Red RC - RC Car News

It is game on at the 1:8 Onroad World Championships in France as Simon Kurzbuch delivered a second TQ meaning the overall TQ will be decided in the final rescheduled 5th qualifier.  During the fifth round of qualifying a short but torrential rain shower halted proceedings leaving drivers to wait for the track to dry. With IFMAR rules permitting a round of qualifying to resume after rain once the track returns to the same condition, the call was made to run Q6 first and afterwards finish out Q5.  With reigning champion Kurzbuch clearly fired up it would be his lighting fast pit stop that would force the battle between himself and Dario Balestri to be decided in the final qualifier of the 21st running of the World Championships.

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

It is game on at the 1:8 Onroad World Championships in France as Simon Kurzbuch delivered a second TQ meaning the overall TQ will be decided in the final rescheduled 5th qualifier.  During the fifth round of qualifying a short but torrential rain shower halted proceedings leaving drivers to wait for the track to dry. With IFMAR rules permitting a round of qualifying to resume after rain once the track returns to the same condition, the call was made to run Q6 first and afterwards finish out Q5.  With reigning champion Kurzbuch clearly fired up it would be his lighting fast pit stop that would force the battle between himself and Dario Balestri to be decided in the final qualifier of the 21st running of the World Championships.

With drivers having little time to prepare their cars for what is officially Q5, with 3 from 6 to count, Kurzbuch reaction on crossing the line summed up the Swiss desire to start his title defence from pole position. In full battle mode the Shepherd driver summed up his Q6 TQ, the first to see 27-laps, with ‘I’m back’.  He added, ‘Now I had my run, it was clean and we put in the fastest pitstop of the event.  This is how we plan to do it again in the next one’.

Balestri also wasn’t in talkative mood after losing out to Kurzbuch.  The Italian said, ‘I have nothing. His pitstop was 19.8’. Also with two TQ’s, both of which he registered on yesterday’s opening day of qualifying, it is only him and Kurzbuch left in contention to be the Top Qualifier, the Infinity driver having looked at one stage as if he would take that honour early when he topped Q4 only for Serpent Yuya Sahashi to post a surprise fastest time from the fourth fastest heat.

Completing the Top 3 for the round but failing to go 27-laps would be Naoto Matsukura.  The Top seed said his car was a little nervous and described the run as ‘a safety drive’ because he needed the points.  Planning to revert to a set-up from earlier in the event for his final qualifying attempt, the Infinity driver said he will again go for a safe run to improve his points and final ranking.  Behind Matsukura, former World Champion Robert Pietsch had his best run setting the fourth fastest time ahead of Jesse Davis, Shoki Takahata and Silvio Hachler. With engine trouble preventing Bruno Coelho from starting the qualifier, there was also bad luck for reigning European 1/10th Champion Toni Gruber as he looked set for a Top 3 run until his WRC flamed out with 30-seconds to go.

View complete event results here.

View our event image gallery here.

We sat with former World Champion Rody Roem from VS engines, who talked us through the latest version of his on-road engine called the R02. Although based off an OS unit, the engine features a unique combustion chamber specifically designed by Roem himself. With the main focus of the brand remaining providing the highest possible level of quality, the other distinctive item is the crankshaft, where the flow of fuel and the timing have been optimised for a better response.

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Chassis – Serpent 988 Viper
Engine – OS Speed R2103
Tyres – Matrix (Handout)
Fuel – Runner Time
Radio/Servos – Sanwa
Body – Xtreme Aerodynamics R18 Strong
Remarks – Having received his car shortly before the start of the race, Japanese Serpent driver Yuya Sahashi is running the latest Viper 988 in a pretty standard version, only equipped with a set of titanium upper screws.

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Chassis – Capricorn C803
Engine – Tesla T21
Tyres – Matrix (Handout)
Fuel – Energy
Radio/Servos – Sanwa
Body – Protoform R19
Remarks – Capricorn factory driver Robin D’Hondt is running a C803 from the Italian factory equipped with an Evo chassis. The Belgian is also using a pair of separate gearbox shaft mounts in order to increase the flex of the rear end, a 6mm lightweight transmission axle, front and rear cvd’s with aluminium wheel axles and a new bumper, which is stiffer and holds the body posts directly.

