March 21, 2016

Pirani & Balestri win at Italian Manufacturers Champs

Pirani & Balestri win at Italian Manufacturers Champs

It has been a perfect weekend in Fiorano for both Andrea Pirani and Dario Balestri at the Italian Manufacturers Championship. While the former took the TQ and a very convincing tone-to-tone win in the 45 minutes 1/8th final, finishing ahead of veteran Alberto Picco and Infinity’s Carmine Raiola, while Balestri led an astonishing Capricorn 1-5 in the 200mm class, with Luca Redaelli and Giorgio De Felici rounding up the podium. A very good debut for Pirani with his new XRD FT Line engines, Andrea said “this is the best start of the season I could have hoped for”. Leading since the beginning over the ARC duo of Silvio Hachler and Mattia Collavo, he was able to cruise to the win after the Swiss driver was forced into the pits by a technical issue and Mattia suffered a servo failure. His win also gave WRC, FT Line and Energy fuel the manufacturer titles, with Matrix dominating the class tyre wise.

Continue reading here


March 21, 2016

Yaniv Sivan wins Israeli League Rd8

Yaniv Sivan wins Israeli League Rd8

Round 8 of the popular Israeli League was held this past Friday at the Tavor Motors track near Ashkelon. The day started on a muddy track thanks to a few days of rain before the event but the fourth and final qualifier could be held on a dry track. Yaniv Sivan would grab the TQ in the Nitro Buggy class, less than a second in front of Ofir Avitan in second and Tal Siles in third. The 40 minute A-final started with Yaniv Sivan and Ofir Avitan running away from the pack, both swapping positions at first. Meanwhile Tal Siles, Omer Assayag, Ido Carmon and Aviv Mimon fought for final podium spot while Omer Assayag had to pull out due to technical issues. Some 15 minutes into the race Yaniv took the lead, followed by Ofir who had fuel issues and suffered from a flame out but ultimately he would bring home the runner-up spot from Tal Siles while up front Yaniv Sivan took the day’s win.

View the final result here


March 21, 2016

Bakla & Wade successful at NSW State Titles

Bakla & Wade successful at NSW State Titles

With a new format and allocation of the meeting to the country area Manning Valley was the chosen Track for the 2016 States in NSW, Australia. The weather was very warm during practice and the track did not hold any moisture, with only two rounds of practice and the track breaking up badly it was looking like a trying weekend for everyone. In the Nitro Buggy final Ari Bakla (Xray), coming from the 3 spot on the grid and Craig Lautghton (TLR) battled for most of the race, trading places at every pit stop. Pressure was on on Ari but he was still confident and calm, but two minutes to the end he lost the lead, and with one minute left a block pass on a corner jump was needed to take back the lead. After a last lap nose to tail and a drag race to the line Ari would take win by half a second.

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March 21, 2016

Ryan Maifield & Ty Tessmann win at Silver State

Ryan Maifield & Ty Tessmann win at Silver State

The 2016 Silver State race was held this past weekend at the RC Tracks of Las Vegas. Organised by Richard Saxton the event attracted the country’s fastest drivers as well as some international guests such as Reno Savoya, Joseph Quagraine, Jörn Neumann and more to attend in several 1/8th off-road classes. In 1/8th Pro Buggy it was Spencer Rivkin (Team Associated) who took the prestigious TQ honours and in the 45 minutes main final Spencer Rivkin and Ryan Maifield (TLR) would swap positions several times with HB’s Ty Tessmann also being in the mix mid-race but ultimately Ryan would bring home the win with a margin of around 15 seconds from runner-up, Spencer Rivkin and third placed Ty Tessmann who ended the race some 8 seconds shy on Spencer.

Continue reading here


March 20, 2016

Pirani & Balestri TQ Italian Manufacturer Champs

Pirani & Balestri TQ Italian Manufacturer Champs

Andrea Pirani and Dario Balestri took the TQ honours at the Campionato Italiano Costruttori in Fiorano. With the race counting an outstanding number of 145 participants, it was WRC’s top driver to top the bigger class – the 1/8th entry list consisting in 89 drivers – while debuting with his new FT Line engines. After winning three of the four rounds, Andrea said he was pleased with his package, defining it “one of the easiest I’ve ever had to drive”. Second on the grid will start the Swiss star Silvio Hachler with Tironi, Picco and Collavo rounding up the Top5. Similar story in the 200mm class that saw Balestri leading a big Capricorn charge in the 200mm class, the Italian manufacturer occupying 4 of the top 5 starting positions in the main event. Also winning 3 rounds out of 4, Dario finished the day ahead of his team mate Redaelli, reigning Italian champion. Xray’s Mario Spiniello closed his qualifiers in fourth position, sandwiched by the other two Capricorn drivers Di Prisco and De Felici.

Thanks to Riccardo Acciari for the report.


March 18, 2016

Barry Pettit joins Tekno RC factory team

Barry Pettit joins Tekno RC factory team

Tekno RC have announced the signing of Barry Pettit to their factory team. The former Mugen driver is known for his dedication to RC cars and also willingness to help others on the track so he can be seen as a great asset to the company’s growing US team. Barry has the following to say about the deal:

For me, RC racing began going to the local track with my dad strictly to have fun and hang out together. Neither of us ever thought it would grow into such a large part of our lives. We have traveled to so many great places and met so many great people, and for that we are majorly thankful! There are so many people to thank for my success, but first I want to thank my family and my girlfriend for always supporting my passion and me. I am also thankful for ALL of the people who have supported, sponsored, and mentored me in the past as you have shaped me into the driver and person I am today.

Read Barry’s statement in full here


March 17, 2016

JR Mitch triples at Region 4 Championships

JR Mitch triples at Region 4 Championships

The ROAR Region 4 1/8th scale championships were held at Triple Nickel in Bartow, Florida. A staple in the Florida racing scene for decades the facility put in one of the best layouts the state has seen. A very fun flowing circuit with well built jumps and elevation changes throughout the lap. The weather held up nicely allowing a good groove to form in the racing line however the threat of rain led to a little under-water issue on Sunday due to the forecasted rain that never came, let the track get a little dry and slick dust on main event day making set up and tyre selection crucial.

Continue reading this report here


March 17, 2016

Joseph Quagraine wins at Mexican Nationals Rd1

Joseph Quagraine wins at Mexican Nationals Rd1

The opening round of the Mexican Off-road Nationals was held in Monterrey, Mexico. The event draw some 120 entries most of which attended in the 1/8th Nitro Buggy class with Truggy and Electric Short Course classes also being run. JQRacing’s own Joseph Quagraine, who is currently on a US tour, managed to the TQ the Nitro Buggy class and he would also bring home the win from Felipe Martinez and Diego Marroquin.

Source: JQRacing [jqracing.com]