Red RC » R On Road

March 10, 2023

Ongaro set for 1:8 GT Worlds with Gimar Engines

Best known for his offroad exploits, back to back 1:8 Buggy World Champion Davide Ongaro has announced a 1:8 GT only programme with Italian engine brand Gimar. Ongaro is the star driver for Team Associated and Japanese engine manufacturer OS Engines in offroad and has added two 1:8 Buggy World titles to both brands illustrious history but is joining forces with Giovanni Crea’s Gimar engines for a GT campaign that includes both the European and World Championships. A huge boost for the GT category which will run only its second ever World Championship later this year in Sydney, Australia, having Ongaro on the grid will be a massive profile raiser for the class. Kicking off his onroad exploits next week at the Italian GT Nationals, his Gimar Venus engine will be fitted to the chassis of another Italian brand Genius Racing – this same engine & chassis combination used by France’s Alain Arnaldi to become the 2022 European GT Champion. Like Ongaro, another driver best known for his Offroad achievements, Joern Nuemann is the reigning 1:8 GT World Champion.

Source: Gimar [rcgimar.com]

March 9, 2023

IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship Stage 1 Report

Later this year the IFMAR 1:8 Onroad Nitro World Championship will return after a prolonged 4-year break with the Infinity International RC Speedway in Japan hosting the 23rd edition of the RC racing’s original World Championship. The organisers of the event, lead by legendary race mechanic Masayuki Miura, has issued the Stage 1 Report and highlighted some important points for overseas drivers. Drivers are reminded to check whether they require a visa to enter Japan from their home country. With Covid, Japan was closed a long time and they have only opened up recently so there are still some rules around Covid and currently you need to be vaccinated to enter. This situation could change so persons planning to travel for the October 27 to November 5 event should check the ‘Visit Japan‘ website for latest government rules. Another important issue is the fuel. The organiser has two fuel brands available, Maxima and Nitrox from OS Engines. For logistic reasons they need to know asap the choice of each driver. Japan last hosted the 1:8 Onroad Worlds in 2013 when Tadahiko Sahashi took victory for Serpent. Last year he joined Adrien Bertin as the only driver to do the nitro double when he won the 1:10 Onroad title in Bangkok with Infinity. Winning the title in 2019 at the no longer existing Steel City RC Speedway, reigning 1:8 Champion & factory Mugen driver Shoki Takahata will be the first Japanese driver to try and defend his title on home soil. Japanese drivers have won the title 3 times since inaugural Worlds was held in 1977.

View Stage Report here

March 9, 2023

Nedrebø and Dahle crowned Norwegian Champions

Last weekend Stavanger Modelcar Club played host to the 2023 Norwegian Championships for 1:12 and Stock Touring Car with almost 90 drivers making the trip to Stavanger Raceway. While the focus was on the two official titles up for grabs the event also had support 1:12 Stock, FWD and 21.5 Touring Car. After four rounds of qualifying it was Andreas Byrne who secured the 1:12 TQ while Olav Dahle was Top Qualifier in Touring Car. The titles would be decided over triple mains with Mathias Nedrebø getting the better of Byrne to win the 1:12 title while Martin Sørlie completed the podium. In Touring Car Dahle made it a clean sweep to be crown Norwegian Champion from Fredrik Håvardsrud the original Touring Car Viking Helge Johannesen!

View Touring Car Podium here

March 8, 2023

Italian Indoor Championships – Announcement

ACI Sport, the Italian Motorsport Federation and member of the FIA, has announced that the first phase of the 2023 national sporting calendar for RC Car Racing, the one dedicated to indoor races, culminates with two appointments that will assign the titles of Italian Indoor Champion for 2023. The “TOURING EP” classes will race on 18/19 March and will see Modified, Stock, FWD and GT hit the track. On 2 April it will be “LMP & GT12” classes’ turn, with 1:12 Open Modified and GT12 contesting the titles. The RC Landia indoor track in Scandiano, best known for the annual international ‘Charity Race’ will host both races. Both events will offer prize money awarded by ACI Sport to the drivers crowned Italian Indoor Champions. €650 is on offer the Modified champion, €500 for Stock and €350 each for FWD and GT. In 1:12, Open Modified the Champion will also receive €650 with €350 on offer for GT12. Registration for both events is via MyRCM.

