Red RC

July 18, 2023

Neumann holds overnight 2WD TQ at European C/Ship

Sworkz’ Joern Neumann holds the overnight TQ at the EFRA 1:10 2WD Offroad European Championship after a dominant first day of qualifying in the Netherlands. The German, who is a two time champion in 2WD, topped all three rounds of qualifying at the RACO2000 track in Utrecht but with 2 more rounds of qualifying tomorrow and the best two to count he will have to wait to see if he will be the overall Top Qualifier. Neumann’s closest challengers today were Team Associated’s Marcus Kaerup and Schumacher’s Michal Orlowki, the latter having set the pace in seeding practice. In Q1, Neumann set the pace by 6 seconds from reigning 4WD Champion Kaerup, the Dane getting that gap down to 2-seconds in Q2. Chasing his first ever 2WD European title, Orlowski would get to within half a second of the TQ in Q3 giving the Polish ace a major boost going into the final two rounds. If he or Kaerup are to deny Neumann from being the Top Qualifier they will need to top both rounds tomorrow and in a faster. Defending Champion & newly crowned British 4WD Champion Tommy Hall finds himself down in P12 at the end of Day 1 of qualifying.

Image: EFRA [Facebook]

July 18, 2023

Costa Rica seek to host 2024 1:10 Nitro Onroad Worlds

Costa Rica has presented a proposal to the World Governing Body to host the 2024 1:10 Nitro Touring Car World Championships. Coming through FAMAR, one of the four Blok members of IFMAR, the proposal to host the 10th running of the Worlds for the category has been put together by host hopefuls ADDAP. Proposing a date of 14-24th of November 2024, the race would take place at the Mini Autodromo La Cruces in Heredia, which is a 281m fine asphalt track. Earlier this year the track hosted its inaugural event, the Tico Race, which attracted a strong entry with racers travelling from 10 countries. Should Costa Rica be successful in its bid to host the 2024 World Championships, it would be the first time the championships has returned to the FAMAR Blok since Brazil hosted the inaugural 1:10 Nitro Touring Car World Championships in 2004 where Adrien Bertin took the win.

View ADDAP presentation here

July 17, 2023

Butterfield wins Summer Nitro Cup in Puerto Rico

Serpent’s Bryce Butterfield took the 1:8 Onroad win at the 2023 Summer Nitro Cup held at Barceloneta RC Speedway in Puerto Rico. The American driver was one of a number of international drivers who travelled to the Caribbean Island for the event which attract close to 100 entries. In qualifying it was Butterfield’s Nova Engines powered 990 that took the overall TQ after setting the fastest 4-minute run in the first of the four rounds of qualifying. Germany’s Thilo Diekman would set the 2nd fastest time, the Capricorn driver also producing his best run in Q1 with the Top 3 completed by the Serpent of US racer Joaquin De Soto Jnr, the later going on to beat Diekman in the Super Pole shoot out. In the 30-minute final Butterfield would lead from start to finish winning by over a lap from De Soto Jnr. Setting the fastest lap of the race, Diekman would complete the podium with Jose Colon fourth. In 1:8 GT Jose Almonte took the TQ and win with his Serpent while in 1:10 200m Jerry Guerra took the win from 5th on the grid.

Image: Serpent [serpent.com]

July 17, 2023

Philippine Masters 2024 date announced

After a massively successful return in April of this year following a 2-year break due to Covid, the Philippine Masters has announced the date for the 2024 edition of Asia’s biggest annual 1:8 Offroad race meeting. The 12th running of the Philippine Masters, the event which takes place in the capital city of Manila is scheduled for April 18-21, 2024. Having formed the opening round of the Asian Buggy Championships, the date was confirmed at Round 2 in Australia over the weekend after a meeting between Philippine Masters track designer Edward Sio, who was racing in Brisbane, and Scotty Ernst who has been a key figure in bringing the Philippine Masters to its international race status. A sell out event in 2023, the race saw World Champion David Ongaro win the Buggy title for Team Associated while Sworkz’ Micha Widmaier came away with the Truggy victory. With the Philippines famed as a holiday destination, the event has a truly unique vibe living up to the nations tourism tagline ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ with many of the large international driver entry combining the race with holidays at the country’s world famous white sand beaches.

