March 24, 2024

McBride adds another Australian National title

Kyosho’s multiple Australian 1:8 Offroad Champion Kyle McBride added to his tally with a double victory at the 2024 RCRA Nationals which was hosted by the Southern Districts Model Car Club at its track in Adelaide.  In qualifying, Nitro Buggy would see the World Championship finalist top 5 of the 6 rounds to secure the overall TQ from the reigning Champion Alex Benadzik, the Team Associated driver having topped Q5 ahead of McBride.  In eBuggy qualifying it was a similar story only this time Benadzik managed two TQ run as McBride secured the TQ.  While able to convert his eBuggy TQ into a relatively straight forward title win ahead of Benadzik despite issues in A2, with Tekno’s Caleb Noble completing the podium, in Nitro Buggy it was a very different story.  While leading his Semi final, McBride would have a random flame out that was followed by a few more that dropped him right to the back of the field.  Turning out to be a glow plug issue he would finish 15th putting him P9 in the Last Chance Qualifier race.  With only the winner progressing, he managed to work his way to the front to win the 10-minute encounter from Ben Panic to go to the back of the grid for 1-hour final.  He wouldn’t take long for McBride to get into the hunt and with Benadzik hitting issues that would see him retire early, he took a lead he would hold to the finish for yet another National title.  Behind, second place starter 17-year-old Christian Wolhunter took his Sworkz to second with Zac Foster completing the podium.

Image: Kyle McBride [Facebook]


March 24, 2024

Orlowki crowned ETS Champion

Michal Orlowski is the new ETS Champion, the Schumacher driver securing the Modified title for the first time with a dominant performance at the Season #16 finale in Austria.  With the Polish driver’s busy onroad & offroad schedule meaning he would miss two of the six rounds in the current ETS season it meant every race counted and he delivered on that requirement by winning all four events he attended.  In Vienna, he topped all four rounds of qualifying to secure the TQ ahead of Awesomatix pairing of Lucas Urbain and TITC Open Brushless Champion Simon Lauter.  In the finals, Orlowski was again the class act with his Hobbywing powered prototype Schumacher winning A1 by 2.5 seconds and then sealing the deal in A2 by a 4-second margin.  Winning A3 from Lauter, Urbain would secure second overall for Round 6 to take the runner-up spot in the standings ahead of team-mate Marc Rheinard, the multiple ETS Champion having a tough season finale and finishing P10.  In Pro Stock, it was Lukas Ellebrock who took the Round 6 win but it would be Olivier Bultynck that took the title by a single point having finished Runner-up last season to Simon Lauter, the later making the impressive step up to the Modified class this season.

Image: ETS [Facebook]


March 24, 2024

SIGP victories for Coelho & Hamon

The SIGP International RC Car Grand Prix made a return over the weekend with dominant performances from Bruno Coelho in electric and Jeff Hamon in nitro seeing the two international visitors take the victories in China.  Established as one of China’s biggest annual international races prior to Covid, defending 2019 Touring Car Champion Coelho was the class of the field with his Xray.  Having taken all four qualifiers, from the TQ he secured the overall win with perfect drives in A1 & 2 with his efforts netting him 20,000 Chinese Yuan, approximately €2,500.  While Coelho cruised to victory, Yokomo’s Nicolas Lee and the Xray of JJ Wang enjoyed a good battle for the runner up spot.  In A1, Wang would get passed the Singapore driver but on used tyres he couldn’t hold the position.  In A2, Wang took advantage of Lee being on used tyres and took second setting them up for an interesting A3 battle.  With a minute to go in final A-Main a mistake by Wang dropped him to third allowing Chinese National Champion Ma Haoran passed for second behind winner Lee.  Overall it was Lee who got second with Wang completing the podium on his return to international competition.  In the 1:8 Onroad Nitro Final, Hamon’s Serpent was untouchable over the 45-minute final and the Australian netted himself an easy 20,000 Chinese Yuan.  Despite a big crash at the start, Matrix Tires founder Cristian Boni recovered to finish second with fellow Italian Cristiano Sartor joining him on the podium in Xiamen.

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March 24, 2024

PNP-RC IF18-3 Brass Battery Tray

Spanish onroad accessories and optional parts brand PNP-RC has released a Brass Battery Tray designed for the new Infinity IF8-3 1:8 Onroad Chassis.  It has two link points, front and rear, to the main chassis allowing its continued torsion.  The battery tray is machined from brass and then nickel plated for a better finish look.  It weights just shy of 54 grams helping to reach minimum weight and also lowering the general centre of gravity of the car.

