Red RC » R Off Road

July 31, 2023

Phend, Maifield & VanDalen win at The Wicked Weekend

Another of RaceTime Entertainment’s big 1:8 Offroad events, The Wicked Weekend race in Gainesville, Georgia produced three different wins of the three main categories. Attracting 659 entries, in qualifying it was Tekno’s Seth VanDalen who was the man in form as he secured the overall TQ in both nitro and electric buggy. In Nitro, HB Racing’s Cole Ogden took the opening qualifier but had to settle for P2 as VanDalen took the next two with TLR’s Dakotah Phend P3 with two P2 runs. In eBuggy, VanDalen also posted two TQ runs with second going to Phend, fastest in Q1, with Kyosho’s Ryan Lutz completing the Top 3. In Nitro Truggy, Tekno’s Ryan Maifield took the TQ from Phend, Lutz and VanDalen. In an intense 30-minute Nitro Buggy final, Phend would deny VanDalen the win on the last lap with Sworkz Brandon Rose completing the podium just ahead of WRC Racing’s Ryan Cavalieri. The eBuggy finals saw VanDalen win the first of the two 10-minute encounters from Mason Muller with that order reverse second time round however a faster Race 1 time gave VanDalen the overall win with Phend completing the Top 3. In the half hour Nitro Truggy final Maifield converted his TQ into victory ahead of the HB Racing of Fuller who came through from 12th on the grid. Mayako driver Jared Tebo completed the podium.

Image: JConcepts [Facebook]

July 25, 2023

MIBO International 2024 Announcement

Following the hugely successful inaugural running of the MIBO International Race in the Czech Republic in March, former international touring car racer Michal Bok has confirmed the race is back for 2024 on the slightly earlier date of February 16-18. A long time dream of Bok to host his own major international event in Hrotovice, the indoor event finally came to fruition in 2023 bringing together both electric onroad and offroad racing on two tracks build side by side by the team from Mibosport. The first edition of MIBO International saw Mugen’s Ronald Volker crowned the inaugural Touring Car Champion and Xray’s Bruno Coelho take double buggy honours at the Sport V Hotel venue. With everything from the track, restaurant, bowling alley and hotel rooms all under one roof, the venue was a hit with racers who travelled from 13 different countries. With a capped entry limit the relaxed schedule also meant plenty of time in the evening to wind down and socialise over dinner after each day’s racing. On the onroad track, the racing action will again cater for Modified, Stock & FWD Touring cars plus Formula. The Offroad track will cater for 2WD and 4WD Buggy as well an open class of ‘Offroad Kids’ that will give the future stars of racing an opportunity to be a part of this international event.

Source: MIBO [mibosport.com]

July 24, 2023

Savoya takes win at 20th Japanese Kyosho Masters

Multiple European 1:8 Buggy Champion Reno Savoya travelled to Japan as Kyosho celebrated the 20th running of the Japanese Kyosho Masters over the weekend where the French driver took the TQ and win. Held at the Chetuya Circuit in Sapporo, the capital of the mountainous northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, the signature event of the iconic Japanese manufacturer attracted 50 drivers including Inferno chassis designer and former World Champion Yuichi Kanai. In qualifying, Savoya topped 3 of the 4 qualifiers to secure the TQ from Itaru Kawamoto who was fastest in Q2. In the final Savoya would win by half a lap from Yuto Yokomachi who lined up 5th on the starting grid with Kanai completing the podium.

Image: Kyosho [kyosho.com]

July 24, 2023

Maifield & Tessmann win ROAR 1:8 Electric Offroad National titles

Ryan Maifield and Ty Tessmann took the two main titles at the 2023 ROAR 1:8 Electric Offroad Nationals held at CRC Raceway in New York state over the weekend. In qualifying it was Xray’s Ty Tessmann who lead the way, the Canadian securing the TQ in both eBuggy and eTruggy. In eTruggy, Tessmann was able to convert that TQ into the championship title with wins over the TLR of second place qualifier Tater Sontag in the opening two A-Mains. In A3, having qualified 5th, Maifield would take the win to complete the podium line-up. In the eBuggy finals, while Tessmann won A1, third place qualifier Maifield was able to get his Tekno buggy passed his rival to win second & final encounters. This secured him his second National title with Tekno having become Nitro Truggy National Champion last month at AMain Hobbies’ Silver Dollar RC Raceway in California. A difficult race for second place qualifier Joe Bornhorst, who ended up P7, Kyosho’s Ryan Lutz took the final podium placing from 5th on the grid.

