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November 3, 2022

Vejrak “just excited to race again” as WC returns to scene of his 2012 World title.

This week drivers from around the world are setting off on their travels to Asia and more specifically Bangkok, Thailand after a longer than usual 4-year wait between World Championships. The 2022 IFMAR World Championship for 1:10 Nitro Touring Car is returning to RC Addict in the capital city exactly a decade after hosting the event when it had a fairytale finish. Not really featuring on anyone’s radar when he made his World’s debut in the USA 2 years earlier, in 2012, Bangkok born & bred racer Meen Vejrak took the title. Winning a World title is a thing of dreams but winning it on home soil surrounded by those who supported you from your very first days of racing takes it to an even higher emotional level. It turned out 2012 was a special year for ‘local boy done good’ as a few months earlier we witnessed Jilles Groskamp become ISTC World Champion at the very track on which he honed his skills as a kid. With the Worlds returning to his home track and his name coming up as one that is expected to be in the mix, Meen isn’t phased by the pressure but instead is relishing the opportunity saying, ‘I’m just excited to race again’.

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October 23, 2022

Kurzbuch announces Team Shepherd departure

Former 1:8 Onroad World Champion Simon Kurzbuch has announced his departure from Team Shepherd. The Swiss driver leaves the German chassis manufacturer after representing the brand at the top of the sport for 12 years. In 2015, Kurzbuch & Shepherd achieved the ultimate prize in the sport when he was crowned World Champion in Brazil. Other highlights of the partnership include the 2018 European Championship and a string of titles during the height of the Euro Nitro Series. Announcing he will leave Shepherd on social media, he said, ‘It all started 2010 with the club race at our home track. I drove the first time my Shepherd Velox, it was so exciting. Today it ends, with the club race at my home track I’m so excited for the “last dance” with my Shepherd Velox! But it’s much more. Almost half of my life I’ve been going through a crazy adventure and I’m so f##king thankful for every single moment! Thanks to the whole Schäfer family and PiccoBello, Beat and Käthi, who brought me on this way to meet so many people (Sorry to not name you all but you are in my heart!), winning every possible title in this category – I have tears in my eyes because it was so great and we will always remember it – forever ever! Every End is a beginning of something new – cant wait to tell you more about!’ An official announcement on his new team is expected in 2-weeks time.

Source: Simon Kurzbuch [facebook.com]

October 13, 2022

Minidrom Ettlingen seeks support to prevent closure of famed track

A favourite among some of the best racers in the World, German track Minidrom Ettlingen is looking for the support of the RC community as plans for a Biogas Plant look set to see the track closed by 2024. The club has been operating for 40-years and the track has attracted some of the best racers from around the global to the city of almost 40,000 through events such as IFMAR World Championships, EFRA European Championships, Euro Nitro Series and the ETS. Built on land owned by the city, the ground has been earmarked as the site for the new 50,000 ton organic waste fermentation plant. The club is looking to highlight the value of the track to local tourism in terms of hotels, restaurants and suppliers and on a wider level how vital the track & its strong club are for R/C racing in Germany and also Europe. Red RC have been guests of the club for many races there over the years. The racing has always been entertaining and the club have always looked after us well. We also love the banking around the track which makes for great spectating. Already World Champions Dominic Greiner, Simon Kurzbuch and Robert Pietsch, among others, have got behind supporting the club.

You can support the club in their quest to ensure Minidrom Ettlingen remains a favourite track among racers for years to come by signing the online petition which can be found by clicking here.

October 11, 2022

Thurston crowned British 1:8 Onroad Champion for 3rd time in a row

Alex Thurston was crowned British 1:8 Onroad National Champion for a third time in a row over the weekend, the Capricorn driver being presented with his trophies at the 7th & final round of the championship at Halifax. Having already locked in the championship with 5 TQs, 4 wins, a 2nd and a 3rd, Thurston attended the season closer to support fellow Capricorn and Ielasi Tuned drivers as well as giving newly crowned 1:10 Champion Stefan Chodzynski the opportunity to try 1:8 for the very first time and drive his championship winning car. The season finale was won by Team Shepherd’s Tim Wood who finishes as Vice-Champion with Capricorn’s Andy Hasting third. Thurston will now focus his attentions on 1:10 Nitro Onroad in preparation for next month’s World Championship in Thailand.

Image: Alex Thurston [Facebook]

October 10, 2022

Sugiura defends JMRCA National title after 2 year break

Yusuke Sugiura has successfully defended his JMRCA Japanese1:8 Offroad National title as the championship was hosted for the first time over the weekend since 2019 due to Covid. The weekend was very much a repeat of 2019 as the Futaba Buggy Track in Ichihara City hosted the championship once again. Topping three of the four rounds of qualifying to secure the overall TQ, Sugiura would again lead home Sanwa’s Kouki Kato in the 1-hour final, crossing the finish line with a 1-lap advantage for his fourth consecutive National title win. Making it an all Mugen podium was 3rd place qualifying Shin Adachi who finished just 1/3 of a lap behind Kato.

Image: Kouki Kato [Facebook]

October 8, 2022

3 out 3 for Balestri in Italian National Championship

Dario Balestri has completed a clean sweep of the 2022 AMSCI Italian 1:8 Onroad National Championship with victory at the third & final round today at Pista Di Leno. Originally planned as a two day event, forecast bad weather saw the season finale condensed down to Saturday qualifying and finals. Three rounds of qualifying would see the former World Champion secure the TQ from Xray’s Filippo Domanin and Mirko Salemi. In the 30-minute final, the Infinity driver would continue his form from the previous two championship rounds to take victory number 3 from team-mate Carmine Riola. The Mugen of Andrea Pirani would complete the podium with young Domanin having to settle for fourth.

Image: Ielasi Tuned [Facebook]

October 4, 2022

1up Racing Cup – Report

Perfect weather all weekend made for some incredible racing at the 2nd Annual 1up Cup hosted by Steel City R/C Speedway in Fontana, CA! Seeding took place on Friday followed by 3 rounds of qualifying on Saturday with 2 counting. Sunday featured triple mains for all racers with the top 2 finishers bumping up in the first round of mains. In the Modified TC class is was JJ Wang setting the pace in qualifying as he went on to take TQ ahead of Jacob Cruz and Robbie Cerrato. JJ would go on to win A1, but Jacob Cruz was able to get by and take the win in A2. A3 was all about JJ again as he pulled away from the field while the others battled to secure the final podium spots. Top 3 – JJ Wang, Jacob Cruz and Robbie Cerrato.

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October 3, 2022

ROAR Fuel Onroad National titles for Butterfield & Colon

The ROAR Fuel Onroad National Championships took place over the weekend with Serpent’s Bryce Butterfield and Mugen’s Jose Colon taking the two big wins in Puerto Rico. Held at Barceloneta RC Speedway, qualifying would see Butterfield top all three rounds of 1:10 200mm with his fastest 4-minute run in Q3 securing him the overall TQ ahead of Infinity/Wallace Motorsports’ DJ Apolaro. In the 45-minute A-Main, Butterfield would continue that form to win by a 2-lap margin over Serpent team-mate & 4th place qualifier Jose Almonte with Apolaro completing the podium.

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