Source: PNP RC [pnp-rc.com]


March 24, 2024

Onyx Racing LiPo packs

Better known for their records in track speed and drag runs, British company Onyx Racing has introduced its latest iteration of  1:10 Touring Car LiPo packs.   This hits the sweet spot in having a low centre of gravity, but having right amount punch to continuously power you through your run with minimal drop off, whilst still giving a balanced car.  This new range of LiPos are BRCA and EFRA approved and feature an updated sealed casing.  Having undergone two years of testing and feedback from drivers they feature a high discharge rate with the lowest internal resistance to date.  Each pack has cell discharge curve designed for voltage recovery and peak rpm and v2 lithium separators to improve performance and reduce temperatures.  The Onyx Racing range consists of 14 packs.

Source: Onyx Racing [onyxrcpowersystems.co.uk]


March 23, 2024

Coelho & Hamon Top Qualifiers at SIGP

Xray’s Bruno Coelho and Serpent’s Jeff Hamon are the Top Qualifiers at the SIGP in China but the second day of qualifying saw very different fortunes for the two drivers.  Having topped the opening qualifier yesterday, defending SIGP Electric Touring Car Champion Coelho continued that form going fastest in the remaining three rounds for a clean sweep In Xiamen.  In Q2, it was Chinese National Champion Ma Haoran also driving an Xray who was his closest challenger.  Driving a prototype of Yokomo’s upcoming MS1.0, Nicolas Lee repeated his Q1 performance with another P2 in Q3.  Having missed Q1 yesterday due to a fever, while still under the weather it was a much better day for JJ Wang with him wrapping up qualifying with the second fastest time in Q4.  Overall that puts him P3 on the grid for the A-Main behind Lee and ahead of Haoran.  With qualifying in 1:8 Nitro Onroad based on each driver’s single fastest time from the four rounds, Hamon’s Q1 pace was to prove important for the World Championship Finalist.  After a morning rain shower, Hamon would top Q2 but in a slower time and then in Q3 & 4 he suffered one-way bearing failures that resulted in two DNFs.  Hong Kong’s Ray Poon would top Q3 from Italy’s Cristiano Sartor with Wang third and he was again fastest in Q4, this time from Matrix Tires’ Cristian Boni.  Overall the Q1 times of Boni and Sartor gave them 2nd and 3rd overall with Poon set to line-up P4 on tomorrow Main final grid.

View more images here


March 23, 2024

Mexico & Argentina join race to host World C/Ship

It seems IFMAR is going to a have choice of countries to choose from for the hosting of the 1:8 Offroad World Championships with Mexico and Argentina putting themselves forward as replacements for Brazil.  Joining Bolivia’s bid yesterday, from Mexico, FEMARAC and the PicNic Royal Club in Guadalajara, have put together a presentation stating, ‘Following the announcement earlier today of the cancellation of Brazil’s planned hosting of the September event, Mexico has come out to present its formal proposal to participate and host this great event in Guadalajara Mexico, one of the most important cities in the country, with every amenities available even to the most demanding of all, as well as a city full of Music (Mariachi), traditional folk dance, typical food of the country and many other nationalities. A headquarters that, due to its international airport and connectivity, allows arrivals from any part of the world at very affordable prices.’  Having previously hosted the World Championships in 2012 where Robert Batlle won his title, Argentina has submitted a proposal to host the 19th edition of the Worlds at the same venue.

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March 22, 2024

Bolivia emerges as potential new World C/Ship host

Bolivia has emerged as a potential host of the IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship following the announcement earlier today of the cancellation of Brazil’s planned hosting of the September event.  The Bolivian RC Federation ‘Febolarc’ (Federación Boliviana de Autos a Radio Control) together with the Candelaria RC Pro club has submitted a proposal to the FAMAR Bloc offering to host the event at their track in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.  Neighbouring Brazil on its West side, Bolivia’s quick reaction to Brazil’s cancellation improves the chance of keeping the 2024 World Championship in South America.  IFMAR stipulate that a new acceptable host must be received within one month of notice of the originally selected venue no longer being in a position to host the race.

Click here to view proposal