Matrix Racing Tires have announced the addition of Merlin Depta to their factory team. The German front runner, former vice-European Champion and ENS A-Main regular will join the Matrix team for the 2017 1/8th nitro season in which he will compete at events such as the German Nationals, the ENS, EFRA GP Series and the Worlds in France in September.
Source: Matrix [matrix-tyres.com]
The Swiss GP Arbon race was recently held on a nice but very low-grip carpet track. In the 4WD class Michel Buschor took the TQ from Mario di Bella in second and Osi Oswald in third. In the finals Michel continued to dominate, taking three wins and with it the overall victory from Mario di Bella and Kevon Prinz for an all-Xray podium sweep. In the 2WD buggy class Patrick Hofer (Team Associated) was unbeatable, taking the overall win from Mario di Bella (Yokomo) in second and Mathias Domig (Xray) third.
Source: Xray [teamxray.com]
The second round of the XRS Germany was held in Augsburg and it saw a total of 58 drivers battle it out in the four classes of Touring Modified, Touring 13.5T Stock, Formula and 1/12th scale. The club laid out a nice 400 square metre track using ETS carpet that made for high traction and fun races. Racing-wise and in the 1/12th scale class it was young Antonio Theofilou to take TQ but after the final Bernd Wiesenberger held the upper hand to bring home the day’s win from Antonio and Christian.
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The 5th Hungarian Serpent S411 Endurace Race was held at the Sportolda sportshall in Pecs, Hungary with a a total of five teams battling for the win. The race was held in a unique format of six 50-minute stints with 15-minute breaks in-between. At halftime the teams also had an official lunchbreak with the cars sitting in the parc ferme. Before the race the identically prepared Serpent S411 RTR cars were given to the racers that were allowed to use their own batteries and radios. In the end team All Stars would take the win with 1712 laps from team Elza es Tarsai (1642 laps) and team Peströ gyuttunk (1639 laps). In total more than 8100 laps or 611km were completed by the teams.
Source: Serpent [serpent.com]
Hobbywing have welcomed Xray’s Martin Bayer, Olly Jefferies and Jan Ratheisky to their factory team. The three will be running Hobbywing electronics from February with Martin being an important member of the growing off-road factory team while Jan will also be Hobbywing’s trackside support at all major on-road events in Europe.
Martin says:
I am very happy I can join the Hobbywing factory racing team. I tested many products last month to choose what is best for me. After first lap with Hobbywing I know immediately this is what I need. The control feeling is incredible and power delivery is so smooth but in same time I have a lot of power delivered on wheels. I am very happy to represent Hobbywing on all international races and give best support to the customers.
Read Jan’s and Olly’s statements here
Reds Racing have welcomed Portugal’s Ricardo Monteiro to their racing team for the 2017 and 2018 season. The newly-signed Tekno RC driver will be using Reds Racings nitro engines and will be attending the national championship and select other events.
Source: Reds Racing [reds-racing.com]
The 2017 Castle Creations Off-Road Jam was held at Fastlane Raceway in Kansas City, Missouri. Kyosho’s Mitchel Gardner was able to TQ the 2WD modified class ahead of his fellow teammates, Team Associated’s Brad Dean and Xray’s Dillon Caldwell. In the single A-main, it was Dean who would best the field to take the win with Caldwell clawing his way back to 2nd place from a horrific start. Gardner would round out the podium making it a brilliant JConcepts sweep in 2WD Modified.
Continue reading the report here
Shepherd have announced the signing of Belgian frontrunner, Olivier Bultynck to their electric on-road team. The multiple ETS winner and podium finisher will have his debut for Shepherd at the second round of the 2016/17 ETS in Mülheim Kärlich. Furthermore he plans to attend all remaining ETS races, the Euros and he tries to defend his Belgian National Champion title. Shepherd are really looking forward to working together with the former Roche driver who had the following to say:
First of all I have to thank Max Ma from Roche for the support he gave me the last season. But i was given a chance to be part of the Shepherd Team for 2017. Being on a strong Team is very motivating and I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I would like to thank Patrick Schäfer and all the staff at Team Shepherd for the opportunity of joining this Company.
Source: Shepherd [team-shepherd.com]
