February 5, 2024

Drake & Anderson join Hobbywing

Continuing its 2024 driver announcements, Hobbywing has confirmed top American racers offroad legend Adam Drake and 1:12 star Kemp Anderson have joined its official team line-up.  A major figure not just on the offroad track but on the racing scene in general, Drake will be a huge asset to the electronics manufacturer and with Mugen Seiki now involved in the 1:10 offroad market with the release of their MSB1 1:10 2WD Buggy, his deal with Hobbywing should be mutually beneficial.  Kemp, a leader driver on the US onroad scene, shot to international fame in December when he became the Top Qualifier at the IFMAR 1:12 World Championships in Florida using a Hobbywing ESC and motor and now for 2024 officially becomes a team driver as he continues his racing programme with Awesomatix.

Source: Hobbywing [hobbywing.com]


February 5, 2024

British GT12 Nationals RD5 Stafford – Report

The fifth and final round of the British GT12 National Championship took place at Stafford RCMCC on the 28th January 2024.  A fantastic turnout with 50 GT12 and 6 minis in support.  Despite the championship already being decided it was all to race for as some spots were still up for grabs. The day consisted of the usual format with 1 practice, 4 qualifying and 1 final for all racers.  Round one kicked off on a cold track, with Ewan Thompson taking the early advantage, recording the only 27 lap run in the first round.  Although Sam Coult and Alex Robertson were in hot pursuit.  On to round two and the top three were shuffled around with Sam Coult moving into P1, Alex into P2 and Ewan into P3 with only these three drivers hitting 27 laps.

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February 5, 2024

Dim3nsion by JP Centering Tool

Dim3nsion by JP has released a number of new variants of its popular Centering Tool.  The 3D printed part supports the user during setup to always hit the exact centre of the steering.  Simply plug it in and the centre is found.  The Centering Toll is now available for the Capricorn C804 SL/R, Xray RX8 and for the Xray NT1 24 with other models will follow.  Dim3nsion by JP is operated by brothers Christian and Jean-Pierre Rönicke who can both draw on almost 36 years of RC car experience that includes having worked as pitmen in the past for Dominic Greiner and Thilo Diekmann.

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February 5, 2024

Lia takes 1:12 title at Snowbird Nationals

Donny Lia has won the 1:12 title at this year’s Snowbird Nationals in Florida, the Awesomatix driver taking the win ahead of Schumacher’s Ollie Payne and Xray’s Alexander Hagberg.  Finishing on the podium last year when Marc Rheinard took the win ahead of Hagberg, Lia would qualify third for this year’s event as Bruno Coelho took the TQ from former 1:12 World Champion Hagberg.  With a single 8-minute final to decide the 30th running of the world famous event, by lap 4 Lia was in front where he would stay til the finish having built up a 2.4-second advantage over second place which went to Payne, the British driver having started P4.  While Hagberg completed the podium, Coelho ended up P5 behind Keven Herbert who would become this year’s Snowbirds Mod Touring Car Champion.  The organiser of the annual MonTech NYGP in at 360V2 in New York, Lia’s win continues Awesomatix’ multiple year run of 1:12 titles at the Snowbird Nationals.

Source: Donny Lia [Facebook]


February 4, 2024

Hebert wins ’30th edition’ of Snowbird Nationals

Celebrating it 30th edition, the world famous Snowbird Nationals in Orlando, Florida, saw Xray’s Keven Hebert take the win in Modified Touring Car ending the winning run of reigning World Champion Bruno Coelho.  In qualifying it was Hebert who secured the TQ.  Running to the FTQ format, the Canadian set the fastest time of the four rounds of qualifying on the third of his attempts.  With Coelho suffering a DNF in Q3, the 2022 and 2023 Champion would count his Q2 time which was 1.5-seconds off Hebert’s impressive pace.  Setting his best time in the final qualifier Alexander Habgberg completed the Top 3 for the single A-main grid.  Setting the fastest lap of the race from the front, Hebert was able to gap the field for a convincing 1.8 seconds win over Coelho with Hagberg making it an all Xray podium.

Image: Bruno Coelho [Facebook]


February 4, 2024

Wins for Kaerup & Orlowski at EOS Daun

Reigning European 1:10 Offroad Champions Marcus Kaerup and Michal Orlowski were the winners at EOS Daun, Team Associated’s Kaerup securing the TQ & win in 4WD after 2WD honours went to Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski.  As the defending Champion, having won the three round 2022/23 series, Orlowski completed a clean sweep of reduced 2 round 2023/24 series by backing up his Hann. Munden win in November with another dominant TQ & win performance in 2WD.  While Orlowski maintained status up front, the weekend would see fellow countryman Bartosz Zalewski showcase his impressive talents as he qualified second ahead of the returning Joona Haatanen.  With Orlowski sowing up the overall win in A2, Haatanen would take his Team Associated to the win in A3 to secure second ahead Zalewski’s Xray with Kaerup finishing just off the podium in fourth having started P6.  As the event moved onto 4WD, Kaerup opened qualifying with a TQ run following that up with another in Q3 making the Dane the Top Qualifier.  Orlowski topped Q2 to start second ahead of Zalewski who was fastest in the fourth & final qualifier.  With Kaerup taking A1, and A2 going to Orlowski, it all came down to the third encounter but with the former laying down the fastest lap to keep Orlowski a bay he took the overall win.  The podium in Daun was completed by Zalewski with Haatanen fourth ahead of fellow Scandinavian’s Elias Johansson and Alexander Landen while World Champion Davide Ongaro ended up P7.

Image: EOS [eos.racing]


February 2, 2024

Nova Engines power for McBride

Nova Engines has announced that it is to power the campaign of top Australian 1:8 Offroad racer Kyle McBride.  A multiple World Championship finalist, over Christmas it was confirmed the McBride was returning to Kyosho’s International 1:8 Offroad team with today’s news that he will use the Italian made engines in his MP10 completing his all new 2024 race package.  Having also secured the support of Hotrace Tyres, the 27-year-old will debut his new combo at next weekend’s opening round of the four round Asian Buggy Championships which kicks off at the Counties RC Car Club in New Zealand.

Source: Nova Engines [nova-engines.com]


February 2, 2024

Hobbywing announce Champlin & Kobbevik

Hobbywing has announced the addition of offroad racers Broc Champlin and Daniel Kobbevik to its team line-up for the 2024 season.  American Champlin enjoyed a very impressive 2023 season the highlight of which was a podium finish at the 1:10 2WD Buggy World Championships in Arizona.  Also joining Hobbywing having raced for LRP last season, Norwegian Kobbevik is a 14-time National Champion and is a regular podium finisher at top European races as team-mate to Schumacher Racing’s Michal Orlowski who he will now run the same electronic as.  Commenting on the announcement Champlin said, ‘Im excited to have joined and I’m looking forward to working with the whole Hobbywing team! It’s been proven that they have top notch equipment and the best of the best products. Let’s do this.’

Source: Hobbywing [hobbywing.com]