Picco have announced the signing of German off-road frontrunner, Micha Widmaier to their racing team. The reigning German and European B Champion will use Picco’s V1 Team DLC engines in his 2018 campaign. Picco are happy to welcome Micha and his mechanic to the team and are looking forward to a fruitful cooperation.
Source: Picco [teampicco.com]
Hot Race Tyres have announced the signing of Bryan and Oscar Baldo to their official team for the 2018 season. The Spanish 1/8th buggy frontrunners will participate at all major races such as the Neo Race, the EFRA European and IFMAR World Championship. Bryan says:
We are happy to announce that Oscar and I will be racing for Hot Race next year. After testing the tires in several circuits, we were able to confirm that their potential is awesome. Have a lot of traction and the steering is super good. I want to thank Nicola and the entire Hot Race team for the opportunity that they have given us this year.
Source: Hot Race Tyres [hotracetyres.com]
The 2018 edition of the prestigious Neo Race will be held over the four days of Easter from the 29th of March to the 1st of April. For the 2018 edition the organisers announce a new location – the spectacular RC Redovan track near Alicante in Southern Spain, expected by some to be the next European host of the IFMAR Worlds. After a hugely successful twelve years at Harper Adams University in the UK, the event which started out life originally in a warehouse on the docks in Antwerp will be heading south. RC Redovan hosted the 2016 European Championships and boasts a track size of 105m x 85m and is 585m long, offering a new challenge to all racers. The event will be entry limited, offer nitro & E-Buggy classes, covered pitting. Further details including sign up information, website updates, sponsorship and travel and accommodation advice will be posted in due course. In the meantime feel free to contact the organisers at info@theneorace.com for further queries.
Following his departure from long-time body shell sponsors Protoform, Xray’s Alexander Hagberg will be using Mon-Tech Racing bodies from now on. The former World and European Champion will be using Mon-Tech product in all classes he attends while also helping with the development of future products. Mon-Tech Racing’s Alberto Montecchi says: We are extremely happy to have Alex [as] part of our Family and good luck for the incoming season.
Source: Mon-Tech Racing [mon-techracing.net]
Ielasi Tuned have announced the signing of Portuguese 1/8th off-road frontrunner Joao Figueiredo to their team for the 2018 season and beyond. The Kyosho driver will use Ielasi Tuned nitro engines at all major national and international races and he has the following to say about the deal:
I’m super happy to be part of Ielasi Tuned family! I have to thank Daniele Ielasi for giving me this opportunity of driving his powerful and smooth engines for the next years. We will work together to improve even more the products and to do our best wherever we go. Feel free to ask me anything about the engine or other products from Ielasi Tuned. See you all at the tracks!
Source: Ielasi Tuned [ielasituned.com]
Shepherd have announced the signing of top Australian racer Ric Bartolozzi to their team. Ric is one of Australia’s most successful drivers, winning several 1/8th national titles, State Championships in both 1/8th and 1/10th scale classes, and he also is a triple World Championship semi-finalist. Ric joins a very strong and growing Shepherd Australia team, which will see him compete at most major events in 2018.
Source: Shepherd [team-shepherd.com]
Xray have announced the signing of Italian front runner, Marco Baruffolo to their factory off-road team. The Italian national champion and multiple EFRA Euros A-finalist will use the company’s XB8 and XT8 platforms from now on and his campaign will include appearances at all major national and international events. Marco says:
I’m very happy to be a part of Xray. When there was a chance to go to Xray, I did not think “twice” about it and took the chance. I will do my best and I’m sure that if we work all together we reach great results.
Source: Xray [teamxray.com]
Flowood RC of Flowood, Mississippi held their annual January Jam race this past weekend. Ryan Lutz was again on a mission as be brought home the TQs and wins in all buggy classes he attended. In Expert Nitro Buggy Lutz would lead the way in the 30-minute A-main to bring home the win some three laps in front of Jake Dellinger as Chandler Elliott rounded out the podium result. In Expert E-Buggy Ryan would again bring home the silverware from Jake Dellinger while Chicken Reeves came in 3rd. Lastly in the 1/10th 4WD Buggy class it was Kevin McCoy and Blake Boggs who sidelined winner Ryan Lutz on the podium.
Image: Ryan Lutz
