April 23, 2025

Coelho confirmed for SIGP Onroad Race

Sunpadow Batteries has confirmed that 3-time Touring Car World Champion Bruno Coelho will return for its annual Sunpadow International RC Onroad Grand Prix in China having won the event on its return last year.  Taking place in Xiamen from June 18-22, Infinity driver Coelho will chase his third consecutive touring car win at the event which continues to offer one of the biggest prizes in the sport.  The race hands out a total prize fund of $25,000 over the categories that include 1:10 Modified Touring Car, 1:10 Stock Touring Car, 1:8 GP onroad, and 1:8 GT.  The SIGP Onroad Race, the track also hosting a separate SIGP Offroad event later in the year, takes place at the 2017 1:10 Electric Offroad World Championship ARC Track with both the onroad and offroad tracks built side by side next to Sunpadow’s battery production facility.

Source: Sunpadow [sunpadow.com]


April 22, 2025

ABC winners Lutz & Kato bolster Philippine Masters entry

Two of the winners from last year’s Asian Buggy Championships are both set to return at the Philippine Masters later this month with Kyosho’s Ryan Lutz and Infinity’s Kouki Kato bolstering the Manila events already impressive international entry.  The biggest edition Philippine Masters yet is the second round of the four round Cayote backed Asian Buggy Championships with last year’s New Zealand round winner Lutz returning to the Circulo Verde Race Track while ABC Indonesia winner Kato will get to experience the famed track for the first time.  The 13th running of Asia’s biggest annual 1:8 Offroad race meeting, Lutz said, ‘I am so excited to be returning to the Philippine Masters for a second time.  Now knowing what to expect, I can arrive with a set-up that should be very close and with the correct tire compound and tread pattern that I will need to succeed.  I can’t wait to compete again with some of the World’s best on one of the most beautiful R/C tracks in the World.’  Ahead of the Japanese driver’s Philippine Masters debut Kato said, ‘I’m excited to race on that amazing track for the first time! I look forward to seeing you all there.’

Source: Asian Buggy Championships [Facebook]


April 21, 2025

Haberg confirmed for eSIC debut

Two time World Champion Alexander Hagberg is the latest driver to be confirmed for the Electric Singapore International Challenge (eSIC), the factory Xray driver set to make his debut at the third edition of race on July 12-13.   A race that continues to establish itself as a key race on the international touring car calendar, 2025 will mark the first factory representation at the event which is the headed up by Singapore’s touring car racer Nicholas Lee together with Chhua Jookiah.  Racing at the Marine Parade Radio Control Modellers Club track, the event has attracted official team entries from Mugen Seiki, Infinity, Awesomatix, Yokomo, ARC and Xpress and in 2025 adds both Axon, with  Hayato Ishioka, and Xray whose challenge will be led by Hagberg.  On the confirmation of his trip to Singapore, the Swede said, ‘Looking forward to racing in Singapore again after a few years!  The eSIC has established itself as one of the most competitive Asian TC events.  Can’t wait to be a part of it – and to meet both old & new friends as well as Xray customers and team drivers! See you in Singapore in July!’

Source: eSIC [Facebook]


April 17, 2025

Cavalieri set for Philippine Masters debut

Four-time IFMAR Offroad World Champion Ryan Cavalieri is set to make his first appearance at the famed Philippine Masters which takes place from April 30 -May 4th.  The American is the fourth World Champion confirmed for the 13th running of the Manila based event joining David Ongaro, Atsushi Hara and Naoto Matsukura for what is the biggest edition of Asia’s most prominent annual offroad race.  Joining Invisible Speed, the car set-up platform created in 2020 by Joseph Quagraine, for 2025 as the brand’s first Pro driver and running Mayako buggies on the announcement he is going to the Philippines for the very first time, the race the second round of the Cayote backed Asian Buggy Championships, Cavalieri said, “Really looking forward to my first trip to race the Philippines Masters.  I have always followed the event and have tried several times to come but my race calendar was always busy around the same time with other events. I’m happy to finally make the trip this year.”

