July 3, 2023

Berg leads Mayako 1-2 at NXC Grand Prix

Hampus Berg led a Mayako 1-2 at the annual NXC Grand Prix in Denmark over the weekend taking the win from defending champion David Ronnefalk.  Organised by Hilleröd RC Club at the same venue that hosted the 1:8 Offroad European Championships way back in 1988, this year’s edition of the 1:8 Offroad event attracted over 140 entries including Infinity’s Ricky Berton.  In qualifying it was Ronnefalk who secured the TQ from his team-mate after topping 3 of the 4 qualifiers that ran, Q3 being rained out.  Berton would end up P3, the 2019 European Champion’s best run coming in Q4 when he was second fastest behing Berg.  Winning his wet Semi in the fastest time, Ronnefalk started pole for the 45-minute final ahead of Berg, Berton and Xray’s Pelle Culmsee.  While starting out wet, the track would dry with Berg able to eke out a lead over the former World Champion that was 12-seconds at the finish despite Ronnefalk having the fastest lap of the race.  Berton, almost a lap down, would complete the podium with Culmsee finish fourth on the same lap.  The Top 6 was completed by Peter Harder and Ludwig Albertz.  In eBuggy, Culmsee took the win from Top Qualifier Nikolai Lamberts with Berton again completing the podium.

Image: David Ronnefalk [Facebook]


July 2, 2023

Arnaldi successfully defends 1:8 GT European title

Bernard-Alain Arnaldi has successfully defended his EFRA 1:8 GT European title in Zagreb, Croatia.  Having won the title last year in Lostallo, the Genius driver started his title defence from 4th on the grid with Serpent teenager Andrea Catanzani having secured the overall TQ at the Mini Autodrom Ayrton Senna circuit.  Despite being the fastest car on track, Catanzani would hit problems during the 45-minute final, with Frenchman Arnaldi able to take the win with his Gimar powered GTc8 23 from Schepis Model driver Rosario Giaimo and the Serpent of Gabriele Paloschi.  In the 1:8 GT Electric former European 1:10 Nitro Touring Car Champion Alessio Mazzeo starting as Top Qualifier was able to become the inaugural European Champion of the electric category for Capricorn.  Joining the Italian on the podium were Xray’s Martin Bayer and the Genius of Denmark’s Nicolai Lindegaard.

Image: Serpent [serpent.com]


June 30, 2023

Catanzani Top Qualifier at 1:8 GT European C/ship

Andrea Catanzani is the Top Qualifier at the EFRA 1:8 GT European Championships In Croatia.  The Serpent/Gimar driver topped 2 of the 5 rounds of qualifying at Mini Autodrom Ayrton Senna circuit in Zagreb, with Xray’s of Martin Bayer his closest rival in the nitro class.  Attracting a field of 48 drivers in nitro,  qualifying didn’t start well for the Italian as he was only 15th fastest.  While Bayer took Q1 from defending champion Bernard-Alain Arnaldi, Capricorn’s Alessio Mazzeo topped Q2 from Catanzani before he found his form in Q3 & 4 to wrap up the overall TQ with one round to go.  Behind Bayer in P2, Natanaele Senesi took his Xray to third in the ranking ahead of Alex D’angelo and Arnaldi with Mazzeo 10th behind Buggy World Champion Davide Ongaro.  Also the European Championship for 1:8 GT Electric, 36 drivers registering results, Mazzeo is the Top Qualifier with three TQ runs compared to single TQ runs from Arnaldi (P2) and reigning champion Bayer (P3).

Image: Serpent [serpent.com]


June 30, 2023

Compound supply issues force tyre change for TC Euros

EFRA has announced that compound supply issues have lead to a decision to change the official tyre that will be used by Modified class competitors at this year’s European Championships.   The 22nd running of the championship is scheduled for August 2-5 in Türkheim, Germany, but global supply issues that continue to effect all industries mean that rather than risk not having sufficient tyres for all drivers that a different tyre be nominated now.  In a statement EFRA said, “It is now apparent that the chosen tyre for the Modified 10th ISTC EC could be in short supply for the event.  “The reason is the total lack of a primary component to produce the compound which is unfortunately patented by only one company in the world which is experiencing big problems and has had to interrupt, hope momentarily, the production.  Since Production Capacities are limited, even if the compound will be available again, it is not sure when and if we will get enough tyres of the original type.” In order to ensure that entrants are able to buy tyres to practise freely and the suppliers are able to fulfil their supply obligations to the organisers a different tyre will be used. This will be the Matrix EPA-D36. This tyre is considered to be a suitable substitute and will not have the same supply issues. Chris Hardisty, Electric Track Chairman.”

