Red RC

November 2, 2023

Kurzbuch is Top Qualifier in Japan

Eight years on from TQ’ing in Brazil on en-route to becoming the 2015 World title, Mugen Seiki driver Simon Kurzbuch is again the Top Qualifier at the IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship. Four drivers, all World Champions, went into the sixth & final round of qualifying at the Infinity International RC Speedway in Japan with a chance of the overall TQ. Q1 winner Dario Balestri was the first driver to go by the wayside, his car coming to stop half way through the qualifier. Next it was Q2 pace setter Toni Gruber who came to a halt a minute later. That left just Kurzbuch and Shoki Takahata in the battle although the later wasn’t on a good run. All the while 17-year-old World Championship debutant Kouki Kato surprised them all snatching the TQ for the round ahead of Kurzbuch but with two TQ runs to go with his P2 it was the Swiss ace who goes into the history books as the Top Qualifier of the 23rd running of the sport’s original World Championship. With his TQ run, him being the fifth different driver to do so over the six rounds, Offroad racer Kato put his Infinity into the Super Pole. This was duly won by Dario Balestri who denied defending World Champion Takahata a direct spot in the final alongside Kurzbuch. First to go the Mugen driver ran a best lap of 13.633 which neither Kato or Toni Gruber could better but last to go Balestri needed just three laps to produce a 13.518 to win a feat he also achieved at the 1:10 World Championship in Thailand 12-months ago.

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November 2, 2023

VP Pro 1:8 Offroad Coloured Rims

VP-PRO has extended the range of colours in their 1:8 Buggy and Truggy rim range. Adding the option of pink, green and orange, the rims are made of high-quality plastic, lightweight, high rigidity which adds to better stability during turns and conforms to IFMAR standards.

Source: VP Pro [vp-racing.com]

November 2, 2023

Kurzbuch repeats in penultimate qualifier

Mugen Seiki’s Simon Kurzbuch has become the first driver to repeat a TQ run at the 1:8 Onroad World Championship as he made it two in a row in the penultimate round of qualifying in Japan. The Swiss driver managed the run perfectly as Infinity’s Naoto Matsukura pushed him for the TQ but on the last lap the Japanese driver once again ran out of fuel. This handed Dario Balestri the second fastest time, the Infinity driver just 3/10ths off. More than a second back, a big margin at these World Championships, Toni Gruber would complete the Top 3 just ahead of defending Champion Shoki Takahata with everything still to play for in the sixth & final round of qualifying at the Infinity International RC Speedway.

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November 2, 2023

Kurzbuch finally delivers TQ run in Q4

After difficult first day of qualifying in Japan, Top Seed Simon Kurzbuch finally delivered on his speed with the Mugen Seiki driver taking the TQ for the fourth round of 6 at the 1:8 Onroad World Championship. The 2015 World Champion would be more than 1.4 seconds quicker than his closest rival Yuya Sahashi as the first of the day’s three qualifiers saw a number of drivers in the top have issues. Infinity team-mates Jessie Davis and Naoto Matsukura were in the mix for a Top 3 run until they both ran out of fuel. Having TQ’d the second round yesterday, Capricorn’s Toni Gruber would make a driver error and end his run early. All this meant that running in the 3rd fastest heat Takaaki Shimo would complete the Top 3 for the round ahead of Dominic Greiner, Shoki Takahata and Dario Balestri. Having TQ’d the final qualifier yesterday but having had poor results in the previous two, reigning World Champion Takahata described Q4 as a ‘safe run’ adding he would ‘push more’ in the next one.

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November 2, 2023

Hong Nor X3GTS height-adjustable anti-roll bar

Hong Nor has released a new height-adjustable anti-roll bar for its World Championship winning X3GTS 1:8 GT chassis. Used by newly crowned World GT Champion Toni Gruber in Sydney last month, it not only allows the car to maintain a better balance but also allows for more delicate adjustments of the car set-up. Hong Nor offer four front anti roll bars for the car, 2.0, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.8mm, and four rear anti roll bars, 2.3, 2.5, 2.8 and 3.0mm.

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]

November 2, 2023

JConcepts S2 Schumacher LD3 body

JConcepts has released its popular S2 body for the recently introduced Schumacher LD3 1:10 2WD Buggy. The S2 is a performer straight out of the package and includes the Carpet | Turf rear wing to help deliver results on any racing circuit. Slammed overall height allows the S2 to whisk through the turns with a low centre of mass while the progressive cab design provides plenty of front-end force for superior balance and steering. A channeled roof directs the flow through the center of the body while also increasing the rigidity of cockpit. The dual side-window design that has become famous on the JConcepts bodies remains to bring a traditional feel to the layout. The upper side-pods feature distinct vents used to help relieve hot air build-up inside the body for those high-powered runs or hot days at the track. Carved and detailed side-pods edge the body giving the highly aero unit a stylish look with a tight fit and finish.

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November 1, 2023

3Racing Cero FWD Sport 1:10 Touring Car

3Racing has released a new entry level 1:10 FWD Touring Car chassis, the Cero FWD Sport. Featuring pivot mounted suspension, the car shares suspension geometry and key components with the popular Cero Ultra. Suspension knuckles are common across all Cero models, reducing required spare parts, as well as allowing upgrade to aluminium. The Lower suspension arms are molded in composite GA, featuring integrated pivot ball mounts. Fully adjustable ARS rear suspension, infinitely adjustable to adapt to changing track conditions. It has a quick change spur gear mount and the motor mount provides a wide range of adjustability to cater for all blinky motor applications. The Sport gets comes with a honeycomb TPU front bumper included as standard and the front lower bumper and body mount assembly has been redesigned for increased durability. A one piece bulkhead cover maintains alignment and rigidity. Horizontal rear body mount system, lowers centre of gravity and reduces body roll and risk of body tucks.

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November 1, 2023

Takahata takes Q3 as Balestri holds overnight TQ

In a thrilling first day of qualifying at the 1:8 Onroad World Championship, Mugen Seiki’s Shoki Takahata has TQ’d the third round of qualifying becoming the third different driver/manufacturer combo to top the times in Japan. The reigning World Champion capitalised on the cooling evening conditions to set the fastest time of the day ahead of Infinity’s Dario Balestri with Capricorn’s Toni Gruber completing the Top 3. Opening qualifying with a TQ run, it is Balestri who holds the overnight TQ at Infinity International RC Speedway ahead of Gruber who topped the second round of qualifying. With Takahata holding P7 in the ranking, his day not starting out well with a crash in Q1 and DNF in Q2, it is 17-year-old Kouki Kato who is the top Japanese driver sitting in third following an impressive second fastest time run in Q2.

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