Top Italian 1/8th scale gas racer, and owner of Solaroli Tuning, has signed a 4 year deal to join Motonica starting immediately. Joining fellow Italian racer, and current number 1 Motonica driver, Dario Balestri, Solaroli will begin work on development of the car as well as helping customers trackside at races. Stefano has raced for a number of top brands, the most recent of which being Mugen.
Source: Automodellismo [automodellismo.net]
Round four of the Novarossi Raceway Winter Series was run last weekend and the event went like clockwork which meant plenty of racing for everyone. Elliot Boots took control of the meeting in round one with a stunning time to ensure maximum points for the round. It was then the turn of David Spashett to take rounds 2 and 3 securing TQ for the day. In the main final trouble for David at the start of the final put him all the way to the back, while Elliot Boots, Reece Sawyer and Simon Reeves took to the front of the pack and never looked back, all three holding there positions for the 20 minute final. An excellent battle between Richard Bettaney and David Spashett completed the top 5 for the day. In the truggy class local star Joe Joyce had a terrible time and had to bump from the B final to then continue his better luck and form to finish third overall. TQ man Chris Larner didn’t get the rub of the race track to convert his TQ to the win which left Steve Slayford to drive an exceptional race and the overall victory.
Click more to see the final results… content
Xray have announced that RC superstar Brian Kinwald will be joining their team. Brian has won 2 World Championships, over 30 National titles, and many other big race wins in gas and electric classes and while 1/10 electric touring car he will mainly focus on racing and development of the off-road line of the Xray products. Brian had this to say about the deal:
I have been doing R&D for numerous companies for over 15 years, and I have been watching Xray for many years now. I truly believe they have a superior product; I have never seen such great craftsmanship and innovation in an RC company, and trust me I have ran and seen it all! Since I am now in a position to make a change, I am very happy to announce that I will be working and racing for them…I can’t wait! It’s also very exciting to have the very best equipment, tools, and set-up accessories from Hudy which will ensure that all my Xray cars will be perfectly dialled all the time
Source: Xray [teamxray.com]
Ultimate Racing have announced that new Losi/GRP signing Yannick Aigoin has joined their team. Yannick, who is a top European driver and 2006 European Champion will collaborate closely with the UR technical department developing new parts and accessories. And on top of all this Aigoin Racing is now the exclusive Ultimate Racing distributor for France.
Source: Ultimate Racing [modelixracing.com]
After an eventful 2007 with his HoBao Hyper 8.5 Graham Alsop finished the year in style with a 3rd round win at the CML Nitro Winter Championships at Frankley. A thrilling 20 minute A Final saw Graham hold off challenges from CML/HoBao teammates John Holmes and John Howells to clinch a well deserved victory, 3 seconds ahead of 2nd placed Simon Willetts, with John Holmes having to settle for 3rd a further 10 seconds back.
Source: CML [cmldistribution.co.uk]
We recently heard the unconfirmed report that top Dutch International racer and Mugen team driver Rick V has followed in the footsteps of his American counterpart Mike Swauger and joined JP Racing for the 2008 season. Although currently unconfirmed, Rick had had a difficult World Championship in Argentina when he could only manage a place in the 1/8th final, a bad result for a multiple European finalist and World semi finalist. Rick returns to the French assembled JP Racing motors, the powerplant that helped him make a name for himself before moving over to use GRP motors when they were initially released. We will let you know further details when the deal is confirmed.
Xray have a report from the 2nd round of the CML Badlands Challenge that was held recently at the DRT Track. Some 70 racers urned up on the frosty morning for the race and after qualifying it was Clayton Collins that claimed the overall TQ for the buggy class. In the race however it was Kyosho racer Tommy Chung that took the overall win from his Kyosho team mate Sam Taylor in 2nd with 3rd spot going to series leader Brenn Ralls, racing for Xray.
Source: Xray [teamxray.com]
Although not in any doubt following the announcement at the start of the month, Xray have confirmed that top French racer Jerome Sartel has signed to race the XB8EC & XT8 for 2008. Jerome had the following to say:
First of all, I would really like to thank to my previous sponsors for their fantastic support during all the previous years; we shared great moments and they gave me the opportunity to attain such results. Nowadays, everything is going faster and worldwide in RC cars, and as such I am grateful for the opportunity that Xray is giving me to integrate into their team. My first impressions about Xray’s R&D possibilities and quality of their products make me very confident in my choice. I’m very excited to work with such a highly-professional organization that is so focused on making the best car and getting the best results! As these changes never come alone, my Xray XB8 & XT8 will be powered by RB engines and equipped with ProLine tires as well. See you in Laon for the Euro Indoor Race in February 2008!
Source: Xray [teamxray.com]
