Red RC » R Off Road

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]

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]