The 3rd round of the CML Winter Series at Frankley Model Car Club was run last weekend and the track started out damp and slippery. In those conditions National Champion Neil Cragg was untouchable, gliding his RC8B around the challenging Frankley track with a deft touch that left the opposition trailing in rounds 1 and 2.
Continue reading the report here
X-Factory sent us a report on their successes at the third JConcepts Clash which was held last weekend at the Lake Park track near Tampa Florida. Leon McIntosh, from Florida, TQd both Super Stock (10.5) truck with his X-60 and Super Stock buggy with his X-6 Squared and would go on to win truck and finish second in buggy. Qualifying and finishing second in Super Stock Truck was the X-60 of Florida’s Zach Genova, who also made the Super Stock buggy A. Chris Bennett from Louisiana TQd modified short course truck with a hand-built X-60 SC and took second.
Source: X-Factory [xfactoryrc.om]
Current World Champion Atsushi Hara has won the Buggy Part final in Pattaya Thailand. Having won his semi final from pole position, he would start from the number 1 spot in the 1 hour long final, while big rival current European Champion Renaud Savoya had mechanical problems in his semi after 10 minutes and this ruined any chance of a good result, retiring soon after. A 10 minute delay prior to the start of the A-main called by Kenji Osaka meant he would start from the back of the grid, but from the off it was Hara who was always in command of the race with the only battles taking place for the lower podium positions. The order for a long time was Hara, Greg Degani and Joern Neumann, until the German driver had problems after 45 minutes and dropped back, allowing a recovering Osaka up to the 3rd spot. With 10 minutes to go Meen V. passed Osaka and took the final podium position 2 laps behind Degani in 2nd who was a further 3 laps behind race winner Hara.
Click here for the final results
Following qualifying, the grid has been set for this years Buggy Party final, an event attracting much more attention than usual due to it being held on the 2010 Worlds track in Pattaya, Thailand. Expected to be better attended than the actual official warm up event, due to the current conditions more similar to those during the World Championships compared to February, the race sees current World Champion Atsushi Hara and current European Champion Renaud Savoya in attendance alongside other top drivers like Greg Degani, Joern Neumann, Teemu Leino, Adrien Bertin, Surikarn C, Meen Vejrak, Kenji Osaka to name but a few. The track layed out by the organisers is large and tricky with a very long lap time, and combine that with warm and humid conditions and you have the recipe for a tough race. Coming out on top was Hot Bodies’ own Atsushi Hara who is in a league of his own finishing 11 seconds in front of Renaud Savoya for Mugen in 2nd. Gerg Degani took 3rd with his Z-car, while rounding out the top 4 was Teemu Leino with the Xray. Hara also went on to TQ the Truggy class in front of Leino. Saturday is for sub finals, giving the front runner time to relax and get their cars ready, with the main event taking place on Sunday afternoon. We will keep you posted.
Click here for a short video and buggy results
Durango have been in touch to tell us that their Japanese distributor Tresrey is going to hold an off-road race on January 24, 2010. This race will be an ‘Audition’ to choose a new Team Durango Japan support driver for the 2010 season. The top 3 drivers from each class and selected others will get an interview from Tresrey, following which they will choose one driver to be their Team Durango Japan support driver for the 2010 racing season. The chosen racer will get a DEX410 from Team Durango Ltd, and Tresrey will support them with spare and option parts for the next 12 months and they can also work and pit with the main team at big races such as the Japanese nationals and Reedy race at the world famous Yatabe Arena. The top 3 drivers for both classes will also receive prizes from SpeedPassion.
For more information go here.
Following his recent deal with Hobao, as expected Davide Tortorici has been confirmed at Sirio for the next 4 seasons. Alongside his driving responsibilities, L.M. Lavorazioni Meccaniche S.r.l. have announced that the double European Champion will also manage the technical activities for Sirio engines in the Off-road market. Pictured above alongside Davide Tortorici is Mr. Felice Abrami, President of L.M. Lavorazioni Meccaniche S.r.l.
Source: Lavorazioni Meccaniche S.r.l.
Confirming many rumors surrounding his future, Italian Hobao distributors Schepis Model in Italy have announced that Davide Tortorici will race for the Hobao team in the 2010 season. Alongside his driving responsibilities the former Crono team driver and double European Champion will also manage the commercial and technical activities of Hobao in Italy. Expect an official announcement on his new engine deal with Sirio in the coming days.
Source: Schepis Model [schepismodel.it]
Team Losi are reporting from the 2009 Spektrum Off-Road Championships, hosted by Trackside Hobbies in Milwaukee, WI. With around 200 entries in the race, triple A-mains were only run for the modified 2wd class, leaving the modified truck and 4wd class to a single A-main. In the Modified 2wd class, Dustin Evans was the Top Qualifier and in A1 Dustin took advantage of his TQ by leading for the duration of the race. In A2 Ryan Cavalieri took the win with Matt Chambers finishing in 2nd and Dakotah Phend in 3rd. In A3 Dustin again led the race, winning from Ryan in 2nd and Matt in 3rd. This sealed the overall for Dustin. In the single A-main for Modified truck it was Dustin again starting from TQ and claiming the victory with Matt finishing in 3rd and Dakotah in 5th.
Source: Losi [losi.com]
