaining rounds of qualifying. Behind the reigning World Champion, with the second fastest times in both Q3 & 4 having TQ’d the opening round, Axon’s Akio Sobue will start his TITC title defence from P2. With a strong Japanese showing at the event, Ishioka Hayato will start third behind his team-mate while Yamamoto Ryosuke led the Infinity charge securing P4 on the grid. Double TITC Champion Alexander Hagberg lines up 5th for Xray ahead of Marc Rheinard’s Awesomatix with the A-Main line-up completed by Naoto Matsukura, Jin Sawada, Jilles Groskamp and Chavit Sligupta. Unfortunately for RC Maker’s Ryan Maker just missed the cut, equalling his previous TITC qualifying best with the BQ honours.

Image: Xray [Facebook]