February 27, 2018

2018 The Dirt Nitro Challenge – Report

Every year, the best nitro 1/8th scale racers make the trip to the Fear Farm to participate in the biggest 1/8th scale race in the world, The Dirt Nitro Challenge. With over 750 entries for just the 1/8th scale side of the event, the best of the best battle it out over five intense days to set up for the exciting 45-minute A-main events in Nitro Truggy and Buggy and a single 10-minute thriller in E-Buggy. With so many cars on the track plus the hot, dry Phoenix Arizona sun beating on the track for the majority of the day, it’s hard to keep the track consistent and smooth for the entire event. Knowing that beforehand, Joey Christensen and The Dirt crew leave the track as is creating a track surface that evolves and gets more challenging as the event goes deeper into the program. This year, the layout was fantastic. Many racers of all skill level praised the layout for its wonderful flow and challenging obstacles that seamlessly intertwined into the next. Mix in the changing track conditions, getting around at full speed was not easy by any means – hence the name The Dirt Nitro Challenge and why the race is so popular among racers.

Continue reading the report here


February 26, 2018

David Ronnefalk wins Pro Buggy at Dirt Nitro Challenge

The 2018 Dirt Nitro Challenge was held this past weekend at the Fear Farm track in Phoenix, Arizona. One of the most important 1/8th off-road races of the year, the event as also held in 1/5th scale and U4RC classes, attracting drivers from around the world. In the premier 1/8th class, Pro Nitro Buggy, it was Xray’s Ty Tessmann with the overall TQ from Kyosho’s Joao Figueiredo in 2nd and Marco Baruffolo (Xray) 3rd. HB Racing’s David Ronnefalk and Mugen’s Ryan Maifield completed the qualifying top 5 result. The 45-minute A-main then was a 4-horse battle Ty Tessmann, Ryan Maifield, Robert Batlle and David Ronnefalk all being in the mix. After some thrilling battles it was David Ronnefalk with a last lap all-or-nothing move on Robert to bring home a narrow 0.6s win with the Spanish Mugen driver having to settle for 2nd. TQ Ty Tessmann finished the main in 3rd, some 3.5s short of Robert’s time. Ryan Maifield came in 4th, a lap down, with Tekno’s Joe Bornhorst in 5th.

Image: Runner Time [runnertime.com]


February 21, 2018

Gene Hickerson wins at 2017 FORCE Series finale

The 2017 FORCE Series finals of the eight-round series was held this past weekend at Mills Pond in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The final round was postponed due to the hurricane that went straight up the center of Florida last Fall. Mills Pond is one of if not the Most Southern track in the USA, so the weather was nice and warm all weekend long in the winter month of February. The track was treated with calcium chloride and sugar to try to keep the dust down and increase traction levels. Unfortunately the Florida sun won again and it became a dust bowl with huge ruts and bumps and cupped out jump faces, making the very simple tight layout into a real challenge due to the super high grip and sandy rutted track. 160 entries signed up to battle in the 3 -day long event.

Continue reading the report here


February 21, 2018

Raceform sign Alex Zanchettin

Raceform have announced the signing of Italy’s Alex Zanchettin to their factory team. The Tekno factory driver will be using Raceform tools and accessories, such as the tyre glueing jigs and part trays, from now on and he has the following to say about the deal:

It’s a big pleasure for me start work with RaceformRC. Your amazing products will help me to do things better and in less time!

Source: Raceform RC [raceformrc.com]


February 21, 2018

Hot Race Tyres sign Daniele Ielasi

Hot Race Tyres have announced the signing of former 1/10th 200mm World Champion, Daniele Ielasi to their team. Concentrating on his new venture, 1/8th off-road racing, Daniele will be using Hot Race Tyres products throughout his campaign that will include appearances at all major national events in 1/8th nitro and electric classes.

Source: Hot Race Tyres [hotracetyres.com]


February 21, 2018

Jörn Neumann joins SWorkz 1/8th team

SWorkz have announced the signing of European frontrunner, Jörn Neumann to their 1/8th off-road team. Jörn will campaign SWorkz’s 1/8th nitro and electric off-road kits at all major races world wide through to 2019 while also helping with research and development. The multi-time European Champion, and Schumacher 1/10th factory driver, had the following to say about the deal:

I am looking forward to join the Sworkz 1/8 team to help develop their 1/8 Offroad Nitro and Electric cars. I will attend National and International races. My first race will be the Neo18 in Spain next month. See you there.

Source: SWorkz [sworkz.com]


February 20, 2018

Jade Lim wins at GP Challenge Cup

The KLIRCC International track in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia played host to the GP Challenge Cup recently. The event was held in several on-road classes and attracted local racers as well as guests from Singapore. In the 1/8th Nitro category it was Xray’s Jade Lim with the win in the main final from Shepherd’s Austin Wong and Xray driver Dixon Chen.

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]


February 20, 2018

Juan Carlos Canas wins at Andalusian Champs Rd1

The opening round of the Andalusian Championship was held at the Circuito RC José María García track in Lebrija this past weekend. Juan Carlos Canas was in control of things, taking the TQ after the qualifiers from Zacarias Villalba and also bringing home the win in the 45-minute main final. Agustin Illanes would better his qualifying performance, ending the race on the 2 spot, from runner-up after the qualifiers, Zacarias Villalba in 3rd, making it an all-Mugen top 3.

Source: Modelix Racing [modelixracing.com]