November 2, 2023

Hong Nor X3GTS height-adjustable anti-roll bar

Hong Nor has released a new height-adjustable anti-roll bar for its World Championship winning X3GTS 1:8 GT chassis.  Used by newly crowned World GT Champion Toni Gruber in Sydney last month, it not only allows the car to maintain a better balance but also allows for more delicate adjustments of the car set-up.  Hong Nor offer four front anti roll bars for the car, 2.0, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.8mm, and four rear anti roll bars, 2.3, 2.5, 2.8 and 3.0mm.

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]


October 24, 2023

Lin wins 2023 Futaba/O.S. Cup

Taiwan’s largest event of the year was held over the weekend at the Erchong Floodway track in New Taipei City, where Hong Nor’s owner Hsiang Lin took the win in 1:8 GT.  The annual Futaba/O.S. Cup attracted almost 80 drivers from Taiwan and Singapore, and just back from Australia after watching his team driver Toni Gruber claim the IFMAR 1:8 GT World Championship with their X3-GTS, Lin took his own explain to both the TQ and win.  Making it back to back wins of the event, Lin was joined on the all Hong Nor/Ielasi tuned podium by Su Jiahong and 3rd placed Liú Qiáozhì.

Image: Hong Nor [Facebook]


October 14, 2023

Gruber is GT World Champ with master class Down Under

Toni Gruber is the new IFMAR 1:8 GT World Champion, the Hong Nor driver taking his first World title with an absolutely dominant and perfectly executed drive in Sydney, Australia.   Disappointed at missing out on the TQ in qualifying but managing to book his direct starting position in the final by winning Super Pole, the German driver led the 1-hour final from start to finish after getting the holeshot on Top Qualifier Alex D’angelo.  It was to be a difficult race for the Genius Racing driver, his race hampered by flame outs resulting in 6th place at the finish.  A lap up on the entire field after 20-minutes, Gruber extended that to 2 laps by 40-minutes, with the attention on the battle for second between home hero Jeff Hamon and his young Serpent team-mate Andrea Catanzani who put in a sensation drive in the Semi final to go from last to winning it.  A driver to call time, his 2-speed needing adjustment, Hamon had to start the race from the No.11 box on the grid as a result but worked his way through to second with World’s rookie Catanzani marking his arrival to the world by completing the podium.  For out going champion Joern Neumann it wasn’t to be a good race, the Sworkz driver suffered a number flame outs during his refuelling stops and after an off 17-minutes in some slow marshalling saw his engine stop costing the German a lap.  In the end he would finish 8th 12-laps down on Gruber.

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October 11, 2023

Gruber TQ’s opening qualifier at GT Worlds

Having laid down his intentions with the fastest time in this morning’s final practice, Hong Nor’s Toni Gruber delivered a TQ run in the opening round of qualifying at the 1:8 GT World Championship in Sydney.  Despite run time for the 7-minute qualifiers a concern for everyone, the early pace was blistering and drivers would later pay.  Gruber pushed hard by Andrea Catanzani clearly managed the situation best as extra hot temperatures today added to the challenge and his work with engine tuner Daniele Ielasi clearly paying off.  A whole host of drivers came to a halt in the dying moments as they ran dry, the first of them being defending World Champion Joern Neumann.  Behind Gruber it would be Alex D’angelo who was second fastest as the Genius Racing team looked to have finally found their way.  Team-mate Bernard-Alain Arnaldi also had a strong Q1 securing P4 behind Top Seed Jeff Hamon who would suffer his second brakes issue of the event.

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September 25, 2023

Hong Nor Covered Serrated Wheel Nuts

Hong Nor has released new Covered Serrated Wheel Nuts.  The brand which has become heavily involved in the 1:8 GT category is offering the wheel nuts in black or red colour options with the texture design on the bottom of the nut allowing the wheel rims to be locked tightly.

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]


September 7, 2023

Hong Nor X3 GTS 13-46T Spiral Bevel Gear Set

Hong Nor has added a new optional 13-46T Spiral Bevel Gear Set for its X3 GTS 2023 1:8 GT kit.  Hong Nor has added the new ration in order to adapt to racetracks around the world with the 13-46 gear ratio assisting drivers to achieve higher speed in medium and small scale tracks, and also reduces the load on the engine to attain better fuel consumption.

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]


June 28, 2023

Hong Nor sign Mirko Morgenstern

Following on from the signing of former Large Scale World Champion Russell Grenenger last month, Hong Nor has announced that former front running nitro onroad racer Mirko Morgenstern has joined their team.  The German driver will campaign Hong Nor’s electric GTSe ’23 1:8 GT chassis and commenting on his move to the team said, “I’ve been watching Hong nor for a while. The Gruber-Racing team has done a great job over the last 2 years and has consistently placed the chassis further ahead in the races. in addition, the development of the chassis is really great. After a few talks with team manager Pasquale Kögel, who explained the chassis to me in more detail, I made everything clear with team boss Toni Gruber I’m also looking forward to the time with the GTSe ’23 and hope for maximum success.”

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]


May 30, 2023

Hong Nor sign large scale World Champion Grenenger

In this 1:8 GT World Championship year, Hong Nor has made a significant signing in Australian driver Russell Grenenger.  In collaboration with with Speedy RC, the 2015 IFMAR Large Scale World Champion joining the Hong Nor Factory Team and will drive the new Hong Nor X3GTS 2023 World Edition at future Australian state and national events to prepare for the GT 2023 IFMAR World Championship in Sydney, Australia.  Commenting on joining Hong Nor, Grenenger said “I’m delighted to join the team and take on this new challenge. Hong Nor has been amazing to deal with, and very supportive of feedback and testing. I look forward to seeing how my many years of on-road large-scale, and more recently 1/8th IC on-road transfers over into the 1/8 GT class. I would like to thank Hong Nor and SpeedyRC Online Store for this opportunity”.

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]