Top Italian driver Fabrizio Teghesi has announced he is departing Kyosho after a lengthly partnership with the brand. Joining the team just a year after Red RC first hit the internet, the former Italian National Champion has been a loyal ambassador for the iconic manufacturer. Looking set to have to swap out his red wardrobe for some new team clothing in 2023, he made the announcement on his Facebook page.
Following the announcement last month of his departure from long time chassis sponsor Shepherd, it has been announced that Simon Kurzbuch will drive for Mugen after Mugen Seiki Europe announced the former World Champion had joined the Japanese manufacturer’s International team. Describing the Swiss driver as ‘a strong addition’ to the team, he will race their MRX6X throughout all major and international events. Commenting on the announcement Kurzbuch said, “An existing new journey ahead! I’m delighted and honoured to announce to partner up with the iconic Japanese brand Mugen Seiki for the future! The first insights have convinced me and my team entirely and we are looking forward to a close and fruitful collaboration with the whole Mugen Team, with MSE and Stefan Habbecke and of course with one of my childhood idols and car designer Robert Pietsch.”
Source: MSE [Facebook]
Access to tracks are vital to R/C so it is great to hear about plans for a new Indoor facility in Switzerland. Through the work of onroad and offroad drivers, they are creating the ‘RC Indoor Arena’, a beautiful complex in Wädenswil. The 600m2 offroad track is equipped with new EOS carpet and while onroad drivers will also enjoy a new 720m2 ETS carpet surface. Set to open at the beginning of December, this indoor complex will be ideal for preparing for the next indoor season and will give racers a place to keep their driving skills sharp for the Winter.
Source: RC Indoor Arena [rc-indoor-arena.ch]
JConcepts has added to its Radial NMB bearing range by now offering kits for TLR’s 8ight-X/XE 2.0 and Tekno’s NB48.21 1:8 buggies. Rolling free is very important anytime a vehicle hits the racetrack. The bearings in an RC vehicle need to be quality, precise, and durable enough to stand-up to the rigorous demands of national and world class racing events. The bearing kits are built to last with NMB bearing quality, stainless steel materials, and precise tolerances. Recently, Ryan Maifield TQ’ed and won the 1/8th Pro Buggy class at the largest RC event on record at the 2022 Psycho Nitro Blast in White Pine, Tennessee using the new JConcepts Radial bearings.
Source: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]
Former World Champion Robert Batlle has announced his much anticipated departure from Mugen, a combination that triumphed at the 2012 IFMAR 1:8 Buggy World Championships in Argentina. The Spaniard’s announcement ends a lengthy and fruitful 12-year stint with the Japanese manufacturer. Batlle made the announcement on his Facebook page in an open message to Mugen.
Read Batlle ‘Letter to Mugen’ here
The opening round of the popular MRC Longwy Winter Series took place over the weekend with Lucas Urbain taking the TQ and win. With a number of international drivers making the trip to France, Urbain would take his Awesomatix to victory at the first of the four scheduled rounds ahead of factory Mugen driver Ronald Volker and Yokomo’s Yannic Prumper. MRC Longwy will host the 18th edition of their famous GP3 on January 21-22 with drivers using the Winter Series as preparations for the international race. Round 2 takes place December 11.
Image: Lucas Urbain [Facebook]
The Coupe des Champions race returned over the weekend with past double champion Clement Boda again doing the double at French indoor offroad event. The Sworkz driver kick off the weekend buy securing pole position for the 2WD Final as he topped 3 of the four qualifyng heats. From the TQ he then took the overall victory for 2WD Buggy with a triple of wins in the finals. Behind him the Xrays of Mathieu Briere and Martin Bayer completed the podium. In 4WD Boda had a little more work to do to take the win. Failing finish 2 of the qualifier, he final hit the top in Q4 to secure P2 on the grid behind Bayer. A second in A1 and third in A2, the last one was the critical one for Boda as he took the win in the fastest time securing him the double. Behind young driver Noha Benmohamed claimed second with Bayer again final the final step on the podium.
Tadahiko Sahashi has gained elusive ‘Double Champion’ status with victory at the 1:10 Nitro Touring Car World Championship in Thailand. Starting 5th on the grid, the Infinity driver becomes only the second ever driver to win both the IFMAR 1:8 and 1:10 Nitro Onroad, Adrien Bertin’s feat finally being matched 18-years after the Frenchman became the first to achieved it in 2004. A final that would see a number of drivers take turns at the front, when it counted most it was 2013 1:8 Champion Sahashi that lead them home. Behind, there was an intense battle for second as Dominic Greiner came under pressure from long time leader Jilles Groskamp but the only non-Infinity driver in the final was able to stave off the challenge. Making his first Nitro World final, Electric Touring Car ace Viktor Wilck had an impressive race to fourth, his trademark colour scheme having been out front during the race. Another finalist chasing ‘Double Champion’ status at RC Addict this week, Dario Balestri had the title in his grasps until he suffered a flame out as he left the pits following his tyres stop. In the end the Italian would finish 5th. Outgoing champion and Top Qualifier here in Bangkok, Naoto Matsukura was pulling clear early on. The tricky conditions however caught him out a number of times. The flip coming onto the main straight that sent his car into the bushes lining the outside of the track ultimately ending his chances of becoming the first driver to defend the title with 8th his final position at the end of the 1-hour encounter.
