March 5, 2023

Coelho completes Offroad double at MIBO

Bruno Coelho has completed the Offroad double at the new MIBO International Race, the Xray driver repeating his earlier 2WD victory, only this time things went to A3 to decide the 4WD Champion.  Winning the opening A-Main from the TQ ahead of Bartek Zalewski, the World Champion would have a moment in A2 that allowed the talented teenager to go to the front.  Despite Coelho best efforts, he couldn’t find a way back to the front. With a number of errors would give Zalewski time to catch his breath after coming under attack from the Portuguese driver.  In A3 Coelho would early in the race hit a track marker and get collected by the pursuing Zalewski and as the two cars tangled Jessica Palsson went through to take a lead.  Coming under immense pressure from Coelho, just like Zalewski had a round earlier, she didn’t crack taking an impressive win but like in 2WD it was again a third place finish overall for the Swede.  With Coelho and Zalewski tied with a win and a second each, it would be the former’s A1 winning time that secured him the overall win.

Follow our coverage of the MIBO International Race here


March 5, 2023

Coelho takes 2WD at MIBO International

Bruno Coelho has taken the 2WD Buggy title at the inaugural MIBO International Race, the Xray star making his return to racing on carpet after more than 3-years and took the overall win ahead of up & coming talent Bartek Zalewski and Jessica Palsson.  Starting from second on the grid behind Top Qualifier Zalewski, Coelho would wrap things up early by taking the opening two A-Mains.  After a rough A1 and diff issues in A2, with a fresh diff in his Xray Zalewski would win A3 to secure the runners-up spot while a very consistent performance netted Schumacher driver Palsson a trio of second place that saw her complete the podium line-up.

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March 5, 2023

Zalewski 2WD Top Qualifier at MIBO International

Bartek Zalewski is the 2WD Top Qualifier at the MIBO International in the Czech Republic, the young up & coming Polish talent taking the TQ from 4WD Top Qualifier Bruno Coelho.  Coming down to the fifth & final round of qualifying, with two TQ runs on Saturday giving Zalewski the overnight lead, Coelho would top Q5 from Zalewski but that P2 would improve the 16-year-olds points tally and secure him the overall TQ by 2-points.  Coelho’s second TQ run in 2WD, he will start second with Q3 winner Zsolt Bajusz lining up third and Jessica Palsson fourth.  Reacting to his TQ Zalewski said, ‘I’m happy. My goal for the finals is to be consistent and be as fast as I can and see what that brings’.

Follow our coverage of the MIBO International Race here


March 4, 2023

Coelho secures 4WD TQ, Zalewski holds 2WD TQ with one to go

With four of the five rounds of Offroad qualifying complete at MIBO International, Bruno Coelho has secured the 4WD while young Polish talent Bartosz Zalewski holds the provisional TQ in 2WD.  Capping off Day 2’s action at the Michal Bok organised race with his third 4WD run of the day, Coelho put the TQ beyond his rivals’ reach.  The only other driver to top the times today when he took Q2, Zalewski also has two P2 runs to his credit to split his two senior Xray team-mates.  With a pair of second fastest times leaving Martin Bayer third and mathematically in with a chance of bumping himself one spot up the grid in tomorrow morning’s fifth & final qualifying.  Overnight Max Gotzl is holding fourth in 4WD ahead of Sweden’s Jessica Palsson and veteran racer Hupo Honigl.

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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 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]