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Although he secured the Top Qualifier honours in the penultimate round, Elliott Boots capped off qualifying at the 1:8 Offroad European Championships in style with a 3rd TQ run in the final round.  The defending champion would further improve on his best time over the 5-minutes to top the round from David Ronnefalk, the Swede ending up third overall which means he will line-up right behind the Brit in Semi-A. Rounding out qualifying with the third quickest time, which would end as one off his dropped rounds, Darren Bloomfield secures pole for the Semi-B ahead of Q1 TQer Davide Ongaro, the young Italian completing qualifying at RC Redovan with a P5. Two drivers to end qualifying with their best performances of the five rounds would be Martin Wollanka and Joern Nuemann claiming a P3 and P6 respectively.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.

Although he secured the Top Qualifier honours in the penultimate round, Elliott Boots capped off qualifying at the 1:8 Offroad European Championships in style with a 3rd TQ run in the final round.  The defending champion would further improve on his best time over the 5-minutes to top the round from David Ronnefalk, the Swede ending up third overall which means he will line-up right behind the Brit in Semi-A. Rounding out qualifying with the third quickest time, which would end as one off his dropped rounds, Darren Bloomfield secures pole for the Semi-B ahead of Q1 TQer Davide Ongaro, the young Italian completing qualifying at RC Redovan with a P5. Two drivers to end qualifying with their best performances of the five rounds would be Martin Wollanka and Joern Nuemann claiming a P3 and P6 respectively.

‘I could be a bit more relaxed that one as whatever happened happened, but I finished 2-seconds up on David (Ronnefalk) so I’m happy with that’, was Boots’ reaction to Q5.  Also the overall Top Qualifier last year in Italy, the biggest change they would make for the final qualifier would be to run his Reds Racing engine more rich as it was ‘so hot today’ with tomorrow’s Semi Finals set to run around a similar time of the day.  He added, ‘it was a little slower on the straight but we knew that and overall we were still faster which is good for tomorrow’.  Asked about run time, he replied, ‘We’ll probably play safe, I think everyone will as you cant afford to miss a lap because its so big’.

Commenting on his P2 overall Bloomfield said, ‘I’m happy with that. If you said to me on the journey over I would be second I would have said that will do me as I was very slow in Italy. I didn’t make the final there. Now me and Elliot are the most consistent’.  Having to deal with understeer in Q4, the Agama driver would remove the under-drive from his A215, reverting to the standard drive and while ‘you need to be a lot more careful’ he was happier with the feeling and found steering.  With the overdrive he said you were ‘burying the throttle everywhere to the get the car to pull out of the corner but now you can be more gentle with the throttle which is gaining fuel mileage’.  He added, ‘I cant find steering with overdrive so I think I am going to go with the standard for the finals’.  Switching to a hard compound Beta V-Max tyre for the final qualifier, a tyre which when he ran it in controlled practice caused a big drop off in pace, he said now he still had the same pace, helped by the overdrive removal.

‘Car was really good that last one’ was how Ronnefalk summed up the final qualifier.  Losing 1-second on the last lap when he tangled with a crashed car just before the loop, the Swede said that wouldn’t have changed the result and for him the big thing was that they were able to improve the car from the morning qualifier.  The HB Racing driver said, ‘I felt comfortable with the car and feel I can run this pace over a longer run’.  Planning to just rebuild his Orion powered D815 but leave it unchanged in terms of set-up, on run time the 20-year-old said, ‘you need to be really sure of your mileage because if you miss a lap here you may be in trouble’.  The 2013/14 champion concluded, ‘its a long way for the marshals to get your car so its going to be very important to stay on your wheels in the finals’.

‘Looking at the start I had, to qualify P4 is better than expected’ was Ongaro’s view on qualifying P4.  The Mugen driver would use Q5 to test different tyres.  Having run Procircuit’s Road Runner throughout the event he switched to the Spanish company’s new prototype tyre which fellow Mugen drivers Batlle and the Baldo brothers have been running but he will revert back for the finals. The 15-year-old said the new tyre was good but for him the Road Runner had more traction while still offering more corner speed, adding the wear was also better.  Asked about fuel stops for the Semi final, he said while they could run over 8-minutes from his LRP engine ‘it was too risky because of long lap so we will would pit on 7-minutes’.