Source: Philippine Masters [philippinemastersrc.com]

July 17, 2023

Serpent SRX8GTE ‘23 1:8 EP GT

Serpent has released their latest 1:8 GTE chassis, the SRX8GTE ’23. The electric GT shares many new features from their recently released and highly evolved SRX8GT ’23 nitro version that took the TQ spot and third place at the recent European Championships in Croatia. The SRX8GTE ’23 shares design details, components from every evolution of SRX8 whether be on-road or off-road version, along with new ones not seen before on any previous model. On the new SRX8GTE ‘23 Serpent has extended the chassis an additional 2mm for improved handling. The chassis is also equipped with holes pre drilled for optional weights. The kit also gets all new ‘hybrid’ bulkheads, an all new Split Center Diff, and a lighter Motor Mount and Slide. Other new parts include a new Light weight Rear Bodymount, new Front/Rear Pivot blocks, all new Adjustable Caster Blocks, and new Steering Blocks.

View more chassis images here

July 17, 2023

Branson retains British title with Halifax win

Xray’s Kyle Branson has successfully defended his British Electric Touring Car Championship title with victory in tricky conditions at the third round in Halifax. Kicking off his title defence with victory the opening round of 5 in May, Branson made it three in a row although this time he would not start from the TQ. Some mistakes in qualifying meant he lined up P2 behind Xray team-mate Harley Eldridge. In the finals however Branson would win A1 and 2 to wrap up the overall win ahead of Yokomo’s Alex Thurston and Schumacher’s Zak Smith, the result putting the title beyond reach of Branson’s rivals. The newly crowned back to back BRCA Champion will travel to the Cotswold track for the penultimate round next month.

Image: Kyle Branson [facebook.com]

July 17, 2023

Team Saxo GT-300W-V4 1:12 chassis

Team Saxo has announced details of the latest version of their 1:12 Pan car kit, the new GT-300W-V4. Improvements to the new chassis over its predecessor include a number of key changes. The first is its new narrower Aluminium chassis which is better in race conditions especially in tight tracks. As well as a different design, the chassis is now stiffer which reduces wear rate but still allows adequate flex. An improved rigidity Battery Securing System now uses O-ring rather than battery tape to hold the battery in position. The distances between axles have also been shortened on the V4, increasing stability in corners. A new 1-piece Bumper Collision Plate helps to better absorb front impact.

View more chassis images here

July 16, 2023

Bernadzik reigns down under at Asian Buggy C/ships

Alex Bernadzik reigned at Asian Buggy Championships in Australia, the Team Associated driver carrying his qualifying form into the finals to win both Nitro and Electric Buggy. Top Qualifier for both categories, Bernadzik’s first win at the Pine Hills Dirt Racing circuit came in eBuggy. In the first of the triple A-Mains he would win from the Tekno of Caleb Noble with another win in A2 from Christopher Sturdy locking in victory for the second round of the Scotty Ernst run championship. With Sturdy winning A3 it was to be an AE 1-2 on the podium which was completed by Noble. The 45-minute Nitro final saw early mistakes from Bernadzik dropping him into the mid pack while Noble led the way until he was delayed by a fuel gun issue at the first fuel stop. As the race reached the half way mark Bernadzik was back in the lead from were he controlled the race to complete the perfect weekend. Noble would get second for his efforts ahead of Zac Ryan, a key figure in get the Asian Buggy Championships to Brisbane, finishing third with his HB Racing. Aaron Dexter would finish fourth ahead of an impressive performance from 11-year Zac Foster in fifth.

Continuing reading & view podium images here