Source: ACI Sport [acisport.it]

March 7, 2023

Thurston wins EWS Season Finale – Report

The 2022/2023 Essex Winter Series concluded over the weekend with the fifth and final round of the popular British Indoor Series. In Modified, new Yokomo signing Alex Thurston gave his new team something to smile about as he topped the first three qualifying rounds. Already-crowned champion Kyle Branson took Q4 to secure second on the grid, with Kyle’s team-mate Harley Eldridge third overall and looking to secure the overall championship podium. The top five was made up of the Schumacher duo of Andy Murray and Chris Grainger. Alex led away the final, with the top two pulling away from the field. Alex initially built a small gap, but Kyle then reeled him in and for the final minute, there was a great battle as it looked like Kyle had the slightly faster car in the latter stages of the race. However, Alex kept his car on the racing line and Kyle wasn’t able to find a way past, leaving him to take the runner-up spot on the day. The victory confirmed Alex as second in the overall points standings, whilst behind Harley was best-of-the-rest in third, with Andy and Chris maintaining their starting positions to round out the top five – which directly translated into the same results in the overall championship.

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March 5, 2023

Volker crowned inaugural MIBO International Champion

Ronald Volker has been crowned the inaugural MIBO International Race Champion, the Mugen driver turning around his form for the Mains to dominate the final day in the Czech Republic. Having had a difficult Saturday, the former World Champion opened Sunday’s action with the fastest time of the weekend in the final qualifier to become Top Qualifier. Having denied Xray’s Antoine Brunet pole position, Volker would pull clear of the French driver in A1 as he took his first step towards the overall crown. A2 would be a repeat, with no one able to chase down Volker. With the title in the bag, Volker wasn’t done completing the perfect day to put his car at the top of the results sheets for a fourth time. Behind, Brunet would be rewarded for a great effort in Hrotovice with second overall ahead of Xray team-mate Oliver Havranek. Showing good pace Eric Daniel would finish 4th in front of Christopher Krapp, the Yokomo driver having a character building few days.

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March 5, 2023

Volker takes TQ from Brunet at MIBO International

Ronald Volker is the Top Qualifier for the inaugural MIBO International Race. The Mugen driver claimed pole position in the Czech Republic when he posted the fastest TQ run of the weekend in the fifth & final qualifier this morning (Sunday). His second TQ run equalling the tally of Xray’s Antoine Brunet, it was the only 25-lap run of the weekend that gave the German the tie break over his French rival here in Hrotovice. Summing up the deciding run, Volker said, ‘there was some pressure going on as I needed to TQ that one. In the beginning Eric (Dankel) was all over, he had great pace. I managed to keep it a clean run and as I hoped the track was slightly quicker than yesterday’. Looking to the triple finals, the former World Champion said, ‘this is a very very tough track because of the boards so it is important to have as easy a car as I can. As always on carpet it is not too easy to pass so once I have a car I can hold my line I should be good. Obviously I am hoping to not find myself in the position of having to defend’.

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March 4, 2023

Volker takes Q1 from Dankel at MIBO International

Ronald Volker has taken the opening round of qualifying at the MIBO International Race, the German topping the times from fellow Mugen driver Eric Dankel. Behind, No.2 seed Antoine Brunet would set the third fastest time from Xray team-mate Oliver Havranek, the latter having been at the top the timing screen for the early part of the heat. Third fastest in seeding Christopher Krapp suffered with his driving in Q1, report his Yokomo as working fine he made three mistakes that left him only 15th fastest. Summarising his run, Volker said, ‘it started off slow, I’m not sure why, but then I had a nice clean run’. Topping the first of the five qualification rounds by 1.1 seconds from Dankel, the former World Champion plans to try a different tyre prep for his second attempt in the hope of getting his car to to speed quicker than in Q1. He said, ‘Unlike other races the additive and cleaner here is open so I will slightly change my tyre prep plus I will also switch to a harder diff.’

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