View Truggy podium here

July 22, 2023

Orlowski regains European Champion title in 4WD Buggy

Eight years after winning his first European Championship title in the UK, Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski has regained the title with victory at the 4WD Buggy Euros in the Netherlands today. Having just missed out on his first 2WD title earlier in the week to the reigning 4WD Champion Marcus Kaerup, Orlowski would be the Top Qualifier for 4WD. Topping 2 of the five rounds at the challenge RACO200o astro track, he would start ahead of Team Associated’s Kaerup, fastest in Q1, Sworkz pairing Jöern Neumann, fastest in Q4, & Micha Widmaier with team-mate Daniel Kobbevik fifth ahead of Xray’s Bruno Coelho. In the opening final Orlowski produced a dominant performance to win ahead of the Yokomo of Burak Kilic who had a strong run to come through from P7. In A2, Orlowski came under a bit more pressure for the opening 2-minutes from 2WD Top Qualifier Neumann but a few moments from the German allowed the Polish driver to cruise to the win and the title. Winning A3 from Kilic, Nuemann would secure the runner-up spot with Kilic completing the podium.

Image: Schumacher [racing-cars.com]

July 21, 2023

Orlowski holds provisional TQ at 4WD European C/Ship

Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski holds a very provisional overnight TQ at the EFRA 1:10 4WD Offroad European Championship after a challenging day for race organisers in the Netherlands. Fresh from his 2WD title win on Wednesday at the RACO2000 track, it was Team Associated’s Marcus Kaerup who opened 4WD qualifying with a TQ run over 2WD Vice-Champion Orlowski. With rain arriving for the top heats of Round 2, Orlwoski was fastest of the top heat from 2WD Top Qualifier Jöern Neumann, but it would be Sylvain Gallo Selva from heat 4 of 11 that got the fastest time. With the rain delaying Q3, when action resumed it was Orlowski with the TQ run, this time from Micha Widmaier. With four of the five rounds of qualifying originally on today’s schedule, Q4 would be hit by a timing software issue. With a team-managers meeting called, after heated discussions, it was decided that attempts to re-run the penultimate round would take place tomorrow. With three rounds complete, meaning two would count, it puts Orlowski holding the overnight TQ.

Image: Michal Orlowski [Facebook]

July 19, 2023

Kaerup adds 2WD Buggy European title to tally

Team Associated’s Marcus Kaerup is the new EFRA 2WD Buggy European Champion. The reigning 4WD Champion secured the title after an action packed triple finals in the Netherlands today that saw a different winner each leg. Starting as the Top Qualifier having topped all five rounds of qualifying Joern Neumann looked on target to reclaim the title he first won a decade ago. In A1, the Sworkz driver continued his form winning from Schamcher’s Michal Orlowski and 1:8 World Champion Davide Ongaro who got passed third place qualifier Kaerup. Looking like he was going to get the job done early in A2, Neumann was pulling away but at the 1-minute mark he hit the corner pipping with Orlowski collecting his car before taking up the lead as the German dropped to fourth. Orlowski took the lead but with 1-minute to go a mistake allowed Marcus Kaerup through for the win with Neumann just coming through for 3rd ahead of the Schumacher of Wesley Van Helmond. It was all to play for in A3 but again a mistake from Neumann ended his chances allowing Orlowski to go to the front for the win ahead Kaerup but a mistake on the penultimate lap, while not costing him the A3 win, would cost him the title. Equal on points with Kaerup, the young Dane had the faster race winning time giving him the title. Neumann would complete the overall podium ahead of Ongaro. Racers will now turn their attention to 4WD for the next three days with Kaerup aiming to be come the first double champion since David Ronnefalk in 2018.

Image: EFRA [Facebook]

July 19, 2023

Vietnam to host 2024 FEMCA 1:8 Offroad Championship

The 2024 FEMCA 1:8 Offroad Championships will take place in Vietnam with March 6-9th scheduled as the dates for the crowning of the official Champion of Asia. This year the championship returned following a forced Covid break, with Taiwan hosting the event where Ming Yang team driver Jeff Wang took the win over Xray’s young Korean talent Hyunkyu Jung. A prestigious title that counts Atsushi Hara, Kyle McBride and Shin Adachi among its past champions, 2024 is expected to attract all of Asia’s leading offroad racers and teams to Ho Chi Minh City to battle it out for the crown. Some remaining Covid travel restrictions meant a limited international entry this year, although the event still boasted an impressive 142 entries from 10 countries.

Source: FEMCA [Facebook]