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Available now from 3DRC are anti-tuck body stiffeners for on-road body shells. 3-D-printed from tough yet flexible and lightweight material the braces are of a simple design and they are installed in the rear part of the body to prevent unwanted, time-robbing and race-destroying body tucks – a phenomenon that sees the rear part of the body/rear fender getting deformed in an impact and caught by the rear wheels, which will ultimately make the car unmaneuverable. The set includes two anti-tuck braces, installing requires four M3x5mm button head screws and the parts are usable on 1/10th 190mm and 200mm bodies alike.

Source: 3DRC [shapeways.com]

RC Prostyle have introduced first option parts for Mugen’s brand new MTC1 1/10th electric touring car in the form of carbon fibre battery mounts and fan mounts made from the same material. Starting with the battery retainers, the set includes front and rear battery brackets machined from carbon fibre to replace the standard moulded composite parts while also utilising a tape-less mounting system using carbon fibre plates. The set is a direct replacement for the standard parts and it not only speed up battery swaps but also does away with tweak issues associated with using fibre reinforced tape to strap the battery down. Also new and made as a direct fit for the MTC1 are carbon fibre motor fan mounts. Available for 30mm and 40mm fans the braces attach directly to the layshaft mount, making for a floating and thus tweak-free design.

Source: RC Prostyle [rcprostyle.com]

German company Absima have introduced their new Paintz Matt matte spray clear coat. Two or three layers of this matte coat, that is supplied in 150ml spray cans, applied to the outside of polycarbonate body shells will create the sought-after matte finish look and thanks to being fuel-resistant it is also usable for the body shells of nitro models.

Source: Absima [absima.com]

Yuya Sahashi caught everyone by surprise on the second day of qualifying as he posted a TQ run in the first of the day’s three scheduled rounds of qualifying. A cloudy morning in Monteux, the Serpent driver set the time in Group 12 of 15, topping his heat ahead of Jilles Groskamp who would get a P3 for the round.  With the attention on the top heat, it looked as overnight provisional TQ holder Dario Balestri had sealed the deal as he crossed the line on the top of the scoreboard ahead of Simon Kurzbuch but rather than a finishing 1-2, their times left them P2 and P4 respectively.  Top seed Naoto Matsukura would see his chances of taking the overall TQ on his 1:8 World Championship debut end with an off.  Other front runners to have issues included Bruno Coelho who finished 7th after heavy contact with the pitwall during his refuelling, him reporting afterwards his car was tweaked as a result.  With a P3 run in Q2 yesterday, Jessie Davis was another to make an error going off track and ending up with a P9.

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

Yuya Sahashi caught everyone by surprise on the second day of qualifying as he posted a TQ run in the first of the day’s three scheduled rounds of qualifying. A cloudy morning in Monteux, the Serpent driver set the time in Group 12 of 15, topping his heat ahead of Jilles Groskamp who would get a P3 for the round.  With the attention on the top heat, it looked as overnight provisional TQ holder Dario Balestri had sealed the deal as he crossed the line on the top of the scoreboard ahead of Simon Kurzbuch but rather than a finishing 1-2, their times left them P2 and P4 respectively.  Top seed Naoto Matsukura would see his chances of taking the overall TQ on his 1:8 World Championship debut end with an off.  Other front runners to have issues included Bruno Coelho who finished 7th after heavy contact with the pitwall during his refuelling, him reporting afterwards his car was tweaked as a result.  With a P3 run in Q2 yesterday, Jesse Davis was another to make an error going off track and ending up with a P9.

‘So good’ was how Sahashi summed up Q4. With his best run a P8 in Q2 yesterday, the older brother of 2013 World Campion Tadahiko, said a better clutch and gearbox set-up as well as changes to the rear body support position had made for a more stable car.  The former 1:8 and 1:10 World finalist driver continued that due to commitments with his hobby shop in Japan he had no time to test the new car before coming to France and so yesterday they were still searching for the right set-up.  Happy with his 988 Viper now, setting the fastest lap from Kurzbuch by almost 1/10th of a second, he said the next thing to work on is his ‘mind’ as he feels there is more to come from better driving.