Source: EFRA [efra.ws]


June 27, 2023

Electric Singapore Int. Challenge Announcement

A new international outdoor electric onroad event has been announced for the calendar in 2023 with the inaugural running of the Electric Singapore International Challenge on September 9-10th in Singapore. The RCMC Singapore Club, along with top international racer Nicholas Lee and Chhua Joo kiah are looking to bring back the racing in style with the creation of one big exciting weekend for the on-road racers. A venue that proved hugely popular with racers and multiple World champions having visited and raced in the past. The big flowing outdoor track is located in the East Coast, near to the World famous Changi airport. The story of the inaugural event is set to be shared with the world as it unfolds with Inf1nity sponsoring and supporting the event. The World famous Scotty Ernst is also set to be on the microphone for this race. The E-SIC will see 4 classes in action; 1:10 Modified, 1:10 13.5T Boosted, FWD 17.5T Blinky and 1:5 Superbike. So save the date, September 9-10, 2023, and get ready to be part of this exciting chapter in Singapore’s racing history.

Source: E-SIC


June 27, 2023

Spanish Nationals wins for Varela, Farias & Molleda

Round 2 of the Spanish 1:10 Electric Onroad National Championship was hosted by Club PICAL in Arroyo de la Encomienda, Valladolid with scorching hot weather greeting drivers who travelled from all over the country.  In 13.5 Touring Car David Perez (Xray) claimed TQ by topping the three qualifiers by a close margin over Hugo Varela (Awesomatix).  In the opening A-Main with some crashes and DNFs among the main contenders the encounter was eventually won by Gonzo Garcia (Mugen) from Manuel Villa (Mugen).  The second final saw a total dominance by Perez, followed closely by Varela who ended up winning the third final to claim his first overall win of a national championship race.  The overall champion will be crowned at the remaining event in Madrid in October.

Continue reading report here


June 27, 2023

Boots takes victory at ‘The Italian Race’

After a break of a number of years ‘The Italian Race’ made its return to the international 1:8 Buggy calendar over the weekend with Elliott Boots taking the victory.  Organised by Maugrafix, the race was hosted for the first time at the Ospyteam R/C Offroad Circuit in Gussago in Northern Italy and attracted a star entry.  In qualifying it was reigning World Champion Davide Ongaro who took the TQ honours for Team Associated.  In the Semi Finals however it was Boots’ Sworkz that produced the fastest race time giving the multiple former European Champion pole position for the 45-minute Main from team-mate Mattia Polito.  While a few small errors in the opening stages of the race dropped Boots to second but with his Reds Racing engine economy allowing him to run longer between fuel stop he was able to capitalise to take the win ahead of Ongaro and Polito.  In eBuggy Ongaro would take the TQ and victory.

Image: Elliot Boots [Facebook]


June 26, 2023

Lee wins AOC Korea

Korea played host to the second round of the Asian Onroad Championship over the weekend with Team Yokomo’s Nicolas Lee taking the win.  Returning this year after Covid and kicking off in March in Brisbane, Australia, the popular Scotty Ernst organised championship travelled to GRC Raceway near Seoul.  In qualifying it was Lee who set the marker for the weekend and with 2 from four round to count Lee’s BD12 topped every round as he secured the overall TQ.  Behind it was the Xray of Kim Byung Hwan who secured 2nd on grid from the Yokomo of Jang Dong Uk.  In the triple finals Lee secured the overall victory with 2 from 2 in A2.  Leaving the others to battle it out in A3,  Byung Hwan took that win to secure second overall with Dong Uk completing the podium.  In the biggest category of the weekend, 17.5 Touring, it was Kim Kyung Min who took the TQ and win from Kim Siu.

Image: Asian Onroad Championship [aocrc.com]