Ending up 5th overall, Batlle said for the last one, ‘we tried a different set-up which was not so good’.  With an improvement not possible he said with his younger brother Dani in contention for a Semi position he backed off on the last lap to try help him but he failed to make the cut.  Planning a few changes to test in the Semi Practice he said they will be ok for the race, the Spaniard adding, ‘I’m confident with the car and we are super close so I’m happy’.

Securing sixth overall, Bryan Baldo said, ‘I’m very happy, it’s my first time to qualify Top 10 at a European Championships’.  Making a switch to Procircuit’s Road Runner tyre for the final qualifier, the race host and track owner said, ‘it works well but was less predictable than the prototype (tyre) so I will go back for the Semi Final’.  With his brother Oscar also making the Semis with 10th overall which puts them up against one another for a bump up position, Bryan said, ‘tomorrow I will just try and drive a good Semi and try to make the final’.

Top Xray with seventh overall, Wollanka was happy with his Q5 performance but felt his shocks were too soft for the hot temperatures adding the P4 was down to a clean run with ‘the lap times not so fast’. Planning to run heavier shock oil in the Semi, the Austrian said his XB8 was ‘consistent’ but he will try a combination of the best things from his previous set-ups in the Semi practice. Switching to Hot Race tyres for the event, the former podium finisher was again running the Roma pattern and as he ‘like(s) it’ and will stay on them for the Semi.

Finishing fifth in Italy last year having qualified 6th overall there, Neumann claimed 9th this time round just behind TLR’s Marco Baruffolo. Sixth in the final qualifier boosted the Serpent driver’s result considerably, the German saying afterwards, ‘I needed a safe one as in the first one I was fast but crashed’.  Describing his Maxima powered SRX8 as ‘good’, for the Semi he would ‘just check everything over and its good to go’.  Asked about the longer race distance, the multiple electric offroad European Champion said, ‘we have been working on longer distance set-up from the start as you need an easy car for this track, so the set-up is already good for finals’.  Running Pro-Line’s Fugitive tyre he will stick with that for the Semi saying it ‘should last 20-minutes easy and for 45 it should be OK too’.

View complete event results here.

View our complete event image gallery here.

MIP have introduced the Pucks 17.5 drive system for the TLR 22 3.0 buggy. Designed with stock racing in mind, MIP’s popular Pucks drive system is now also available for TLR’s latest 2WD competition buggy. The multi-piece construction is making it possible to keep the original axles as well as seeing superior wear that comes from a steel yoke. With that change MIP also have upgraded the diff balls to tungsten carbide balls for the ultimate in wear and efficiency. Overall, the race-proven design lightens up the drivetrain’s rotating mass by as much as 50 percent; which means quicker acceleration, less motor fade, and it allows to keep the car’s drivetrain fresh with replaceable Pucks.

Source: MIP [miponline.com]

Piero ‘No Fuffa’ Cresta from Italian company Fast Race showed us some interesting new products he has on display here in Spain. In the tools department we were shown new black and gold hex drivers as well a precision scale that features a 3D printed differential housing, handy to gauge the oil quantity in the diff. New for both the Mugen MBX7R and the Associated RC8B, and available in different colours, are 3D printed receiver battery boxes, while just for the MBX7R are new Kevlar mud guards to be mounted to the rear arms.

Despite being a newcomer in the offroad scene, Hot Race tyres is making good progress and is showing well here in Spain due in part to their new Amazzonia tire. Created to answer the need for a low wear tire, the Amazzonia features small square pins laid out in a very tight pattern so as to improve their longevity. The shape of the tire features rounder edges compared to the rest of their line, and sports reinforced side walls.

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The fifth round of the BRCA National series took place at the Cotswold Model Car Club, returning to this track for the second time this season. Run alongside the Nitro classes, the race would see nice weather and as the 1/8 electric drivers are now figuring out their electronics packages, they’re edging closer and closer to the ultimate pace of the .21 engine nitro cars, all though it is clear to see that the electric cars have huge amounts of torque, the 4S battery limit is making the cars a little slower down the main straight. New comer Alex Thurston was setting the pace and it was looking somewhat ominous for the drivers behind him as he had such a pace advantage. Sunday morning headed into the qualifying which was dry and most drivers managed to get good clean runs in every round. After four rounds of qualifying the Electric A-final would line up as follows:

1/8 Electric qualifying top 10:
1. Alex Thurston – 20/ 308.829
2. Gavin Clinch – 19/ 303.433
3. Franck Dambrine – 18/ 300.267
4. Mathew Baker – 18/ 303.201
5. Jamie Paton – 18/ 310.003
6. Ian Billett – 18/ 314.498
7. Paul Bellinger – 18/ 320.142
8. Graham Baker – 17/ 302.202
9. James Ellice – 16/ 314.915
10.John Russell – 16/ 317.079

During the two legged A -main finals Alex Thurston laid down a master class in domination, winning the first final by a gap of 10 seconds, and the second final by a lap. If Alex is to race a full five rounds in this championship he has to be favourite to take the title based on this performance.