Asked about his run, Balestri said, ‘I had a small mistake on lap 18 which gave me a 16.6 (seconds lap) and I lost the TQ but it is all ok’.  The Infinity driver said the overcast conditions worked in his car’s favour saying, ‘the cooler conditions are better for me’.  A clean run, the Italian said, ‘traffic as always was a problem’ adding ‘maybe the referee needs to pay more attention’.

Balestri’s team-mate Groskamp described his latest qualifying run as ‘perfect’.  Unlike driver feedback from the top heat, the Dutch driver continued, ‘Our heat is so nice, everyone always gives you room’.  Running in the 4th fastest grouping, he said Patrick Schafer was behind him in the run and going fast and having him so close behind ‘maybe cost me a couple of tenth’ – him finishing less than 2/10th shy of Balestri’s time.  Changing his refuelling to come for an early pitstop he said ‘everything was perfect’ adding ‘our car is really good in the morning’.  Asked about Q5, he said, ‘I am now safe in the Semis so we are already thinking about Saturday (Finals day). I’m super happy.’

‘It was a good run but we didn’t win’, was reigning Champion Kurzbuch’s reaction to Q3.  The Shepherd driver, ‘I thought I got 2nd and when I saw others had gone fastest I was a little surprise but it was a good thing because Dario couldn’t complete 3 TQs.  So it is still open’.  The Swiss driver added, ‘we definitely need to risk more. We have good results in the bag but I want to get another zero in there’.

Heading the Mugen charge at RC Circuit Jean Nougier, Syoki Takahata said would post the 5th fastest time.  The Japanese driver said ‘this time I have a very good feeling with the car, it was better than yesterday’. Making no changes to his OS Speed powered MRX6, he said while the track is different each run this morning’s cooler conditions really suit his car. While pleased with his own driving he said he lost time with a bad pitstop as his mechanic dropped his car, his pitstop about 2-seconds slower than his rivals.

Former 1:10 World Champion Meen Vejrak would complete the Top 6 with a much improved performance.  The Maxima engines backed driver said, ‘every day we improve the car but because of the rain we are one day behind’.  Not coming to the track prior to the event, the Thai driver was able to take part in IDP (International Driver Practice) but rain curtailed the second day. He added, ‘it is a bit like Gubbio (last year’s 1:10 Worlds), we were slow for the first 3-days but we were able to improve’, those improvements seeing him make the Main Final.  Running a Capricorn chassis he said, ‘each time we have made a little step forward and I hope we can continue with that pace in the last two qualifiers’.

View complete event results here.

View our event image gallery here.

Coming from WRC Racing is their new LM16 1.2 1/10th 200mm pan car kit. The car was developed for the use with 200mm LMP body shells and formula class rubber tyres and it features a redesigned battery compartment that allows to use both inline and transversal battery positions while the rear suspension assembly was improved to give increased suspension travel which will lead to greater side bite and thus faster lap times. Last but not least come reinforced front lower arms that are now more crash-resistant.

Source: WRC [wrc-racing.com]

Losi have introduced their new LST 3XL-E 1/8th scale electric 4WD ready-to-run monster truck. Designed for the use with 6S LiPo battery packs the latest incarnation of Losi’s popular LST platform is capable of speeds of up to 80km/h while the Active Vehicle Control system ensures full vehicle control at all times. The truck is equipped with a full-time 4WD system with LSD centre differential and driveshafts with spring-retained couplers while ultra high capacity shocks with threaded alloy bodies and 5mm shock shafts soak up any bumps and jumps. Other features include sturdy 17mm wheel hexes, an optional wheelie bar, as well as spacious battery compartments that allow to use dual battery setups as chassis-mounted battery connectors ensure high reliability and safety. The truck is powered by a Dynamite Fuze 2200kv brushless motor with integrated cooling fins, and waterproof components make for go-everywhere capabilities. The package is rounded out by a Spektrum S904 1/6th scale digital servo and Spektrum’s DX2E Active transmitter, the latter can be equipped with optional telemetry features. Last bit not least comes a pre-painted body shell with flip top body mount. The truck is set for a release in November.

