February 22, 2020

Akio completes quali clean sweep, Groskamp to start 2nd

Having wrapped up the overall TQ in the penultimate round of qualifying at the 2020 TITC, Akio Sobue has gone on to complete the clean sweep by making it four out of four in the final round.  Having topped seeding on Thursday, the Infinity driver has maintained a distinct advantage over his rivals taking the final qualifier ahead of fellow countryman & new for 2020 team-mate Ryosuke Yamamoto, his advantage once again a commanding 3-seconds. With Naoto Matsukura getting up on two wheels during his final attempt, Jilles Groskamp would hold onto his second place starting position, the Dutch driver finishing 3rd ahead of Naoto in the weekend’s fastest heat.  Meen Vejrak again managed a Top 5 run and the fastest lap of Q4, Day 2 of qualifying going much better than yesterday, and with that result the Yokomo driver will line-up 6th for tomorrow’s A-Mains when four Yokomos will go up against six Infinitys.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.

February 22, 2020

Sobue is Top Qualifier at 2020 TITC

Akio Sobue is the Top Qualifier at the 2020 TITC, the Infinity driver locking up pole position at the 18th running of Asia’s premiere touring car event when he opened Day 2 of qualifying with yet another TQ run.  The 2018 Champion, who took that victory from 4th on the grid, made it three from three in the penultimate round of qualifying at the Infinity Addict Circuit, this time ahead of team-mate Naoto Matsukura.  The only other driver to complete 20-laps in the much hotter afternoon conditions, the former World Champion was over 3-seconds back despite a less than perfect 5-minutes from Sobue. Viktor Wilck completed the Top 3 for the round by just 2/10ths of a second from Jilles Groskamp while Yokomo’s Meen Vejrak enjoyed his best qualifying result so far to breaking up an all Infinity Top 6 with P5.  Behind the Thai driver TITC debutant Ryosuke Yamamoto set the sixth fastest time ahead of the Yokomo’s of Nicholas Lee and Hayato Ishioka.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.

February 21, 2020

Sobue remains in control with another TQ run at TITC

Akio Sobue remains firmly in control at the TITC with the Infinity driver posting another TQ run for a perfect first day of qualifying at the Thai event.  Having taken the opening qualifier from team-mate Jilles Groskamp, the top seed was again quickest from the Dutch driver in the second of the day’s two qualifiers but this time with an even bigger margin of 3.1-seconds.  Having crashed out in the opening qualifier, Naoto Matsukura would complete the Top 3 after a mistake from team-mate Viktor Wilck on the final lap.  An all Infinity Top 6, the coronavirus having seen a lot of the race’s regular title contenders opting not to travel this year, Atsushi Hara took the top honours for the others setting the 7th fastest time with his HB Racing project car ahead of the Yokomo’s of Charlee Phutiyotin and Nicholas Lee.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.

February 21, 2020

Akio takes opening qualifier at TITC

Having topped seeding at the Infinity Addict Circuit yesterday, Akio Sobue carried his speed into qualifying at the TITC taking the opening round in Bangkok. The Infinity driver would TQ the first of the four qualifiers by 2.6-seconds from team-mate Jilles Groskamp with it an all Infinity Top 5. While Naoto Matsukura would break after contact with the track barriers, Viktor Wilck would set the third fastest time ahead of surprise of Q1,  Ryosuke Yamamoto.  Running in the 2nd fastest heat after being 12th fastest in seeding he would set the fourth fastest time ahead of Jin Sawada.  Best of the rest would be Yokomo’s Nicholas Lee who was a disappointed 6th ahead of team-mate Meen Vejrak.  Having shown strong in seeding with the second fastest time, Yokomo’s Souta Goto visibly struggled, quickly being passed on track by Groskamp and eventually posting the 9th fastest time.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.

February 20, 2020

Sobue tops seeding at TITC

Akio Sobue has topped seeding at the TITC, with the Infinity driver quickest from Yokomo’s Souta Goto over 3-consecutive laps of this year’s high speed layout at the Infinity Addict Circuit. In the first of the two controlled practice runs, the 2018 Champion was fastest from team-mate Naoto Matsukura but rocket round conditions for the second round produced a big improvement in times as Sobue went almost half a second clear, this time ahead of Goto who was placed in the slowest of the much depleted Modified field. Jilles Groskamp completed the Top 3 ahead of Viktor Wilck, while Matsukura, unable to better his opening time, dropped to fifth with Atsushi Hara completing the Top 6. Unfortunately the coronavirus has impacted hugely on the international entry at the 18th running of Asia’s most famous RC. Concerns over the health of their drivers in travelling to Asia means multiple champions Xray are not in attendance meaning we wont get the opportunity to watch Alexander Hagberg attempt to defend the title he won here last year. Also missing from the entry are TITC regulars and World Champions Bruno Coelho, Ronald Volker and Marc Rheinard.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.

February 19, 2020

DJ Apolaro TQs & wins at Florida Nitro Series Rd4

Last weekend saw the running of the fourth round of the Florida Nitro Series. In the 1/8th scale Pro class it was a tight battle for the TQ. Ultimately DJ Apolaro would take the overall TQ with Gianni Giorgio and Roniel Regalado coming in 2nd and 3rd respectively. For the main there was a little bit of a rain delay, but the organisers were able to get the race going, however they shortened the mains from 30 to 20 minutes and this made is possible to race. When the final started DJ had to pit after just the 4th lap for a quick tune and this would drop him to 6th, while this allowed Gianni and others to get up front with the lead. While leading Gianni would make an error just a few laps later, meanwhile DJ was working his way back to the front pack. After about 13 laps DJ was back to the front and was able to keep the lead till the end. In the end is was DJ Apolaro (Capricorn) 1st, Tony Rice (Shepherd) in 2nd some three laps down and Mike Strack (Xray) in 3rd just five seconds off Tony.

Thanks to DJ Apolaro for the report.

February 19, 2020

2019/20 Essex Winter Series Rd4 – Report

The penultimate round of the 2019/20 Essex Winter Series took place this weekend. With storm Dennis creating some difficult weather conditions around the country, the entry count ended up being a little lower than the usual full sell-out as some people were prevented from travelling. However, the competition was still close and battles for every position were important. Elliott Harper was already within touching distance of the overall Modified championship, but didn’t get the event off to the start he would need to secure the title on the day – making a number of mistakes in Q1. This allowed Kyle Branson to take the first round with his Capricorn, just ahead of the Yokomo of Harley Eldridge and the Awesomatix of Chris Grainger. Elliott took fourth, with Billy Fletcher, now confirmed as the Super Stock Champion, switching to Modified for the final events and taking a very impressive fifth in round.

Continue reading the report here

February 19, 2020

Russian Indoor Nationals – Report

The Russian Indoor Nationals were held in the city of Vladimir recently. The race saw the running of several electric on-road classes it was Maxim Laverychev with the overall TQ and win in the Touring Modified class from Denis Laverychev in 2nd place overall. Kirill Trofimov would complete the all-Awesomatix podium lock-out.

Continue reading the report here

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