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February 11, 2024

Berton wins Montpellier GP

Infinity’s Riccardo Berton has won the Montepellier GP, the Italian winning the 18th running of the French classic ahead of reigning European Champion Juan Carlos Canas and reigning World Champion Davide Ongaro. In qualifying it was the Sworkz of Canas that secured the TQ topping two of the 4 rounds after rain forced the cancellation of Q5. Fastest in Q3, Berton took 2nd followed by the Xray of David Ronnefalk who mastered the Circuit du MBM in Q4. Aiming his third Montepellier GP win in a row, Ongaro’s Team Associated ended up 4th. Winning his Semi B Final, the top 3 setting faster times than the winning time Canas in the Semi A, it was 2016 winner Berton who lined up on pole position for the 1-hour 14 buggy final ahead of Ongaro, Jonny Skidmore with Canas P4. In an exciting final Canas would be the long time race leader but with his OGO tyres equipped pre-production IFB8, Berton went to the first in the last third of the race to secure the win by just over 1-second from his Spanish rival. After a rough start that left him at the back of the pack, Ongaro set the fastest lap of the race to recover and complete the podium at the European 1:8 Offroad season opener. Making it four different manufacturers in the Top 4, Mugen’s Burak Kilic finished fourth ahead of Elliott Boots and Theo Lemaire.

Image: Circuit du MBM [Facebook]

February 11, 2024

Lutz opens Asian Buggy C/ships campaign with NZ win

Kyosho’s Ryan Lutz got his Asian Buggy Championships campaign off to the perfect start with victory at the season opener in New Zealand. After the inaugural ABC in 2023, the expanded four round 2024 season has been upgraded to full championship status with Lutz taking maximum points from Round 1 which was hosted by the Counties RC track in Auckland. Putting his Alpha powered MP10 on pole for the 45-minute Nitro Buggy Final ahead of Tekno’s Caleb Noble and Kyosho team-mate Kyle McBride, Lutz would go on to dominate the race. McBride had managed to stay with Lutz until the first round of pitstops but as the second stop approached ran out of fuel and lost a lap as a result something that would happen again to the Aussie later in the race. Early drive shaft issues put Caleb out of contention with his race over at 25-minutes and so it was the HB Racing of top New Zealand qualifier Logan Toia that came through to finish second. Recovering from his fuel dramas, McBride complete the podium just ahead of the Xray of Jayden Jamieson. In eBuggy, Lutz made it a double clean sweep winning from the TQ spot ahead of Noble and McBride. In Nitro Truggy, Top Qualifier Jamieson got the win ahead of Shane O’Connor while eTruggy honours went to the Xray of Kenley Brown. Round 2 of the Asian Buggy Championships travels to the Philippines in the middle of April for Asia’s biggest and most famous offroad race the Philippine Masters where Lutz will be aiming to extend his championship lead. Red RC will be returning to Manila again in 2024 to coverage all the action from the always impressive Circulo Verde track.

Source: Asian Buggy Championships [Facebook]

February 10, 2024

Lutz TQ at Asian Buggy Championships opener

Kyosho’s Ryan Lutz is the Top Qualifier at the opening round of the Asian Buggy Championships in New Zealand. The first international 1:8 Offroad event to be held in the country, the American secured the overall TQ in nitro buggy in dominant fashion his Alpha engined MP10 topping all four rounds of qualifying at the Counties RC in Auckland. The first of the four rounds on the extended 2024 ABC calendar, with stops in the Philippines, Australia and Indonesia making up the rest of the ambitious championship, Lutz’s main challenge was to come from Aussie pairing Caleb Noble and Kyle McBride. Driving his Tekno, Noble posted three P2 runs two of which were just a second off the TQ pace. Returning to his first international since the World Championship in Spain in 2022, McBride took his Kyosho to a P2 run in the final qualifier. Heading the local charge was Jayden Jamieson, the New Zealander taking his Xray fourth at the end of qualifying ahead of fellow Kiwi Logan Toia. In eBuggy it was also Lutz who secured the TQ while in Nitro Truggy it was Jamieson top came out on top.

