August 8, 2022

Nicolson leads Yokomo 1-2 at QLD State Championships

Simon Nicolson lead a Yokomo 1-2 at the 2022 Speedy RC Queensland State Championships over the weekend taking the title from fellow international electric touring car racer Antoni Caretti.  Held at England Park Raceway in Brisbane, overnight rain on the Friday meant drivers faced completely different track conditions for the start of qualifying. Despite adapting his car set-up to the track during qualifying, Nicolson was able to take the first of the five qualifiers from Caretti and ARC driver Jeffery Mackie.  He would also TQ Rounds 3 & 4 to secure the overall TQ.  Fastest in Q2 and 5, Mackie would secure second on the grid from Caretti.  The finals would be a Nicolson clean sweep securing him the title.  With Caretti second in A1 from Mackie, and that order reversed in A2, the third final would decide which side of the podium they would join Nicolson.  Caretti again got by Mackie, finishing 1.5-seconds behind the winner in A3 to take second overall.

Source – Simon Nicolson [facebook.com]


August 8, 2022

Rheinard wins German Nationals

A nation that has been an international powerhouse in the world of 1:10 electric touring car racing, Germany’s National Championship took place at the Arena33 track in Andernach over the weekend.  The hometown of a certain multiple World Champion, it was to be Marc Rheinard who came away with the DMC title.  While the modified class attracted only 12 of the events 67 entries, with some notable top international driver absentees, the Tonisport driver topped two of the 5 rounds of qualifying with his Awesomatix to take the TQ honours.  Behind, factory Mugen driver Ronald Volker and Yokomo’s lead international star Christopher Krapp completed the Top 3 on the grid ahead of the Xray of Marco Kaufmann, each driver producing one TQ run a piece.  In the A-Main, Rheinard took the opening two encounters to claim the title for a podium that visually could be from any international race with Volker and Krapp completing the line-up.  All three drivers will be vying for the sport’s biggest prize next month when they travel to Gubbio in Italy for the 1:10 Electric Touring Car World Championships, a title that hasn’t been contested for 4 years!

Image: Mugen Seiki Europe [mugen.eu]


August 7, 2022

Orlowski clinches British 4WD Championship

Michal Orlowski is the 2022 British 1:10 4WD Offroad Champion.  The factory Schumacher driver clinched the title with one round to spare after he took his second win of the season at the fifth round at Torch in Southampton.  Having won the previous round at Stotfold last month, it would be a dominant performance for former European Champion, who topped all four rounds of qualifying to secure the overall TQ.  Continuing that form in the finals, he would win all three A-Mains for the victory at the penultimate round ahead of Team Associated’s Neil Cragg and Paul Crompton.

Source: Schumacher [racing-cars.com]


August 7, 2022

SuperRad SR-02 1:12 LMP body

New US racing bodies manufacturer SuperRad Competition Bodyshells has released its first product, the SR-02 for 1:12 LMP racing. Established by former IFMAR A Finalist and US 1:12 modified national champion Steve Radecky, the body has been in development for about 6 months and has been designed specifically with modern 1:12 cars in mind. The first in a line of bodies they are planning for future release, the bodies are manufactured in the USA using the latest vacuum forming technology. The SuperRad SR-02 LMP body is available in SuperLite .015” and Lite .020” polycarbonate with the ROAR approved shell coming with window mask included.

Source: SuperRad Competition Bodyshells [superrad.com]


August 6, 2022

BattCave Awesomatix A800 MMX Chassis

A UK based company specialising in R/C upgrades, BattCave has released their latest competition chassis for the Awesomatix A800MMX. With all their parts designed and developed in house, the chassis has been finalised following extensive development and testing at several circuits in the UK with the chassis proving to be extremely effective at this year’s British Nationals. Made from selected premium 2.5mm carbon fiber, they have completely redesigned the chassis by remapping the flex characteristics to enhance the car’s performance in every way possible, pushing what is already an excellent car to another level. With tuneable flex characteristics, their drivers have reported improved low to mid steering response, and high speed cornering stability. Racers can now precisely negotiate difficult chicanes as well as pushing the car hard over the fastest sections.

Source: BattCave [battcave.co.uk]


August 5, 2022

‘Tamiya x Jun Watanabe’ Light Jacket

In a collaboration with Japanese graphic designer Jun Watanabe, Tamiya has released this fashionable limited quantity lightweight jacket. Part of the ‘Tamiya by Jun Watanabe’ apparel line, the polyester jacket is offered in three colours – blue, black and burgundy.  Watanabe, who has worked with brands like Reebok and Asics, had a previous kit collaboration with Tamiya which saw the release of a special edition Hornet 1:10 buggy that was exclusively available through Japanese online fashion destination Zozotown. The jacket has no lining making it light, soft to the touch and comfortable to wear. The print on the chest and hem is a reflective specification that reflects light and stands out even at night. Seam tape processing prevents rain from entering around the accent colour pocket. The zipper on the front has an original ‘Tamiya by Jun Watanabe’ puller for a premium feel.

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August 4, 2022

IFMAR releases 1:8 Offroad WC entry list

With just one month to go until the 1:8 Offroad World Championships, IFMAR have today released the entry list of who will be travelling to Spain at the beginning of September for the week long intense racing action.  Originally scheduled for Brazil in 2020, the 18th running of the World Championship now takes place at the RC-Redován track where, after a long four year wait, Davide Ongaro will aim to defend his title. Winning in Perth, Australia, for Team Associated in 2018, the Italian became the youngest ever winner of the sport’s highest accolade taking over the crown from fellow European David Ronnefalk.  The Swede denied the powerhouse nation of offroad racing, North America, a home win when he took the win ahead Spain’s Robert Batlle in Las Vegas in 2016.

The question is can the European’s make it three in a row or can the American’s or a certain Canadian bring RC’s biggest prize back across the Atlantic. The last time Europe hosted the Worlds, that’s exactly what happened when Ty Tessmann took the win with Ryan Cavalieri and Carson Vernimont making it an all North American podium in Sicily, Italian, in 2014.  While house hold names, the title has so far eluded Ryan Maifield, Spencer Rivkin but to name a few of the US team announced by ROAR, so you can be sure they will be making the trip with their sights firmly set on becoming the ROAR Blocs fourth driver to become the World No.1. Either way, following its 2 year pandemic induced delay, it is going to be one very exciting Worlds and as they have proven before the Baldo’s family who own the track are sure to provide a great stage for the return of the sports biggest battle.

To view entry list as published on the IFMAR Facebook page click here