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August 22, 2009

Worlds Final grid completed

The 10 drivers that will line-up and fight it out for the 2009 IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World title have been decided after two dramatic Semi Finals here in Switzerland. The first of the 30 minute affairs was won by Japanese ace Takaaki Shimo but that was only after early leader & pole sitter Paolo Morganti broke an engine 5-minutes in while looking in control. This gave Josh Cyrul the lead but his Shepherd stripped a rear belt with 12-minutes to go handing Shimo’s OS powered Kyosho the lead. Adrien Bertin, who called for a delayed start which put him to the back of the grid, pulled off a stunning drive. Coming from the 1/4 Finals he finished second recording the fastest lap of the two Semis. Always in contention for a Top 3 finish Robin D’hondt claimed the third place in a run time that was good enough to secure the 20-year-old Motonica driver 8th spot on the Main Final grid.

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August 21, 2009

Xray Challenge New Jersey

Last weekend saw the largest gathering for an Xray Challenge to date with 94 entries, including a few multi-time national champions, in what would turn out to be 15 hours of non-stop action. Organized by Ed Bernard, Alex Valdes, and the volunteer crew at the Jackson R/C Racing venue in New Jersey, the event was attended by racers from the surrounding states upwards of 7 hours away. RC America, the exclusive distributor of Xray and Hudy products, sent in the one and only Paul Lemieux to help racers fine tune their racing programs and share stories of races past with the faithful gathering of electric and nitro disciples.

Continue reading the report here

August 21, 2009

Worlds field reduced to Final 38

Today was for many the one on which their World Championship dreams came to an end with a number of big names failing to make it through to tomorrow’s main day when, weather permitting, the 16th 1:8 Onroad World Champion will be crowned. Running through the lower finals the day closed with the 1:8 Finals with the Top 3 finishers enjoying the elation of progressing to the big day. First driver to secure a place in the 1/4 Finals was Thai driver Meen Vejrak. A finalist at the electric touring car Worlds, the Mugen driver won ahead of fast female driver Sabrina Lechner who was delighted to progress.

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August 20, 2009

Pietsch is Worlds Top Qualifier

Factory Mugen/Novarossi driver Robert Pietsch will start the 2009 IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship from pole position on Saturday ahead of defending Champion Lamberto Collari. Setting his time in the penultimate qualifier this morning the result was made official when his rivals failed to better the German’s 30 lap run in the sixth & final round. Coming to Switzerland as the pre race favourite Piestch, who was a direct qualifier at the 2005 Worlds, said it was an incredible feeling to be on pole ahead of such a legendary driver as eight time World Champion Collari. In the final round of qualifying Pietsch pulled up early as the track proved slower and his Novarossi started to run lean.

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August 20, 2009

Pietsch breaks 30 laps in Q5

He was on target for it in Q3 yesterday but misheard the timing computer and pitted before completing the full 10-minutes, but this morning in the penultimate qualifier Robert Pietsch became the first driver to set down a 30 lap run. The German ace was clearly delighted with the impressive run saying his Mugen was perfect for the conditions. Paying compliments to his pitman for two perfect fuel stops, the factory driver feels it will be very difficult to better the time in the last qualifier with the forecast predicted today as the hottest of the championships.

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August 19, 2009

Incomplete run nets Pietsch new TQ!

Despite failing to complete the full 10-minutes in the third round of qualifying Robert Pietsch has bettered his overnight TQ time. This morning’s cooler track conditions lived up to expectations with the majority of the front runners setting down quicker times. Starting the heat in last position Pietsch’s Mugen was on for a 30 lap run but on his last lap the computer announced the race over and the German came into the pits but that was not the case for the No.3 car. Afterwards he said the computer announcements are not very clear in the rostrum but wasn’t too upset about missing out on the 30 lapper saying his 29/9:59.566 was just as good.

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August 18, 2009

‘Perfect’ qualifier for Pietsch in Switzerland

Robert Pietsch believes he has just driven the best qualifier of his racing career after the Mugen driver produced a 29/10:03.705 run to move into povisional pole for the World Championships here in Lostallo. The German ace, who took TQ honours at the Warm Up race back in June, said the run was faultless and his MRX-4X was superb. Despite the engine being slightly to rich on the bottom end in the second qualifier, the factory Novarossi driver feels it will be extremely hard to beat the time even in the expected cooler conditions tomorrow with the Warm Up TQ time being slower in temperatures 10 degrees lower than it is here now in Switzerland.

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August 18, 2009

Collari TQs opening round at Lostallo

With a CV like his its no big surprise that defending World Champion Lamberto Collari has opened qualifying for the 2009 IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship with a TQ run. Having ended up 140th in practice yesterday, the Team Kyosho driver said ‘thats a little better’ after posting his 29/10:08.301 run. The Italian who is chasing his ninth World title here this week in Switzerland said he will change the set-up on his Novarossi powered Evolva to try and make it easier to drive for today’s other qualifier.

View our full event coverage here.