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January 25, 2023

Batlle confirmed for Philippine Masters

New Mayako team signing Robert Batlle has been confirmed as another star entry for the return of the annual Philippine Masters. The former World Champion joins reigning World Champion Davide Ongaro in returning to the beautiful Circulo Verde track located in the heart of capital city Manila. Taking place on April 28-30th, the Philippine Masters has established itself as one of Asia’s most high profile international events with 2023 marking the 11th running of the QCRCCC hosted event. Again directed by the voice of RC, Scotty Ernst, the draw of both the racing and hospitality in Manila means the sell out event will see drivers representing 14 different nationalities battle it for the 2023 Philippine Masters title.

Source: Philippine Masters [philippinemastersrc.com]

January 23, 2023

Rivkin wins TNR Fuels A-Main Challenge

With the majority of America’s Pro Offroad team drivers in action at the TNR Fuels A-Main Challenge at Thunder Alley RC Raceway over the weekend, it was Spencer Rivkin who the big win. In 1:8 Nitro Buggy Qualifying it was HB Racing’s Cole Ogden who claimed the TQ on a tie breaker with Rivkin, each counting a TQ and 2nd fastest run from the three qualifiers. Tekno’s Ryan Maifield also managed a TQ run opening quaifying with the fastest time and together with a 3 from Q2, secured him 3rd on the grid for the 25-minute A-Main. Ogden lead away the field but would drop to P3 allowing Rivkin to go to the front where he would stay til the finish. While Ogden got back up to second he would lose the position back to Maifield in the closing laps. Behind them Mayako’s Jared Tebo would finish 4th from 6th on the grid. Rivkin would make it a double Buggy victory securing the eBuggy win from Top Qualifier Maifield with the podium again completed by Ogden. In Truggy, Maifield took both the TQ and the win followed home by young gun Phi-Long Nguyen, Ryan Pavidis and Ryan Cavalieri.

Image: Team Associated [Facebook]

January 17, 2023

Greiner joins Hotrace Tyres

Italian tyre manufacturer Hotrace Tyres has announced that Dominic Greiner has joined their factory team. Widely regarded as one of nitro onroad racing’s fastest drivers, the former World Champion and reigning double European Champion joins Nicola Marrone’s company after a long stint with rival Italian brand Matrix Racing Tires. The German will contest a number of open tyre events in 2023 to represent Hotrace products and it is expected that he will represent Marrone’s latest venture, Lens Bodies, as they release their first 1:8 and 1:10 Onroad bodyshells into the market.

Source: Hot Race Tyres [hotracetyres.com]

January 17, 2023

Sunpadow International Grand Prix (SIGP) returns in ’23

Sunpadow has announced that the SIGP International RC Car Grand Prix will be resumed in 2023. The Sunpadow International Grand Prix (SIGP) event had established itself as one of the leading annual international RC event and attracted many of the sports top drivers. World Champion Bruno Coelho was the winner of the onroad edition in 2019 while in 2018 Ryan Lutz won the Offroad edition and a year earlier Joern Nuemann took the win from Atsushi Hara. While actual race dates are still to be finalised Offroad is expected to be held in August, along with on-road in In October or November. Taking place at the 2017 Electric Offroad Championship venue in Xiamen, the SIGP will continue to offer one of the biggest prize as before with the total bonus for the two series as high as $ 70,000. We will bring you further announcements of the 2023 SIGP in the coming weeks.

Source: Sunpadow [sunpadow.com]