Features:
– Bulletproof moulded low CG chassis with hard-anodised aluminium inserts
– Based on proven LST platform
– Spektrum 1/6 scale digital servo
– Dynamite Fuze 4-pole 2200kv brushless motor
– Spektrum DX2E Active radio system with AVC technology
– Dynamite Fuze 150A 6S speed controller
– Waterproof ESC, servo & receiver
– Full ball bearings
– Rugged 4WD drivetrain
– Hard-anodised aluminium threaded oil-filled shocks
– Sealed front, rear and limited slip centre diff
– Custom blue-chrome finished wheels
– Aggressive MT tyres
– Optional wheelie bar included

Source: Losi [losi.com]

After the success of the British Open GP, the 1/10th IC National series would see round 7 hosted just two weeks later at the Halifax Track. The weather forecast, combined with the short gap between rounds led to a lower than usual turnout for the event. The Saturday practice day proved to be difficult for drivers with the track remaining damp or wet for the majority of the day. The Sunday race day again started damp but the track dried with the fastest qualifying runs coming in round 3 before it then rained again. In the 200mm class, James Conolly (Mugen Seiki/Picco MAG Tuned) would master the drying conditions to place his car on pole for the 30-minute final with Joe Kerry (Capricorn/O.S. Speed) and Alex Thurston (Serpent/XRD) lining up behind him.

Qualifying for the 220mm class would prove very competitive with 2017 Champion Glyn Beal (Serpent/XRD) coming out on top ahead of Devendra Mahatme (Shepherd/Picco) and Jason Fox (Capricorn/Max Power). Finally, in the 1/8th GT support class, Scott Hellawell (Serpent/XRD) would take a convincing TQ ahead of Matt Baker (Serpent/Picco) and Paul Dewsnap (Xray/XRD).

The 200mm A-final would see Conolly and Kerry making contact at the start. While Conolly would hold position, a mistake further around the lap allowed Thurston into the lead with Neil Wallace (Capricorn/O.S. Speed) in 2nd and Matthew Cook (HB Racing/O.S. Speed) in 3rd. Kerry would fight back after dropping to the back of the grid and take 3rd from Cook on lap 7. He’d then continue his efforts to get to the front by taking 2nd from Wallace on the next lap. As Thurston continued to lead comfortably, Kerry began to close the gap lap by lap. Conolly would get past Wallace on lap 11 after also having to battle his way from the back of the pack. Once Kerry had caught up to Thurston, they locked in an incredibly intense battle for around ten minutes with a fuel stop not even separating the two drivers. Unfortunately, the heavens again opened with around ten minutes left to run and the race became a challenge to keep the cars on track. Kerry continued on his dry tyres as Thurston pitted for damps with the latter eventually catching and passing Kerry on the penultimate lap to take the win.

The 220mm A-final would again start on a dry track with Beal leading away trouble free from Mahatme in 2nd and 4th place starter, Richard Boult (Xray/O.S. Speed), in 3rd. After the first fuel stops, Stewart Mcleod (Serpent/O.S. Speed) would begin a battle with Boult for the next five minutes until the rain would arrive once again. All drivers would pit for damp tyres with Boult emerging from the pits with the lead ahead of Mcleod and Mahatme which is how the top 3 would finish.

The 1/8th GT final would start on a drying track with Baker getting the better of Hellawell on the line whilst Dewsnap held position. On only the second time around, Baz Thompson (Serpent/Novarossi) would move to the front as Baker hit problems. Hellawell and Dewsnap would stay in 2nd and 3rd. On lap 6, Hellawell would move to the front with Dewsnap and Baker following him through a few laps later. Baker would overtake Dewsnap for 2nd after around 12 laps and set off after Hellawell. After around five minutes of running, the heavens opened and all drivers dropped around ten seconds per lap off the pace. Hellawell would continue to lead through the challenging conditions bringing his car home just one lap ahead of Thompson who had a great drive in the wet. Baker would complete the podium, a further lap down.

