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March 19, 2023

Jeff Wang crowned FEMCA 1:8 Buggy Champion

Taiwanese driver Jeff Wang is the 2023 FEMCA 1:8 Buggy Champion, the Ming Yang team driver winning the prestigious Asian title from the Xray of young Korean talent Hyunkyu Jung. Hosted by Taiwan Radio Control Car Association at the 66 RC Racing Track, named after its location under the No.66 highway bridge, the event attracted an entry of 142 drivers representing 10 countries from the FEMCA Bloc. In qualifying 23-year-old Wang would secure the overall TQ after topping three of the 6 rounds with Hyunkyu Jung classified second with two TQ runs. The only other to top the timing sheets, Taiwan’s Wang Guan Ling would complete the Top 3. Wining his Semi final from Thailand’s Witsarut R., 13-year-old Hyunkyu Jung would be on pole for the 50-minute final with a faster winning time than that of Wang who won his 30-minute encounter from the Sparkco buggy of 11-year-old Huang Han Ping. In the 50-minute Main Final, it would be Wang who would come out on top with his SH Engines powered MY1 having 2-lap margin over Jung. Winner of the separately run 20-minute ‘Teenage Final’ held earlier in the day, Jung crossed the finish just 1.1-seconds ahead of Wang Guan Ling who completed podium in Taoyuan.

Image: Tiger Chang Lien Sheng

March 17, 2023

J-Tech High Competition Fuel

The Italian brand J-Tech, owned by the Marchetti Model Service and born in 2008 with onroad tyres, has introduced its new high-competition blend of fuel for model cars following two years of testing. The product and its packaging complies with all directives concerning flammable products and is available in two formulas. The Power formula contains a mix of synthetic castor oils with relative specific additives for the high performance and carburation stability required by the onroad engines. The second formula is Team. This contains a mix of very high quality lubricating oils with relative specific additives for offroad engines guaranteeing performance and greater autonomy with tank and piston cleaning.

Source: J-tech Tyres [Facebook]

March 10, 2023

Ongaro set for 1:8 GT Worlds with Gimar Engines

Best known for his offroad exploits, back to back 1:8 Buggy World Champion Davide Ongaro has announced a 1:8 GT only programme with Italian engine brand Gimar. Ongaro is the star driver for Team Associated and Japanese engine manufacturer OS Engines in offroad and has added two 1:8 Buggy World titles to both brands illustrious history but is joining forces with Giovanni Crea’s Gimar engines for a GT campaign that includes both the European and World Championships. A huge boost for the GT category which will run only its second ever World Championship later this year in Sydney, Australia, having Ongaro on the grid will be a massive profile raiser for the class. Kicking off his onroad exploits next week at the Italian GT Nationals, his Gimar Venus engine will be fitted to the chassis of another Italian brand Genius Racing – this same engine & chassis combination used by France’s Alain Arnaldi to become the 2022 European GT Champion. Like Ongaro, another driver best known for his Offroad achievements, Joern Nuemann is the reigning 1:8 GT World Champion.

Source: Gimar [rcgimar.com]

March 9, 2023

IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship Stage 1 Report

Later this year the IFMAR 1:8 Onroad Nitro World Championship will return after a prolonged 4-year break with the Infinity International RC Speedway in Japan hosting the 23rd edition of the RC racing’s original World Championship. The organisers of the event, lead by legendary race mechanic Masayuki Miura, has issued the Stage 1 Report and highlighted some important points for overseas drivers. Drivers are reminded to check whether they require a visa to enter Japan from their home country. With Covid, Japan was closed a long time and they have only opened up recently so there are still some rules around Covid and currently you need to be vaccinated to enter. This situation could change so persons planning to travel for the October 27 to November 5 event should check the ‘Visit Japan‘ website for latest government rules. Another important issue is the fuel. The organiser has two fuel brands available, Maxima and Nitrox from OS Engines. For logistic reasons they need to know asap the choice of each driver. Japan last hosted the 1:8 Onroad Worlds in 2013 when Tadahiko Sahashi took victory for Serpent. Last year he joined Adrien Bertin as the only driver to do the nitro double when he won the 1:10 Onroad title in Bangkok with Infinity. Winning the title in 2019 at the no longer existing Steel City RC Speedway, reigning 1:8 Champion & factory Mugen driver Shoki Takahata will be the first Japanese driver to try and defend his title on home soil. Japanese drivers have won the title 3 times since inaugural Worlds was held in 1977.