A-main results:
1. Alex Thurston – 2 Points
2. Gavin Clinch – 4 Points
3. Franck Dambrine – 6 Points
4. Paul Bellinger – 9 Points
5. Ian Billett – 12 Points
6. Jamie Patton – 13 Points
7. John Russell – 13 Points
8. Mathew Baker – 17 Points
9. Graham Baker – 17 Points
10.James Ellice – 17 Points

As the championship reaches the middle of the racing seasons, the drivers standings are as follows:

1. Franck Dambrine – 491 Points
2. Paul Bellinger – 490 Points
3. Mathew Baker – 484 Points
4. John Russell – 477 Points
5. James Ellice – 377 Points
6. Gavin Clinch – 300 Points
7. Ian Billett – 195 Points
8. Jamie Patton – 193 Points
9. Alex Thurston – 101 Points
10.Phil Hauge – 96 Points

Thanks to James Healey for the report.

Chassis – Mugen MBX7R
Engine – Ultimate M4R
Tyres – Procircuit Road Runner Blue
Fuel – Nitrolux
Radio/Servos – Sanwa /Power HD
Body – Ultimate MBX7 Pro Buggy

Remarks – One of the event organisers here on his home track in Redovan, Spanish front runner Bryan Baldo is running an MBX7R equipped with a carbon servo saver plate and some Fastrace options such as the 20g rear chassis weight, carbon battery mount and +5mm rear shock mounts.

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Ielasi Tuned have introduced their all-new .12 nitro on-road engine. The World Championship Edition was created with the forthcoming 1/10th 200mm World Championship in Gubbio, Italy in mind and it features a special, lightweight conrod, a lightweight piston and lightweight crankshaft, all hand-modified by Daniele Ielasi himself. The Novarossi-based 2.11cc engine will hit the stores in the coming days.

Source: Ielasi Tuned [ielasituned.com]

Reigning champion Elliott Boots is Top Qualifier at the 1:8 Offroad European Championships, the Kyosho driver claiming the honour early with a second TQ run in the penultimate round of qualifying in Spain.  Opening the second day of qualifying with his fastest time around the huge RC Redovan track, Boots would top the times ahead of fellow Brit Darren Bloomfield who was just 2/10ths off the Q4 pace.  Winner of the second round of qualifying, Davide Ongaro would complete the Top 3 ahead of yesterday’s other TQ driver David Ronnefalk, a bad tyre choice ending the Swede’s chances of overall TQ honours.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.

Reigning champion Elliott Boots is Top Qualifier at the 1:8 Offroad European Championships, the Kyosho driver claiming the honour early with a second TQ run in the penultimate round of qualifying in Spain.  Opening the second day of qualifying with his fastest time around the huge RC Redovan track, Boots would top the times ahead of fellow Brit Darren Bloomfield who was just 2/10ths off the Q4 pace.  Winner of the second round of qualifying, Davide Ongaro would complete the Top 3 ahead of yesterday’s other TQ driver David Ronnefalk, a bad tyre choice ending the Swede’s chances of overall TQ honours.

‘Stage one complete I suppose’, was Boots reaction to claiming his second consecutive Euros TQ which last year he was able to convert into a first European title.  Switching to the light version of Pro-Line’s Fugitive tyre for the fourth qualifier he said the tyre was really good adding it might be an option for the Semi Final.  Having run the standard Fugitive in the previous qualifiers, he said while the tyre is around 3/10th slower than the light it the perfect tyre for the Main adding his MP9 is ‘really comfortable and nice & easy to drive’.  While the overall TQ is already wrapped up, the former World Championship Top Qualifier’s competitive instinct hasn’t waned.  Asked if he would use Q5 to test for anything for the finals, he replied, ‘It would be nice to have the TQ with three perfect scores’.