Source: BRCA [brca.org]

Exotek have introduced the Flite 75T centre spool set for the Team Associated B64 buggy. The ultra lightweight centre spool greatly reduces the rotating mass of the B64 for that extra boost in 13.5T and 17.5T blinky spec racing. The set weighs 18g with the spur gear whereas the stock diff weighs in at 42g in total. A machined 75T POM spur gear is included and bolts on to the lightweight alloy spool. Included also are coated steel outdrive cups for long lasting wear and are machined to accept the stock steel B64 centre bones or the super light weight MIP puck bone system for the B64.

Source: Exotek [exotekracing.com]

The 2017 Spring Cup was held recently at West Coast Model RC in Perth, Australia and it was Luke Taylor with the TQ and win in the 13.5T Touring Car class. Heath Johnson would follow on the runner-up spot while Brody Miller rounded out the top 3 podium result.

13.5T Touring Car final results:
1. Luke Taylor – Xray
2. Heath Johnson – Xray
3. Brody Miller – Yokomo
4. Toby Fleming – Xray
5. Kevin Aslett – Xray
6. Lloyd Croan – Awesomatix
7. Bailey Leslie – Yokomo
8. Nathan Dueckershoff – Yokomo
9. Mark DeGaye – Yokomo
10.Brett Leslie – Yokomo

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]

There was an exciting close to the opening day of qualifying at the 1:8 Onroad World Championship in France with Dario Balestri taking a super close Q3 to earn a second TQ run which leaves him the provisional overnight TQ holder. The Infinity driver would lead a 1,2,3 for the Japanese manufacturer from team-mates Francesco Tironi and Naoto Matsukura, the trio separated by just 0.082 of a second. With Matsukura looking on target for his first TQ run, a slight bobble with 30-seconds to go was enough to let both Balestri and Simon Kurzbuch go ahead of the timing screens but posting his fastest lap of the race on his final lap Matsukura would beat Kurzbuch. Tironi’s impressive time from the second fastest heat would mean Kurzbuch would get fourth for the round, the Top 8 all stopping the clock with 7 minute 4 second times. The only driver to win the World Championships in both 1:8 and 1:10, Adrien Bertin showed there is still life in the veteran posting an impressive P5 on what is set to be his final World Championship appearance.

‘Really, really close. I am really, really happy. It was a lot of fun’, was the reaction of a rather happy looking Balestri. The Italian continued, ‘the heat before was super hot so my engine was rich at the start (of Q3) because of the cooler conditions and because of this I was just aiming to run without mistake and claim important points.  But the engine started to get better and in the end I could push. I saw many drivers were super fast and knew it was going to be super close. And it was super super close.  He concluded, ‘I am really happy to take this one and say a big thank you to all the guys who have worked so hard on the car’.

Only 15th fastest in each of the opening two qualifiers, Tironi said, ‘It was super close’.  Only 6/100ths off Balestri, the friendly Italian said, ‘I am super happy with my car and engine. Heat by heat I am getting a better feeling with it.  It is not safe, nothing is safe here on this track but I now have the confidence to be able to push and at the end it was a super good run’.  With this performance, the former 1:10 World Championship podium finisher, is looking forward to tomorrow’s remaining three qualifiers.

‘I’m happy it was super close’ said Matsukura after Q3 but it was clear the Japanese driver was frustrated at missing out on the TQ.  In the closing stage of registering his first TQ run, he said, ‘It was windy again and the wind unsettled the car just before the climb up the hill into the sweeper. It cost me to lose a second because I had to come off the throttle and didn’t have the speed to carry me up through the sweeper’.  The reigning 1:12 World Champion, a title he has won 4-times, he said, ‘the result is not too bad buy I want to take the TQ so I will try again tomorrow’.

Summing up his run Kurzbuch said, ‘again a lot of traffic which puts you out of your rhythm a little bit but for all the top guys it was the same’.  He added, ‘we were close but I lost it in the last lap’, his time a 16.279 compared to Balestri’s 16.189 and Naoto’s 15.835.  The Shepherd driver continued, ‘overall the car, engine and mechanic are good and today we got one TQ point which is still the best time so it is still open. Everything is possible’.

