February 17, 2024

Orlowski from Volker in Q1 at MIBO International

Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski has kicked off qualifying at MIBO International with a TQ run in Modified Touring Car ahead of Mugen Seiki’s Ronald Volker.  Making his debut at the Czech race, the very much on foam multiple discipline racer survived an up on two wheels moment to top the 5-minute qualifier by 1.8-seconds ahead of the defending Champion.  Following up on his pace in practice, Pekko Iivonen completed the Top 3 while Patrick Gollner lead the charge from Xray with four fastest time ahead of team-mates Jan Ratheirsky and Martin Hudy.

Continue reading report here


February 16, 2024

Volker tops MIBO practice while Xray leads Offroad

The second edition of MIBO International got underway at 17:00 this evening in the Czech Republic with Mugen Seiki’s Ronald Volker setting the pace on the onroad track as Xray led the charge on the offroad track.  Packing in 5 rounds of practice before drivers retired to the Sports V Hotel’s bar and restaurant to socialise & discuss a plan of attack for the rest of the event, defending Champion Volker set the fastest 3-consecutive laps ahead of Schumacher pairing Michal Orlowski and Pekko Iivonen.  On the track layout, which is getting a very favourable reaction from drivers, it was the Xray of Patrick Gollner that was fourth fastest ahead of Jan Ratheisky and the factory Yokomo of Christopher Krapp.  Over on the offroad half of the hall, in 2WD Buggy it was the star of last year’s inaugural event Bartosz Zalewski who set the pace from his car’s design Martin Bayer followed by a gaggle of MIBO International race debutants that included Schumacher’s Daniel Kobbevik, Sworkz’ Jörn Neumann, Team Associated’s Joona Haatanen and Sworkz’s Micha Widmaier.  Former European Champion Bayer was fastest in 4WD followed by veteran Hupo Honigl completing the Top 3 ahead of Haatanen and Zalewski.

Continue reading report here


February 15, 2024

Track prep underway for 1:8 Buggy Worlds in Brazil

It might not be until September but work has already begun in Brazil on preparing the track for this year’s IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship.  Hosts São Paulo Automodeling Association has completely cleared the existing Casa Raceway track in the city of São Paulo and have started work on creating a new track that will be used to decide the 19th running of the most important race in the sport.  Scheduled for September 08-14, it is sometimes overlooked the amount of advanced work that goes into putting on a World Championship race.  This is the first time 1:8 Offroad has returned to South America since Argentina in 2012.  Robert Batlle was the winner on that occassion but it was a controversial event over shadowed by poor organisation and customs issues so it is good to see the 2024 hosts already at work.  The championship’s only back to back Champion, Team Associated’s Davide Ongaro will chase a hat trick in São Paulo and Red RC are already excited about attending the event and reporting on how his quest unfolds.

View start of new start work here


February 15, 2024

Orlowski to head ‘Charity Race’ entry

The organisers of the annual ‘Charity Race’ in Italy have announced that last year’s winner and new 1:12 World Champion Michal Orlowski will head the 2024 entry on March 2/3.  A race that has raised thousands of euros for local charities includes Ronald Volker, Marc Rheinard, Bruno Coelho, Alexander Hagberg and Viktor Wilck as previous winners and has always been popular with factory drivers given its positive charity element.  Set to make his MIBO International debut this weekend in the Czech Republic, Orlowski won the 12th edition of the ‘Charity Race’ at the RC Landia indoor carpet track in Scandiano from Schumacher team-mate Mattia Collina.  Organised by Team La Gang, the event has classes Modified, Stock 17.5T, FWD, GT10, 1:12 and GT12.

Source: Team La Gang [teamlagang.it]


February 13, 2024

MIBO International ’24 – Offroad track reveal

Ahead of this weekend’s second edition of the MIBO International Race, the organisers of the Czech Republic event has revealed the offroad track layout on which this year’s competitive driver line-up with battle it out for honours.  Unveiling 2-weeks ago the onroad track it will be built next to, the offroad layout is the creation of event organiser Michal Bok, with the carpet track featuring 10-jumps.  Taking place in the Sports V Hotel in Hrotovice and starting Friday evening, the stage for two & half day event is set for some great battles in 2WD and 4WD Buggy between Schumacher pairing Michal Orolwski & Daniel Kobbevik, Sworkz duo Joern Neumann & Micha Widmaier, Team Associated’s Joona Haatanen and Xray’s star of the 2023 MIBO International Bartek Zalewski.

See overhead view of track layout here


February 13, 2024

European 1:8 Electric Buggy C/Ship – Stage 1 Report

Fresh from hosting its annual European 1:8 Nitro Buggy season opening Montpellier Grand Prix over the weekend, Circuit du MBM’s Stage 1 report for the 2024 1:8 Electric Buggy European Championship has been published by EFRA.  The 8th running of the title race for the category, the famous 300m French track will host the championship on June 07-09.  In 2023, Michal Orlowski became the 6th different winner of the title when he took victory at the Rhein-Main Circuit in Germany ahead of Top Qualifier Bruno Coelho and Burak Kilic.  To-date David Ronnefalk is the only driver to win the time twice after successfully defending his title in 2017.  Reigning European 1:8 Nitro Buggy Champion Juan Carlo Canas won the title in 2022 taking over the reign from Nitro World Champion Davide Ongaro.  With information about the track location, local accommodation and travel information you can view the full stage report here.

View Championship winners here


February 12, 2024

Zalewski heads Xray challenge for MIBO International

Defending MIBO International Offroad Champions Xray has announced its team for the second edition of the upcoming Czech Republic based event.  At the inaugural running of the event Bruno Coelho won both 2WD and 4WD buggy ahead of young Xray talent Bartek Zalewski who kept the multiple World Champion honest.  Securing the 2WD TQ last year, now Zalewski will head the Slovakian’s offroad efforts.  Enjoying a podium double at the recent EOS Daun, the on-form Zalewski will resume his battles with Schumacher’s Michal Orlowki and Team Associated’s Joona Haatanen with Sworkz’ Joern Neumann joining the mix at the Sports V Hotel in Hrotovice.  The Polish teenager will be joined by Xray’s Max Gotzl and lead offroad chassis designer Martin Bayer.  An event that sees a double track build allowing offroad and onroad to race side by side, in the onroad competition Xray will be represented by Martin Hudy, Jan Ratheisky, David Ehbrar and newly crowned Snowbirds FWD Champion Stefan Schulz.

Source: MIBO [mibosport.com]


February 12, 2024

Thurston wins Rug Racers Round 4

Team Yokomo’s Alex Thurston has won the penultimate round of the popular UK series Rug Racers organised by Hertford Radio Car Club.  In the FTQ format qualifying, it was the Schumacher of OIlie Payne who took the overall TQ for the fourth round ahead of Thurston and Round 2 winner Elliott Harper.  With double A-Main finals,  A1 would see a great pass by Thurston that would get his Hobbywing powered BD12 to the front where he would stay to the finish to win ahead of Harper’s Schumacher and Round 1 winner Harley Eldbridge’s Xray.  With a mistake dropping Payne to P4, for A2 Thurston knew all he need to do was sit behind his rival to secure his first win of the current series.  Taking A2 by just 0.2 of a second from Thurston, Payne with secure second with former World Championship podium finisher Harper completing the modified podium.

Image: Alex Thurston [Facebook]