Source: Asian Buggy Championships [Facebook]


April 16, 2025

ABC Champion Wolhunter returns at Philippine Masters

Having clinched the 2024 Asian Buggy Championships title at the season finale in Indonesia last October after a consistent campaign, Sworkz’s Christian Wolhuter will get his title defence underway at the upcoming Philippine Masters.  Having opted to miss the season opener in New Zealand last month, the Australian returns to Manila for Asia’s biggest annual 1:8 Offroad race having finished fifth last year behind team-mate Joern Nuemann at the Circulo Verde Race Track.  Both the Champion of Nitro and eBuggy in the Cayote backed championship, the 18-year-old will be looking to build on his breakthrough international season and looking to his first away race of 2025 said, “Feeling ready for the Philippine Masters 2025 event, with a lot of travel last year and a good start to this year, I have high hopes. With high competition, it is going to be a long, tough fight throughout qualifying and finals. Edward Sio has always put on a killer event through accommodation and, most importantly, the track. Good luck to everyone participating.”

Source: Asian Buggy Championships [Facebook]


April 14, 2025

2025 IFMAR 1:8 GT Worlds – Stage 1 Report

The Stage 1 report for the IFMAR 1:8 GT World Championships which take place in Santiago, Chile, later this year has been published by host club Club of Aeromodelos of Chile (CACH).  The 3rd edition of the championships takes place at country’s very impressive CACH facility which houses a variety of RC tracks and airfields and which will also host the 1:8 Onroad Worlds 2-months after the GT event.  Reigning Champion Toni Gruber, who won his title in Sydney, has confirmed he is to travel to South America to defend his title with Hong Nor as has 2023 Top Qualifier Alex D’Angelo who will lead the challenge of Capricorn.  Starting on September 14th with IPD, the race will run over the next 6 days with September 21st (Sunday) reserved as a rain day.  As yet no controlled tyre has confirmed for the event.

View Stage report here


April 14, 2025

Hara back for 2025 Philippine Masters

After making his first major international offroad final in many years & claiming a hugely popular podium at last year’s Philippine Masters, Atsushi Hara is returning to Asia’s biggest annual 1:8 Offroad race.  Hara would lead for almost half of the 1-hour main at the famed Circulo Verde Race Track in Manila before the former World Champion was passed by current World Champion Davide Ongaro.  Eventually taking 3rd place in the nitro buggy final, the legend of the sport was truly rejuvenated by the whole experience of the weekend.  With the 13th edition of the Philippine Masters once again the second round of Scotty Ernst’s Asian Buggy Championships, which this year is boosted by title sponsor from Cayote who are also one of Hara’s main sponsors, on his return to the race Hara said, “I am very happy to be going to Masters again this year.  The Philippine Masters is my favorite 1/8 buggy race because of the great organization by the race director Scotty Ernst with his team, the great facilities, and the great people.  I am also excited to be able to compete at a high level with the world’s best drivers like Ongaro and other top drivers from around the world.”  The Philippine Masters takes place from April 30 -May 4th with Ongaro going for his 5th win of the race.

Source: Asian Buggy Championships [Facebook]


April 11, 2025

Matsukura confirmed for Philippine Masters debut

Infinity’s Naoto Matsukura has been confirmed to make his Philippine Masters debut later this month at the 13th running of Asia’s biggest annual 1:8 Offroad race meeting.  The second round of the Cayote sponsored Asian Buggy Championships, Matsukura got his first taste of the championship last year when he complete at the season finale in Indonesia where Infinity team-mate Kouki Kato took the win.  Now the multiple World Champion will tackle the famed Circulo Verde Race Track in Manila which is the work of track designer and accomplished offroad racer Edward Sio.  Commenting in his Philippine Masters debut Matsukura said, ‘I’m excited for the first time to join the Philippine Masters!  It’s also my first time going to the Philippines.  I’m looking forward to racing at such a great event, and having some good battles with the top drivers.’

Source: Asian Buggy Championships [Facebook]