‘My car was superb in the last one, I lost the TQ in the pits’ was the reaction of very happy Bertin, the HB Racing frontman getting great pleasure from having to end early a conservation with his 1:8 Offroad World Champion protege David Ronnefalk to tell us about his Q3 performance.  He continued, ‘My pitman dropped the car but he was also made a good call on the setting for the car for Q3 so its all good’.  Changing to a softer spring in the front he as well tweaking the droop he said this improved the rotation’.  He added, ‘I really enjoyed that (Q3).  I felt everything came together. In the first two I was super nervous and I drove like an old man but after this I feel much younger’. Two years since he last competitively raced 1:8, the Worlds in Brazil, he said, ‘I am so busy with my HB work normally this will be my last race so I want to go out properly by giving it my all. I hope to keep the good momentum tomorrow and get a Semi spot’.

Completing the Top 6 would be reigning 1:10 World Champion Dominic Greiner.  The Serpent driver described it as, ‘the first good run today’.  Suffering ‘2 or 3 little mistakes’, the German said ‘it was very close’ a fact that added to his frustration with traffic. ‘I was stuck behind a guy who would not let me pass him’.  On his early two qualifying attempts, he said ‘an important screw came loose in the first one which made the car hard to drive and in the second I had bad tyres but lost it on dirt put on the track by another car and threw it off the track’.  With a mistake by Bruno Coelho that required him to be marshalled in Q3 ending his chances, it was Alessio Mazzeo would was the top Xray finishing just behind Greiner and ahead of ARC’s Silvio Hachler.

View complete event results here.

View our event image gallery here.

Chassis – WRG GTX1.3
Engine – Novarossi Mito WC
Tyres – Matrix (Handout)
Fuel – Runner Time
Radio/Servos – KO Propo
Body – Blitz TS040
Remarks – WRC factory driver Toni Gruber is running the latest version of the GTX from the Italian manufacturer called 1.3. His car is equipped with a brass under LiPo weight, aluminium wheel axles and carbon aero wheel discs. The German is also using an optional chassis where the front cuts are more open in order to achieve more flex.

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Dario Balestri has taken the second round of qualifying at the 1:8 Onroad World Championships in France, the Italian coming good on his free practice pace from 2 days earlier.  The Infinity driver topped the round from Bruno Coelho as Q1 pace setter Simon Kurzbuch threw away a potential TQ run when he put his Shepherd on the grass. With marshalling assistance required to rejoin, the error would leave the reigning champion 17th.  Again the track showed it deserves respect with Top seed Naoto Matsukura again crashing out, only this time it ended his run less than 1-minute in. Behind Coelho, who also had a excursion, Jessie Davis completed the Top 3 making up for an error filled Q1 in which he ended up P29. Backing up his strong Q1 P6 run, Lars Hoppe would set the fourth fastest time ahead of Lamberto Collari and Teemu Leino.

Summing up his TQ run Balestri said, ‘I’m super happy because the car was really easy to drive and safe which was my objective’.  He continued, ‘this track is really hard so you must have a car that is consistent and calm.  I’m really happy’.  With temperatures rising for the second qualifier, last year’s 1:10 Worlds Top Qualifier said ‘we changed something for this and it was really good’.  Set to run the day’s third & final qualifier after 18:00 local time he said, ‘If the temperature changes then I just go back to (the set-up from) before’.

‘It was very good until I exited the track’, said Coelho.  The Xray driver would go off at the sweeper saying he wasn’t sure why he had gone off there. ‘I think I hit a stone and it caused the car to jump so I arrived wide in the corner and went off.  I was leading (at the time) with some space on the others I think’. He continued, ‘we are not lucky but we will work on this for sure’.  In terms of his car, setting an identical fastest lap for the round to Francesco Tironi, he said, ‘I think our car is better in this temperature than when it is cooler but we will see later in Q3’.

Suffering two mistakes in Q1, Davis summed up his second qualifying attempt as ‘better’.  The Australian said his pace was good in the first one and had a Top 5 run in it but he was too fast in the pitlane and crashed while exiting after his fuel stop.  Changing his shock position for the extra high temperature of Q2 this gave him a car that was ‘safe and easy to drive’ and he also ‘made sure to go slow in the pitlane’.  Referring to Q3 as the ‘rocket round’, he said the track will be cooler but not sure of how much of a temperature drop there will be he will for now ‘play it by ear’ regarding any set-up changes.

