August 21, 2009

Worlds field reduced to Final 38

Worlds field reduced to Final 38

Today was for many the one on which their World Championship dreams came to an end with a number of big names failing to make it through to tomorrow’s main day when, weather permitting, the 16th 1:8 Onroad World Champion will be crowned. Running through the lower finals the day closed with the 1:8 Finals with the Top 3 finishers enjoying the elation of progressing to the big day. First driver to secure a place in the 1/4 Finals was Thai driver Meen Vejrak. A finalist at the electric touring car Worlds, the Mugen driver won ahead of fast female driver Sabrina Lechner who was delighted to progress.

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August 20, 2009

Pietsch is Worlds Top Qualifier

Pietsch is Worlds Top Qualifier

Factory Mugen/Novarossi driver Robert Pietsch will start the 2009 IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship from pole position on Saturday ahead of defending Champion Lamberto Collari. Setting his time in the penultimate qualifier this morning the result was made official when his rivals failed to better the German’s 30 lap run in the sixth & final round. Coming to Switzerland as the pre race favourite Piestch, who was a direct qualifier at the 2005 Worlds, said it was an incredible feeling to be on pole ahead of such a legendary driver as eight time World Champion Collari. In the final round of qualifying Pietsch pulled up early as the track proved slower and his Novarossi started to run lean.

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August 20, 2009

Pietsch breaks 30 laps in Q5

Pietsch breaks 30 laps in Q5

He was on target for it in Q3 yesterday but misheard the timing computer and pitted before completing the full 10-minutes, but this morning in the penultimate qualifier Robert Pietsch became the first driver to set down a 30 lap run. The German ace was clearly delighted with the impressive run saying his Mugen was perfect for the conditions. Paying compliments to his pitman for two perfect fuel stops, the factory driver feels it will be very difficult to better the time in the last qualifier with the forecast predicted today as the hottest of the championships.

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August 19, 2009

Incomplete run nets Pietsch new TQ!

Incomplete run nets Pietsch new TQ!

Despite failing to complete the full 10-minutes in the third round of qualifying Robert Pietsch has bettered his overnight TQ time. This morning’s cooler track conditions lived up to expectations with the majority of the front runners setting down quicker times. Starting the heat in last position Pietsch’s Mugen was on for a 30 lap run but on his last lap the computer announced the race over and the German came into the pits but that was not the case for the No.3 car. Afterwards he said the computer announcements are not very clear in the rostrum but wasn’t too upset about missing out on the 30 lapper saying his 29/9:59.566 was just as good.

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August 18, 2009

‘Perfect’ qualifier for Pietsch in Switzerland

‘Perfect’ qualifier for Pietsch in Switzerland

Robert Pietsch believes he has just driven the best qualifier of his racing career after the Mugen driver produced a 29/10:03.705 run to move into povisional pole for the World Championships here in Lostallo.  The German ace, who took TQ honours at the Warm Up race back in June, said the run was faultless and his MRX-4X was superb. Despite the engine being slightly to rich on the bottom end in the second qualifier, the factory Novarossi driver feels it will be extremely hard to beat the time even in the expected cooler conditions tomorrow with the Warm Up TQ time being slower in temperatures 10 degrees lower than it is here now in Switzerland.

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August 18, 2009

Collari TQs opening round at Lostallo

Collari TQs opening round at Lostallo

With a CV like his its no big surprise that defending World Champion Lamberto Collari has opened qualifying for the 2009 IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship with a TQ run.  Having  ended up 140th in practice yesterday, the Team Kyosho driver said ‘thats a little better’ after posting his 29/10:08.301 run. The Italian who is chasing his ninth World title here this week in Switzerland said he will change the set-up on his Novarossi powered Evolva to try and make it easier to drive for today’s other qualifier.

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August 18, 2009

Maarten van Lierop takes Rd5 in Holland

Maarten van Lierop takes Rd5 in Holland

The fifth round of the Dutch 1/10th scale Nationals took place last weekend at the MACH track in Heemstede, just 1 week after the 4th round, which was run in Groningen. Qualifying went Daan Jacobs’ way and was 3 seconds clear of Maarten van Lierop, with series leader Pedro Rombouts taking the 3rd spot. In the final it was an exciting battle at the front with Daan and Maarten battling it out in the early part of the race, with Maarten eventually able to pull a gap. With the gap increasing at the front, Daan was also able to pull a gap on Pedro, who was in 3rd and that was how it stayed till the end. It is now close for the championship with Pedro still leading the series race. In the Nomac class it was Davy Geraets on pole position, but it was Marc Meijer who took the win from Davy in 2nd and Michael Behnert in 3rd. In the 1/8th Promo class Luigi Pili took the TQ spot and could convert it into the win from John Rusman in 2nd and Frank van Delft in 3rd.

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August 18, 2009

Maifield dominates Futaba/OS Engines Nitro Challenge

Maifield dominates Futaba/OS Engines Nitro Challenge

Hosted by the St. Louis Dirt Burners, the Futaba/OS Engines Nitro Challenge is one of the largest non-sanctioned events in the Midwest. With over 270 entries competing in seven classes the event offered a skill level for every driver. Team Associated sent recently crowned Truggy National champion, Ryan Maifield and his Reedy Powered Team Associated RC8B & RC8T to compete against some of the fastest drivers in the US including drivers like Josh Wheeler and Taylor James.

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