Pleased with another P2 run,  Bloomfield said, ‘we ran the car the same but it understeered a bit and that was on my mind the whole run’.  The Agama driver added, ‘I  don’t know why really (it had understeer) but we will have to try something (for Q5) but I haven’t thought it through yet’.  One idea he has it to glue the insert to the wheel but as Beta tyres come pre glued he said ’its a big job’.  The 2012 Champion said ‘seeing as I was that close (to Boots) I don’t know if I need to change much’.  He continued, ‘I was slow through the whoops once and then on the uphill section I hit the pipe which put me out in the dust.  Without these I could easy have been 2-seconds ahead of Elliott’s time’.

15-year-old Ongaro was pleased with the start to his day, the Italian’s only report a mistake in the whoops which he said cost him about 1-second.  With the only change to his Mugen a fresh set of Procircuit Road Runner tyres he said the car was ‘again all perfect’.  With the result locking him into the Semi after a poor Q1, the reigning European Junior Champion said the plan for the final qualifier is to ‘just push’.

‘OK, I went for the wrong compound’ was Ronnefalk’s reaction to Q4.  Going for a soft AKA Zipps tyre he said it was too soft leading to ‘one pretty rough lap as the car was tricky to drive’.  The HB Racing driver added ‘I’m sure the problem was just the compound as it was good in the warm-up but then in the race to good hard to drive’.  The former back to back champion said ‘even with the car not good I could still get 4th so its all good and the aim now for the last one is to get the pole for the Semi B’.

Deciding in the end to copy his brother in changing to a heaver centre diff in his Mugen, Bryan Baldo said he ‘didn’t like it’ but was happy to get a 5th for the round.  Planning to go back down in the diff for Q5, the Spaniard said with three solid qualifiers now he would use the final qualifier to try some things, one being a different tyres just to get a comparison to the new prototype tyre he has been running thus far in qualifying. His brother Oscar who got a P9 for the round also didn’t like the diff change and he too will revert back.

2015 finalist Marco Baruffolo would claim his first Top 6 but the TLR driver wasn’t overly happy with the run.  The Italian said ‘I never got the whoops right so I never had one clean lap’.  Adding one degree more anti squat for the round, this improved his Picco powered 8ight giving him more corner speed but needing another good run he will make no more changes for the final qualifier and try drive cleaner especially through the whoops. Behind Baruffolo, surprise of Q1 João Figueiredo would post a second Top 10 finish with a P7 to go with his P5.

Elsewhere Robert Battle would end up 21st after a simple mistake but as he tried to return to the track his Mugen got caught up on one of the pipe retaining pins costing him over 6-seconds. Other than this the former World Champion said his car was good as he posted his best lap of qualifying with a 52.739.

View complete event results here.

View our complete event image gallery here.

Coming from T-Works and made for Xray’s XB8’16 1/8th off-road buggy are several new hardware sets. First up is a 64 titanium turnbuckle set including a total of six links and two suitable wrenches. The high-quality titanium turnbuckles replace the standard spring steel ones for lighter parts that also add some visual impact. Also new are two screw sets, one made of 64 titanium to scrub overall weight while the gold-plated steel screw set adds some bling to the buggy. Last but not least comes a 22-piece 7075-T6 hard-coated aluminium ball set. Included are various pivot balls to replace the standard steel parts for lighter items that scrub a good amount of weight.

Source: T-Works [rc-tworks.com]

Team Associated have introduced the laydown transmission conversion set for the B6D 2WD buggy. Including everything needed to convert the B6D from a standup configuration to laydown, the set comes with new gearbox halves, blue anodised motor plate, idler gear and gearbox brace. The laydown transmission will lower the vehicle’s overall centre of gravity, reducing polar moment and thus increasing corner speed in higher grip conditions.

Source: Team Associated [teamassociated.com]
https://www.teamassociated.com/parts/details/91705/

Coming from Team Associated is the limited edition Apex 1/10th 4WD touring car kit. Available for the North American market only the kit, that is the base for AE’s popular Apex RTR vehicles, features a shaft-driven 4WD drivetrain, large volume shock absorbers, realistic brake discs and callipers and it is the ideal base to get started into VTA, touring on-road or drift racing. The rolling kit needs and RC system, electrics, a body and wheels for completion.

Source: Team Associated [teamassociated.com]