Source: Asian Buggy Championships [Facebook]

February 8, 2024

Associated confirm Haatanen for MIBO International

Team Associated has confirmed they will be represented at the upcoming MIBO International Race in the Czech Republic with the news that Joona Haatanen will make his debut at the second edition of the event. The Finnish driver is the first team driver from the iconic offroad manufacturer to attend MIBO International and is the latest addition to what is turning into a very competitive field for the offroad side of the unique double track build. A long time Team Associated supported driver, Haatanen had been absent from racing due to serving Finland’s mandatory military service but came back in impressive style with a strong showing at the recent EOS rounds. Running from February 16-18, the event will see Haatanen fly the Associated flag against official team entries from Schumacher, Sworkz and Xray. Having covered last year’s inaugural MIBO International, Red RC is looking forward to covering what is set to be much more intense offroad battle for top honours in Hrotovice.

Source: MIBO [mibosport.com]

February 7, 2024

Schumacher bolster MIBO entry with Kobbevik & livonen

Schumacher Racing has bolstered its entry for the upcoming MIBO International Race in the Czech Republic with the news Daniel Kobbevik and Pekko Iivonen will join Michal Orlowski at the second edition of the event on February 16-18th. Having the British manufacturer previously confirming Orlowski would be taking on the event’s unique double track build, racing for both the onroad and offroad titles, he will be joined by Kobbevik in offroad and Iivonen in Touring Car. A multiple Norwegian National Champion and former European Championship Top Qualifier, Kobbevik will be in the mix for Schumacher against strong opposition led by Sworkz’ Joern Neumann. The 2023 Finnish Modified Touring Car National Champion, Iivonen has had a strong start to the 2024 season making the A-Main at the recent ETS Daun and he will be hoping to build on that as he goes up against the likes of Orlowski, Mugen Seiki’s Ronald Volker and Yokomo’s Christophet Krapp at the Sports V Hotel venue in Hrotovice.

Source: MIBO [mibosport.com]

February 5, 2024

British GT12 Nationals RD5 Stafford – Report

The fifth and final round of the British GT12 National Championship took place at Stafford RCMCC on the 28th January 2024. A fantastic turnout with 50 GT12 and 6 minis in support. Despite the championship already being decided it was all to race for as some spots were still up for grabs. The day consisted of the usual format with 1 practice, 4 qualifying and 1 final for all racers. Round one kicked off on a cold track, with Ewan Thompson taking the early advantage, recording the only 27 lap run in the first round. Although Sam Coult and Alex Robertson were in hot pursuit. On to round two and the top three were shuffled around with Sam Coult moving into P1, Alex into P2 and Ewan into P3 with only these three drivers hitting 27 laps.

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February 5, 2024

Lia takes 1:12 title at Snowbird Nationals

Donny Lia has won the 1:12 title at this year’s Snowbird Nationals in Florida, the Awesomatix driver taking the win ahead of Schumacher’s Ollie Payne and Xray’s Alexander Hagberg. Finishing on the podium last year when Marc Rheinard took the win ahead of Hagberg, Lia would qualify third for this year’s event as Bruno Coelho took the TQ from former 1:12 World Champion Hagberg. With a single 8-minute final to decide the 30th running of the world famous event, by lap 4 Lia was in front where he would stay til the finish having built up a 2.4-second advantage over second place which went to Payne, the British driver having started P4. While Hagberg completed the podium, Coelho ended up P5 behind Keven Herbert who would become this year’s Snowbirds Mod Touring Car Champion. The organiser of the annual MonTech NYGP in at 360V2 in New York, Lia’s win continues Awesomatix’ multiple year run of 1:12 titles at the Snowbird Nationals.

Source: Donny Lia [Facebook]

February 4, 2024

Hebert wins ’30th edition’ of Snowbird Nationals

Celebrating it 30th edition, the world famous Snowbird Nationals in Orlando, Florida, saw Xray’s Keven Hebert take the win in Modified Touring Car ending the winning run of reigning World Champion Bruno Coelho. In qualifying it was Hebert who secured the TQ. Running to the FTQ format, the Canadian set the fastest time of the four rounds of qualifying on the third of his attempts. With Coelho suffering a DNF in Q3, the 2022 and 2023 Champion would count his Q2 time which was 1.5-seconds off Hebert’s impressive pace. Setting his best time in the final qualifier Alexander Habgberg completed the Top 3 for the single A-main grid. Setting the fastest lap of the race from the front, Hebert was able to gap the field for a convincing 1.8 seconds win over Coelho with Hagberg making it an all Xray podium.

Image: Bruno Coelho [Facebook]