April 20, 2024

Ongaro TQs Philippine Masters as AE line-up 1-2

Davide Ongaro is the Top Qualifier at the Philippine Masters with Alex Bernadzik making it a 1-2 for Team Associated at the conclusion of the four round of qualifying.  As the defending Champion of Asia’s biggest annual 1:8 Offroad, it was a slow start to qualifying for Ongaro but finding his way in the penultimate round he went even stronger in the final round for another TQ run.  This time it was ahead of Bernadzik to secure the overall TQ honours.  Having made a dream start to his Philippine Masters debut by topping the opening qualifier on Friday, Bernadzik will line-up in between two of the greats of the sport, multiple World Champions Ongaro and Atsushi Hara.  Hara is enjoying a great resurgence in form this weekend, the Japanese driver reliving his racing youth in Manila.  Delighted with his P3 starting position, he is most excited for the opportunity to run the 1-hour final tomorrow at the Circulo Verde track.  Another of the race’s rookies this year, Joern Neumann TQ’d the 2nd qualifier this morning but issues in the following two means he will start P4 right ahead of Ryan Lutz who makes it five difference countries represented at the front end of the grid, this year’s race having drivers attend from 16 different countries.

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April 20, 2024

Ongaro comes good in Q3

Davide Ongaro finally came good at the Philippine Masters with the Team Associated driver topping the third & penultimate round of qualifying in Manila after a rocky start to the 12th edition to the race.  A crash with a turned over car in Q1 and his wheels struggling with the Asian heat in Q2, a new set of wheels for Round 3 seemed to put the double World Champion’s quest for another win in the capital city back on track.  Ongaro would post the fastest qualifying time so far heading home the Sparko of Ryan Pavidis with Ryan Lutz completing the Top 3.  Having TQ’d the opening qualifier and backed that up with a P2 in the second round, Alex Bernadzik would struggle on his third attempt coming away with a P4 ahead of top local Dino Jacinto.  After topping Q2, Joern Neumann would suffer a flame out in the final half minute but afterwards the German admitted he was struggling with the hotter conditions.  After two impressive Top 3 runs, Atsushi Hara said his chances of continuing that form ended on the first lap after he opened the heat with a series of first lap mistakes.

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April 20, 2024

MWX Performance R.1 Formula 1 1:28 2WD Chassis Kit

New from Texas based 1:28 specialists MWX Performance is their R.1 Formula 1 1:28 2WD Chassis Kit.  The R.1 Formula 1 Chassis Kit is a revolutionary kit designed to dominate micro 2WD class racing.  After years of adding innovation to other micro kits, MWX decided it was time to release their own kit incorporating cutting edge technology with high quality components and features.  This has been a passion project of MWX for many years and is their second kit release in the first year of operations having introduced its very first full 1:28 2WD Chassis Kit last July.  You will appreciate the details designed to maximise adjustability as well as add extra durability and precision that these very unique cars require.

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April 20, 2024

Neumann takes Q2 at Philippine Masters

Day 2 of qualifying at the Philippine Masters kicked off with another of this year’s event rookies posting a TQ run as Sworkz’ Joern Neumann topped the second of the four qualifiers from Q1 pace setter Alex Bernadzik.  Having seen his Q1 run derailed when he collected another buggy that was on its roof and dropping him back to a P6, the German would have a similar scare in Q2 as he came upon a broken buggy towards the end of the qualifier but this time he got round it without much delay.  At the finish he had 1.7-seconds from a very quick Bernadzik who put in a strong recovery drive following his copybook mistake to the one he survived at the end of his Q1 run yesterday to hang on to the TQ.  Backing up his P2 from yesterday, Atsushi Hara would complete the Top 3 followed by defending Philippine Masters Champion Davide Ongaro, the double World Champion still yet to find his rhythm here in Manila.  The two Ryan’s completed the Top 6, Lutz finishing ahead of Pavidis.

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April 19, 2024

T-Works Aluminium Pit Box

T-Works has released a new aluminium pit box featuring carbon fibre elements.  Folding out from a flat compact storage size into a stable triangle structure, it offers multi functional easy access storage for everything you’ll need in pit lane.  The aluminium parts are black anodised for durability and resistance against corrosion, high temperature and wear to extend its service life.

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April 19, 2024

Bernadzik takes opening qualifier at Philippine Masters

Alex Bernadzik got his Philippine Masters debut off to the dream start, the Australian Team Associated driver TQ’ing the opening qualifier at Asia’s biggest annual 1:8 Offroad race.  The 2023 Australian National Champion claimed the first of the four scheduled qualifiers as the only driver to record 9-laps of the challenging Manila track despite a late driver error.  Behind it would be Atsushi Hara who set the second fastest time as he makes his return to 1:8 Buggy competition at the event he has won on previous occasions.  With the 12th edition of the Philippine Masters counting as the second round of the Asian Buggy Championships which kicked off in New Zealand in February, it was Round 1 winner Ryan Lutz who complete the top 3 for Q1 ahead Davide Ongaro and Philippine Masters’ rookies Ryan Pavidis and Joern Neumann.

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April 18, 2024

eSIC 2024 – Announcement

After the successful inaugural running of the Electric Singapore International Challenge (eSIC) last year, the organisers have confirmed the dates for the 2024 edition of the electric touring car races will be 14-15th September.  One week before the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix,  eSIC, which is headed up by Singapore’s top international touring car driver Nicolas Lee and JK Chhua, is organised by the Marine Parade Radio Control Modellers Club.   With the aim of eSIC to bring back racing in style in Singapore with the creation of one big exciting weekend for the onroad racer, last year’s event saw the Mugen Seiki of former World Champion Ronald Volker take the win ahead of Nicholas Lee and multiple World Champion Naoto Matsukura.  Following the success of the first eSIC race, with Jilles Groskamp, Viktor Wilck, Simon Nicholson and Gem Chavit among the 100 plus entries in 2023, the 2024 edition is expected to include an even stronger international field.

Source: eSIC [Facebook]


April 18, 2024

Xray XB4 2.5mm Alu Chassis with adjustable Transmission Position

Xray has released a new chassis for their XB4 1:10 4WD Buggy with adjustable Transmission Position.  The thicker 2.5mm chassis alternative features specially milled flex areas to create a different chassis flex characteristics.  The chassis in combination with altered flex increases corner speed & improves stability especially in medium to very high traction conditions.  It includes multiple mounting positions for the rear transmission for a standard or short position to adjust handling to match any track condition.  The standard transmission position is suitable in high traction conditions to improve stability while the shorter transmission position is suitable for lower traction surfaces to increase rear traction.  Extra side guard mounting points were added in the rear of the chassis to increase stiffness and expand the range of flex adjustment settings.  It also features symmetrical flex and multiple battery position choices to adjust the weight balance.  CNC-machined from high-quality Swiss 2.5mm 7075 T6 aluminium, the chassis is strategically machined in low-stress areas to make it as light as possible without affecting strength or rigidity and is black-coated for increased lifespan.

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]