On finding out he had got a fourth for the round, Hoppe called it ‘perfect’.  Describing his Shepherd as ‘a little more difficult’ he said with conditions ‘very hot’ the traction was ‘not so good’.  The German said he started the run with understeer which turned to oversteer especially on throttle.  Happy it was a cleaner run from him having had a mistake in Q1, he did have to check up from a mistake by Teemu Leino saying it was better to ‘choose to be safe’.   He added, ‘my pitstop was awesome this time’.

While he would get a P5 after a DNF in Q1, Collari was clearly not happy with his car.  The 9-time World Champion said, ‘the feeling is not so good’ and with an ‘overall lack of grip’ he can’t use the full power of his engine.  Describing his run as ‘cruising’, the Italian said he just ‘tried to finish the heat in the best way possible’.

Completing the Top 6 ahead of Hot Race tyres boss Nicola Marrone, Leino described the run as ‘much better’.  With a DNF in Q1, the Finn said, ‘I went from my own set-up to something similar to what everyone else (in the Infinity team) is using and I had more overall corner speed.  For the next one I will completely copy the set-up’.  Losing ‘a little time’ on his fuel stop and also in traffic, the former 1:10 Worlds Top Qualifier said ‘without this I think I could have got second so its looking good’.

Rueing the missed opportunity to back up his Q1 TQ with another top run, his off coming 3-laps from the finish, Kurzbuch said, ‘A completely messy run I would say’.  He continued, ‘At the end of the warm-up I touched a little bit the curbing and went on the grass and hit a monster stone and destroyed the front of the body so the first few laps were not so fast.  I could start to close the gap but was sitting behind a car I couldn’t get passed.  I don’t know here if it is normal for the faster car to be let through’.  Frustrated that no call was made for the offending car to open, he continued, ‘I heard it was close with Dario so I had to push and made a mistake.  These things happen but we will bounce back in the next one’.

View complete event results here.

View our event image gallery here.

Chassis – Xray RX8
Engine – Max Power RP9.S
Tyres – Matrix (Handout)
Fuel – Runner Time
Radio/Servos – Sanwa/Savox
Body – SRC
Remarks – Xray’s top driver Bruno Coelho is running an RX8 equipped with a number of option parts. His chassis is fitted with an 80g tungsten under LiPo weight and an additional 30g cylindrical weight, while the transmission features a 30T centre front pulley. The Portuguese ace is also using aluminium wheel axles and servo saver, and a set of graphite hard suspension arms.

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Bruno Coelho (Volante Modified)

Xray T4 ’17 – Hobbywing Xerun V10 4.5T – Hobbywing Xerun XR10 Pro – EZ Power Graphene 6600mAh – Montech Racer body – Sanwa transmitter – Savox Servo

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Alexander Duchet (Xray Pro Stock)

Xray T4 ’17 – Muchmore Fleta 13.5T – Muchmore Fleta Euro ESC  – LRP Stock Spec 8000mAh – Protoform LTCR body – Sanwa transmitter – Highest Servo

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David Ehrbar (Serpent Formula)

Serpent F110 SF3 – Scorpion RS-3420 21.5T – Scorpion Vanguard ETS Black Edition – Arrowmax 4600mAh – ODP Gonzo body – Sanwa transmitter – GM Servo

The final round of A-Mains at the ETS Season #10 finale has been rained off. A weekend of hot conditions with around half an hour left to go to bring the season to a close, heavy rain arrived at Minidrom Ettlingen drenching the track and ending any chances of running the A3.  With the overall wins in Modified and Formula already decided in A2, Bruno Coelho and Tim Benson the winners, it was the Pro Stock class that lost out.  With Olivier Bultynck winning A1 and Alexandre Duchet A2, with only two Mains run it was the best result of two to decide the final result with a fastest winning time giving it to Bultynck over the new champion Duchet.  Tobias Vogel, third in A1 completed the podium in Germany.  In terms of the podium for Modified, a faster P2 in the opening A-Main would give Infinity’s Naoto Matsukura his second consecutive podium while Xray’s Tim Wahl, second in A2, celebrates his first ever ETS podium, the German putting in a great home event.  Behind first time ETS winner Benson, in Formula Matej Dobnikar would end the season with his best ever result finishing second while Jitse Miedema, second in A2, completed the podium. Newly crowned champion David Ehrbar rounded out his season with 7th place.