January 14, 2023

Phend Top Qualifier at Southern Indoor Championship

TLR’s Dakotah Phend has secured the big TQ at the Southern Indoor Championship in Alabama. The first big major on the annual US 1:8 Offroad calendar, the Racetime Entertainment organised indoor event is a big weekend in terms of new driver/manufacturer pairings following some significant driver announcements over the New Year break. In Nitro Buggy, it was Phend who kicked off qualifying with the fastest time ahead of the Ryans, Maifield’s Tekno taking P2 followed by Lutz’s Kyosho with third. Q2 would see Maifield top the time sheets from Sworkz’s Joe Bornhorst with Lutz again completing the Top 3. For Phend it was a bad round 2 as he ended up P5. All coming down to the third & final qualifier, Phend was back to form laying down the outright fastest time of qualifying to secure the overall TQ, 2 rounds from 3 to count. Maifield locked in 2nd overall from Lutz, Team Associated’s Lee Setser and Joe Bornhorst with new team-mate Brandon Rose rounding out the Top 6. In Nitro Truggy, it is Jared Tebo who is Top Qualifier. As the reigning SIC Champion, winning both Buggy & Truggy last year from the TQ, Maifield took the first qualifier from Sworkz’s Camden Lime, Phend and new Mayako signing Jared Tebo. Runner-up last year in Truggy, Tebo would find his stride in the next two qualifiers topping them both for the overall TQ. Again Maifield ends up P2 with Phend 3rd ahead of Lime, Lutz and the TLR of youngster Phi Long Nguyen.

Image: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

January 8, 2023

Polito wins ‘OneRace OneMan’ at IBR Padova

Having only announced his move from Kyosho to Sworkz just after Christmas, Italy’s Mattia Polito has opened the 2023 season with the Pro Buggy victory at the annual ‘OneRace OneMan’ event at IBR Padova in Italy. In qualifying it was Mugen’s Berkan Kilic who claimed the overall TQ, but winning his Semi from Berkan’s brother Burak, Polito took pole for the 45-minute final. Finishing second to Berkan in the other Semi, Kyosho’s Renaud Savoya would split the German brothers on the grid with 3rd. In the final it would be Burak who would prove to be Polito’s closest challenge moving up to finish 2nd with Berkan completing the podium. Behind HB Racing’s Theo Lemaire took fourth from Max Hesse and fellow Frenchman Savoya. For defending champion Riccardo Bertin, it was a tough opening to the new season as he had to win the LCQ final to make the A-Main. Despite setting the fastest lap of the final, the Infinity driver would finish P13 and last. In E-Buggy it was again Berkan who took the TQ, this time being able to convert that into the win ahead of his brother and the Tekno of former Champion Marco Barufollo.

Image: Burak Kilic [Facebook]

January 7, 2023

Ongaro confirmed for Philippine Masters

The organisers of the Philippine Masters have announced back to back World Champion Davide Ongaro is confirmed to make the trip to Manila for the April 28-30 event. Ongaro is a previous winner of the Philippine Masters and the attendance of the high profile Team Associated factory driver is a major boost for the Asian 1:8 Offroad scene. As with previous editions of the race, the entry list is expected to be bolstered by further high profile driver announcements. Making its post Covid return to the international racing calendar, the Philippine Masters has established itself as one of Asia’s major international events with 2023 the 11th running of the event. Hosted by QCRCCC and directed by the voice of RC Scotty Ernst, the event takes place in the heart of the capital city at the beautiful Circulo Verde track. Already close to reaching its 120 entry capacity, the race has attracted many of Asia’s top drivers with a strong contingent of Australian racers signed up to enjoy both the racing and hospitality in Manila.

Source: Philippine Masters [philippinemastersrc.com]

December 23, 2022

Ongaro ends RunnerTime Fuel sponsorship

Back to back 1:8 Buggy World Champion Davide Ongaro is set for another change to his 2023 racing package with the announcement he will no longer be using RunnerTime Fuel. Having announced his departure from tyre sponsor AKA earlier this month, the Italian has enjoyed a similar 5-year stint with the RunnerTime netting the 2018 and 2023 World titles in that time. On his Facebook page Ongaro said, ‘It has been 5 amazing years, We have achieved a lot of amazing results together and goals, we have had a lot of fun and you are part that helped me to be what I am. I hope you are happy about what we have done together, races, dinners, good and bad results because they are part of racing. I can only say a big thank you for all the help you have to use during these years, was a pleasure for us to work with you. It’s time now to take different roads, I wish you the best in your future. Thanks a lot for everything. Thanks Matteo Passerini and Runnertime.’

Source: Davide Ongaro [Facebook]