Red RC » National

August 20, 2022

Phend to defend ROAR titles as Top Qualifier

Reigning ROAR National Champion Dakotah Phend will defend his 2WD and 4WD Buggy titles from pole position. The TLR driver is the Top Qualifier in San Diego after going fastest in 2 of the three rounds of qualifying at SDRC Raceway. His closest challenger in 2WD would be team-mate Ryan Cavalieri who TQ’d the second round of heats. A P2 and P4, was good enough to give Team Associated’s Aydin Horne third on the grid ahead of Yokomo’s Ryan Maifield. It was a tough qualifying for reigning World Champion Spencer Rivkin as he finds himself back in 7th on the grid. In 4WD, Phend wrapped up the overall TQ with his JConcepts shod 22X-4 Elite by topping the times for the opening two qualifiers. Topping Q3, Rivkin will start alongside him with Maifield third, the same order as they finished last year’s ROAR Nationals. In Mod Truck, Ty Tessmann was able to deny Phend a hat trick as the Xray driver secured the overall TQ thanks to quicker time from Q1 compared to Phend’s Q3 performance. Fastest in the second qualifier, Team Associated’s Dustin Evans will start third.

Image: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

August 18, 2022

Can Phend repeat National title double in San Diego?

National Championships don’t come much bigger than the ROAR 1:10 Dirt Off-Road National Championships and the titles are on the line this weekend. With the US a powerhouse of offroad racing, some of the best drivers in the World are in San Diego at the indoor SDRC Raceway where Dakotah Phend will be aiming to defend his 2WD & 4WD Buggy titles. The TLR driver did the double in style last year securing the TQ and victory in the first two A-Mains in both buggy classes. In 2WD, Phend took the title from Xray’s Ty Tessmann while in 4WD the win came ahead of Team Associated’s reigning 2WD World Champion Spencer Rivkin and another World Champion (4WD), Yokomo’s Ryan Maifield. With the 1:8 Offroad World Championships just over 2-weeks away and majority of this weekend”s title contenders making the trip to Spain, a newly won National title will be a nice confidence boost ahead of the long haul journey.

View SDRC Raceway track images here

August 15, 2022

Ronnefalk takes first ‘Mayako’ Swedish National title

David Ronnefalk winning the Swedish National Championships has become a bit of annual tradition, his record of wins speaks for itself, but his latest national titles mark the first with Mayako. Joining the offroad newcomers last December after a long stint with HB Racing and Kyosho before that, Ronnefalk took both the nitro ad EP titles over the weekend at Hässleholm RC Club situated in the South of the country. With EP Buggy contested over a Reedy Race format, he would win all six encounters to claim the electric title for the 21st time. Securing the TQ in Nitro, the newly crowned European Champion would win the 1 hour final by only less than half a lap from Hampus Berg for title number 20. Victor Gunnarsson would finish third to make it an all Mayako podium.

Source: David Ronnefalk [facebook]

August 14, 2022

Neumann claims German Nationals double

Factory Schumacher driver Joern Neumann completed the double at the German National Championships over the weekend. Racing at the MAC Hütschenhausen astro track in the western part of the country, the event would decide the 1:10 4WD and Truck titles. Securing TQ honours in both classes after fastest times for 3 of the 5 rounds of qualifying, the multiple European Champion took both title victories ahead of fellow Schumacher driver Marcel Schneider. Joining them on the podium on both occasions was Jens Becker, the Xray driver having also qualified third for both triple A-Mains.

Source: Joern Neumann [facebook]

August 11, 2022

Speed King Tour 2022 Rd4 – Report

The fourth round of Speed King Tour 2022 was held at RC stadium Sodegaura outdoor tarmac track in Chiba prefecture last weekend. Three different electric touring car class race took place at the event same as past rounds. TC0 class car uses modified motor and TC1 runs with boosted stock motor. Only G Force ESC and motor can be used at TC2 class. This track will hold JMRCA EP Touring car Sport class Nats in September then a lot of drivers entered TC1 class of the event which is almost same regulation as JMRCA Sport class. And also some of Japanese top drivers run TC0 class for preparing for IFMAR ISTC World championship in Italy in September.

Continue reading race report here

August 8, 2022

Cragg celebrates 4th decade of winning national champs

Becoming champion of your country is usually one of the first goals drivers aspire too. Only a select few will achieve the goal and even fewer will successfully defend the title of being the best in their country. Over the weekend however Neil Cragg (file pic) made it four different decades of holding a national title. Claiming his first ever title back in 1999, one of the sport’s most down to earth and unassuming racers clinched his 26th British National crown when he secured the 2022 BRCA 1:10 2WD Offroad Championship with P2 in Round 5 at the TORCH astro track. The former World Champion admitted it has been a tough season against the ‘young guns’ and dedicated his latest title to his dad, Mick as well known around the world as Neil, and his sponsors who have supported him. A lifelong factory Team Associated driver, we think just like they proudly display their latest World Championship win tally (currently 30) on their official team clothing that maybe it’s time for a Neil Cragg ’26 and still counting’ special edition champions t-shirt release!!

Source: Associated [associatedelectrics.com]

August 8, 2022

Kilic brothers 1-2 at German Buggy Nationals

The 1:8 Nitro Buggy German Nationals saw a dominant performance from the Kilic brothers over the weekend with the older of the two, Burak, taking the title from Berkan. Travelling to the northeastern part of the country to championship hosts Modellclub Schwedt, the Mugen team drivers stamped their authority on the event taking all five qualifiers. Managing 3 TQ runs it was Berkan who came out as Top Qualifier from Burak with Sworkz’ Joern Nuemann best of the rest in third. In the final it was Burak who would take the win for the popular brothers 1-2 finish with an impressive drive from Max Hesse netting him a podium finish. Forced to miss the first two days of the events, the Sworkz driver started last of the 64 entries before clocking up 5 finals en route to a well earned podium ahead of Marcel Kruger and Neumann.

Source – Kilic Brothers RC [facebook.com]

August 8, 2022

Nicolson leads Yokomo 1-2 at QLD State Championships

Simon Nicolson lead a Yokomo 1-2 at the 2022 Speedy RC Queensland State Championships over the weekend taking the title from fellow international electric touring car racer Antoni Caretti. Held at England Park Raceway in Brisbane, overnight rain on the Friday meant drivers faced completely different track conditions for the start of qualifying. Despite adapting his car set-up to the track during qualifying, Nicolson was able to take the first of the five qualifiers from Caretti and ARC driver Jeffery Mackie. He would also TQ Rounds 3 & 4 to secure the overall TQ. Fastest in Q2 and 5, Mackie would secure second on the grid from Caretti. The finals would be a Nicolson clean sweep securing him the title. With Caretti second in A1 from Mackie, and that order reversed in A2, the third final would decide which side of the podium they would join Nicolson. Caretti again got by Mackie, finishing 1.5-seconds behind the winner in A3 to take second overall.

Source – Simon Nicolson [facebook.com]