Red RC

August 22, 2016

Rheinard Top Qualifier at 1:12 Worlds

Reigning Champion Marc Rheinard will defend his 1:12 World Championship from the best position possible, the Yokomo driver claiming the honour of Top Qualifier in China this morning. Having kicked off the final day of the 18th running of the championships with a second TQ run in Q5, the German initially looked set to take pole position with the perfect score of 0 points as he set the pace in the sixth & final qualifier. On target for a 40-lap run with 4 of the 8-minutes complete, a mistake in the fast chicane on the right side of the track would put him out on the spot as he popped off a trailing link. With Akio Sobue, the only one who could deny Rheinard the overall TQ, the new pace setter Rheinard would have to watch nervously from the drivers stand as his touring car team-mate looked on target to beat his Q5 which would have given him the overall TQ on the tie break but the CRC driver would make a mistake promoting Naoto Matsukura to the top of the timing screens. Taking the round by 1.6-second from Sobue, Matsukura’s second TQ run would also see the Top Qualifier of the last four World Championship bump his fellow countryman back to third on the grid.

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August 22, 2016

Zeppin introduce new electronic Spring Gauge

Coming from Zeppin is a spring gauge that helps to measure and match shock absorber springs. Offering compact dimensions of 54x72x143mm the device allows for a maximum spring rate of 29.7 N/cm and it is able to display the results in the four different units of N/cm, N/mm, LB/in and gF/mm. Other features include unit memory save, auto power off, short circuit, over weight and over voltage protection. The gauge is externally powered by a 4.8V to 15V DC power source and the set includes the main body, spring press set, press stand, cable and 5mm spacer with a 2mm spacer being available optionally.

Source: Zeppin [zeppinracing.com]

August 22, 2016

Modify T4 5g chassis balance weights

Modify have introduced specially designed 5g chassis balance weights for Xray’s T4 series of touring cars. Made to use the chassis’ pre-drilled holes underneath the steering assembly, but also fitting other brand’s cars, the dumpbell-shaped weights are a snug fit and they come with suitable mounting hardware.

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August 22, 2016

Rheinard doubles up in Q5

Marc Rheinard has become the first driver to double up in qualifying at the 1:12 World Championships in Beijing. Having ended Day 1 of qualifying by becoming the fourth different driver to top the times when he took Q4, the Yokomo driver picked up were he left off to open the final day of the championship with a TQ run in the penultimate qualifier. Posting a new fastest time, he would be 3-seconds clear of Akio Sobue, the CRC driver now the only one who can deny the reigning champion the overall TQ. After a bad start to Q5, Naoto Matsukura would recover to complete the Top 3 but the result means that the Top Qualifier of the last four World Championships will for the first time in his career not start the A-Main from pole position.

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August 21, 2016

Rheinard takes Q4 to hold overnight TQ in Beijing

Reigning World Champion Marc Rheinard holds the overnight TQ at the 1:12 World Championships after he became the fourth different driver to top the times on the opening day of qualifying in Beijing. Second fastest in the opening two rounds but retiring from Q3, the Yokomo driver finally took the day’s final qualifier after battles with both Naoto Matsukura and Akio Sobue, Sobue taking the fight to the line finishing 0.152 off the German. Having allowed Rheinard into contention for a TQ run with two smaller mistakes, Matsukura would make bigger mistakes trying to retake control eventually pulling off in the final minute after a mistake that saw him cut the track. With Matsukura out of the picture there were plenty more Japanese drivers in waiting with Hayato Ishioka finishing the day with his best run to complete the Top 3 ahead of Hideo Kitazawa who topped the previous round and holds 3rd overall behind Sobue.

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August 21, 2016

Kitazawa 3rd different driver to post TQ at 1:12 Worlds

Hideo Kitazawa became the third different driver to post a TQ run at the 1:12 World Championships in Beijing, China, the 2014 podium finisher topping Q3 ahead of the pace setters of the opening two qualifiers. The Morotech driver snatched the qualifier after a late mistake from Q1 winner Akio Sobue with Q2 topping Naoto Matsukura completing the Top 3 despite his car falling apart over the 8-minutes. With earlier mistakes from Matsukura and Sobue handing Hayato Ishioka the lead for a time until he too became a victim of the difficult track to eventually finish 4th. After run time issues in both opening qualifiers, Jilles Groskamp would be the only non Japanese driver in the Top 8, the Dutchman getting a sixth while the top European of the first two qualifiers Marc Rheinard retired after damaging his car. With two P2 runs to his credit, the reigning World Champion was less then complimentary of the driving standards of Matsukura who he felt should have opened for Sobue but instead caused ‘a mess’.

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August 21, 2016

Framega YRX-12 2mm alloy chassis & lower pod plate

Italian company Framega have introduced a 2mm aluminium chassis and lower pod plate for the Yokomo YRX-12 1/12th scale pan car. Machined from high-quality 7075-T6 material the chassis sports strategically machined cut-outs to save both weight and offer optimised flex characteristics. A lot of attention was also put into reducing chassis scrubbing during hard cornering and so the side link attachment points received additional machining to achieve some extra clearance. Both the chassis and lower pod plate come black anodised, with silver chamfered edges for looks and they are available now.

View a detail image here

August 21, 2016

Matsukura gets it done in Q2

Having faded badly after a blistering start to Q1, Naoto Matsukura was able to go the full 8-minutes in the second qualifier at the 1:12 World Championships to TQ the round ahead of Marc Rheinard. The Roche driver would be the only one to run 39-laps of the tricky Chinese track with Rheinard losing out on the extra lap as he failed to complete the full distance as his car dumped and came to a halt as he tried to complete the 39th lap. Having taken the opening qualifier, Akio Sobue would retire with a broken diff just before the 6-minute mark with Keven Hebert making up for his Q1 retirement to complete the Top 3. Just 0.056 behind Morotech’s Hideo Kitazawa who would enjoy a P4 run with Juho Levanen again getting securing a fifth for the round.

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