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 22, 2023

Mayako announces Youth Development Drivers

We are big fans of supporting the emerging talents of racing so it is nice to Mayako announce the drivers on 2023 Youth Development programme.  The Youth Development Drivers who have been hand selected to work closely with the offroad manufacturers 3 World Champions, David Ronnefalk, Robert Batlle and Jared Tebo are Swedish racer Nils Gustafsson, American Trent Walker, Spain’s Iker Tellez and Australian Jak Parsey.  These young guns will benefit from Mayako trio of factory drivers more than 50 years combined experience of racing at the pinnacle of our sport.  The programme will share that knowledge and show that aside from results, consistency and having fun is the key to success.

Source: Mayako [mayako.com]


February 21, 2023

MIBO International Race Offroad track layout

Following last week’s reveal of the onroad track layout, the organisers of next month’s inaugural MIBO International Race in the Czech Republic have now released the layout for the offroad track. Taking place in Hrotovice from March 3-5th, has event has attracted 228 entries from 12 countries who race on the dual track set-up. The offroad carpet track features 9 jumps and is the creation of event organiser Michal Bok based off popular features of tracks previously used during the Winter season Mibosport Cup series that preceded the new single weekend MIBO International Race that is planned as a regular annual fixture on the calendar. In a major coup for the race, Xray’s 1:10 4WD Offroad World Champion Bruno Coelho will heads up the inaugural Offroad entry.

See top view of Offroad track layout here


February 20, 2023

Tessman wins Hotrace Grand Prix

With the biggest names in 1:8 Offroad gathering in the US for this week’s 24th running of the iconic Dirt Nitro Challenge,  Ty Tessman took a nice pre event race victory at the Hotrace Grand Prix over the weekend at Channel Islands Raceway in California.  In qualifying it was factory Tekno driver Marco Baruffolo who was the Top Qualifier, the Italian fastest from Tessman’s Xray and Mayako’s Jared Tebo.  Winning their respective Semi Finals, Tessmann winning from Robert Batlle while Baruffolo won his 20-minute encounter from HB Racing’s Ryan Pavidis, it was the Canadian who had the fastest winning time to secure pole for the final.  Over the 30-minutes, Tessmann would lead for all but a couple laps early on, and despite Baruffolo having the fastest lap, would win by a 20-seconds margin.  Batlle completed the podium for Mayako while team-mate Tebo moved up from 6th on the grid to finish fourth ahead of Pavidis.

Image: Hot Race Tyres [Facebook]


February 15, 2023

Max Götzl joins Bayer at Elceram

Following the announcement that Martin Bayer has joined RC electronics newcomer Elceram, the Czech manufacturer has announced he is to be joined my multiple Czech National Champion Max Götzl.  Not only will the young driver bring his racing experience both on the national and international stage to the new project but his electronics knowledge & interest as a student of faculty of electrical engineering. Elceram’s first r/c specific product, the Nitride 1:10 speed controller which s still in the final phase of testing, has received huge interest following the Bayer announcement.  Commenting on the announcement, Götzl said, “I am very happy to be joining ELCERAM RC, the experienced Czech company, new upcoming to the RC world, and to be getting into the process of development of the new NITRIDE ESC. It is a pleasure to work side by side with the people and company from my native country, who are driven by the vision of new innovations coming true and making steps forward in the industry. Also a pleasure to team up with Martin, where I think we can make a move and achieve a lot together.  Since I first saw and tested the product, I immediately saw a huge potential as it is something completely new in the game of electronics, made in Czech Republic.  I am looking forward to what the future will bring.”

Source: Elceram [Facebook]


February 14, 2023

Paul Crompton joins Sunpadow team

Sunpadow has announced that front running British 1:10 Offroad racer Paul Crompton has joined their official Race Team for the new season.  Also joining Xray as his new chassis sponsor for 2023, Crompton will use Sunpadow lipo batteries to power his new fleet in all races and commenting on his new battery sponsor said, “Sunpadow has good reputation for high-quality lipo battery, I am very honoured and full of confidence to join the team.  I believe with the support of Sunpadow, there would be an outstanding season ahead of me.”

Source: Sunpadow [sunpadow.com]


February 13, 2023

Bayer joins electronics newcomer Elceram

New RC electronics manufacturer Elceram has announced the signing of offroad racer Martin Bayer who will race their products in 2023.  Announcing his departure from Hobbywing recently, the former 1:10 European Champion joins the new start-up from his native Czech Republic and will use in his Xray buggies their first ‘Nitride’ ESC which has been specifically developed for RC car use.  Commenting on the announcement Bayer said, “I am very happy to be able to join such a professional company as Elceram.  Elceram is a company founded in Czech Republic, where all their products are developed and manufactured.  It is an honour for me to be able to compete and collaborate on the development with a company which is from my home country.  After testing NITRIDE for the first time, I was impressed with the performance, quality and ease of use.  I think NITRIDE is a game changer in the market.”

Read more about Elecram and its Nitride’s ESC features here


February 13, 2023

2023 Philippine Masters track build revealed

The organisers of the Philippine Masters have after much hard work revealed the new Circulo Verde Race Track which will host one of Asia’s most high profile 1:8 Offroad events from April 27-30th.  After a two year break due to Covid, 2023 will be 11th running of the event and 5-weeks of very hot work has resulted in the creation of this impressive sculpted track on the site which is located in the centre of the country’s capital Manila.  This year will see reigning back to back World Champion Davide Ongaro and former World Champion Robert Batlle return to the Philippine Masters and lead the capacity 120 entries under the watchful eye of Race Director Scotty Ernst.

View more track images here