View Stage Report here

February 28, 2023

Widmaier confirmed for Philippine Masters

Micha Widmaier is the latest factory driver to be confirmed for the return of the annual Philippine Masters, one of Asia’s most high profile 1:8 Offroad international events. The German will travel to the beautiful Circulo Verde track located in the heart of capital city Manila to lead the Sworkz challenge at the 11th running returning of the race. The multiple German National Champion will be joined on the track by Sworkz founder Scott Yang who himself is an accomplished racer. Taking place from April 28-30th, the event returns after more than a two year break and will see the capacity entry lead by Team Associated’s back to back World Champion Davide Ongaro and former World Champion Robert Batlle for the Mayako team.

Source: Philippine Masters [philippinemastersrc.com]

February 27, 2023

Maifield defends Dirt Nitro Challenge Buggy title

Ryan Maifield has taken the big win at the Dirt Nitro Challenge, the Tekno driver winning a thrilling 1:8 Nitro Buggy final to defend his title from TLR’s Dakotah Phend. The 24th running of World renowned track builder Joey Christensen’s signature event, the race in Perris California started on one track but switched to a hastily prepared smaller covered track as rain arrived replacing the SoCal sunshine. In qualifying it was Phend who had the pace topping both qualifiers, his opening round the faster time. Second fastest in Q1 it was HB Racing’s Cole Ogden who would line-up directly behind Phend for the 45-minute final followed by Xray’s Ty Tessmann and Maifield, his best run being a P3 in the second qualifier. With the running order Phend from Maifield for most of the race, things turned just inside 10-minutes to go with a bad lap from Phend allowing Maifield to the front. Despite Phend’s best efforts, it was going to be yet another DNC title for Maifield as they took the finish separated by just 1.6-seconds. Tessmann would complete the Buggy podium having won the previous day’s Nitro Truggy Final from Phend and Maifield. Phend would a the win in eBuggy with victory over Juan Carlos Canas and Mason Fuller.

Image: Ty Tessmann [Facebook]

February 20, 2023

Tessman wins Hotrace Grand Prix

With the biggest names in 1:8 Offroad gathering in the US for this week’s 24th running of the iconic Dirt Nitro Challenge, Ty Tessman took a nice pre event race victory at the Hotrace Grand Prix over the weekend at Channel Islands Raceway in California. In qualifying it was factory Tekno driver Marco Baruffolo who was the Top Qualifier, the Italian fastest from Tessman’s Xray and Mayako’s Jared Tebo. Winning their respective Semi Finals, Tessmann winning from Robert Batlle while Baruffolo won his 20-minute encounter from HB Racing’s Ryan Pavidis, it was the Canadian who had the fastest winning time to secure pole for the final. Over the 30-minutes, Tessmann would lead for all but a couple laps early on, and despite Baruffolo having the fastest lap, would win by a 20-seconds margin. Batlle completed the podium for Mayako while team-mate Tebo moved up from 6th on the grid to finish fourth ahead of Pavidis.

Image: Hot Race Tyres [Facebook]

February 14, 2023

Butterfield wins Florida Winter Nats

Reigning ROAR Fuel Onroad National Champion Bryce Butterfield took victory at the 47th Annual Florida Winter Nats. Securing the overall 1:10 TQ after five rounds of qualifying at Nuggets Ranch RC Raceway, the factory Serpent driver would take his 750 EVO to a comfortable win in the 30-minute Main Final over the Xray of Franco Desiderio and the Infinity of Jerry Guerra. With this year’s edition of race attracting over a 100 entries, in 1:8 Pro Diego Morganti, son of former US Onroad Nitro ace Paolo, took the TQ but his final was short lived ending after just 2-laps. The No.2 qualifier Ralph Birch would also hit trouble early on, the former 1:10 World Champion retiring after only 8 laps. Following his 1:10 victory, it wasn’t to be a double for Butterfield as he too retired half way through the 45-minute Main. In the end it was Eric Dennett who took the win by 6.6 seconds from Joachim Bruneaunnett with Rafael Angulo completing the podium. In 1:8 GT, Jose Almonte took the win for Serpent ahead of the IGT8 of Morganti with Carlie Lopez completing te Top 3 at the end of the half hour encounter.

Image: Bryce Butterfield [Facebook]