View the complete event results here.

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Back to back Euro Touring Series Champion Bruno Coelho has capped off his title winning campaign with a record breaking 5th win of the season at Minidrom Ettlingen in Germany.  Top Qualifier for a 5th time in Season #10, the Xray driver wrapped up his 10th ETS career win with another dominant drive in A2, this time heading home team-mate Tim Wahl.  Behind the Xrays, contact between the two Infinity’s of Naoto Matsukura and Marc Rheinard would mix things up a little allowing Ronald Volker through to third.  In the end Matsukura would take back the position from his former team-mate to complete the top 3 after seeing off a final corner pass attempt by Mugen’s Robert Pietsch.

Reacting to his A2 performance, Coelho said, ‘I started very strong, the car felt perfect over the first 3-laps and I already had a lead of something like 1-second so then I could just manage the advantage’. Celebrating his overall win at a hot Ettlingen with some ice cream, he said, ‘The goal is always to win every time and learn & develop.  I was not 110% prepared for this race because when I came here for testing it rained so I’m super happy with today’s result.  The 5 wins are the result of all our work over the year. I have to thank Francesco (Martini) for his perfect job all season and also all my sponsors as we all work in this direction’. With Montech’s new Racer bodyshell making a big impact this weekend, he continued, ‘I am happy with Montech’s new body.  Six cars used it in the final which is very positive step’.

‘I don’t think I was at any time before as nervous as this time’ said Wahl after A2.  Doing an impressive job to qualify second for his first ETS outdoor A-Main appearance, the German who wasn’t comfortable with the conditions in A1 said this time, ‘everything was perfect’, it having got hotter since the morning’s opening encounter.  Looking strong now for his first podium finish he said, ‘for sure the aim is the podium but Marc and Naoto know Bruno will not race (A3) so they will be looking for a (leg) win too’.  The 22-year-old concluded, ‘I will try my best and see what happens’.

Matsukura declared himself ‘lucky’ to get third in A2.  Surviving getting tapped from behind by Rheinard and then eventually getting by Volker when the Yokomo driver had a half spin while under pressure from his fellow former World Champion.  Describe the hit from Rheinard as a ‘race accident’, the Japanese driver said, ‘my car was pretty good after that but then I had a mistake on the straight, I was super lucky to get away with it’.  It was this moment that let Pietsch close him up, the separation at the line just 2/100ths of a second.  Looking to better his 3rd place at the previous round at the Hudy Arena, Matsukura said the plan for A3 was to ‘pressure him (Wahl) at the start and hope I can get a good pass with no contact’.

‘Nice races’, was Pietsch’s reaction after A2.  The nitro World Champion has been making a big impression on Mugen’s ETS debut with his new MTC-1 touring car and is showing he is not afraid to mix it with electric’s best racers.  Asked about getting up to 4th position from his P6 starting position, he replied, ‘I don’t know how it happened. I just wanted to keep it clean and it was working out’.  With the racing on track a lot closer than normally experienced in nitro, and this only his second EP outdoor race he is enjoying the experience saying, ‘I have the feeling everyone is careful and won’t make stupid moves so its nice to race like that and I think its good for the spectators too to watch’.  On his attempted pass on Matsukura he said, ‘he went a little outside at the hairpin so I saw a gap but I didn’t accelerate enough’.  For the closing race of the season he will make a speedo setting change, feeling he was down a little in top speed compared to the others. Behind Pietsch, Rheinard would finish 5th followed by Volker.

While little happened at the front of the Volante Modified encounter, A2 of Xray Pro Stock would see French ETS season rookie Alexandre Duchet take the title and make fans among onlookers as he pulled off an impressive pass on title rival Olivier Bultynck.  Having won A1, Top Qualifier Bultynck looked like he was on target to take the overall win but on the last lap Duchet got down the inside of the Awesomatix driver in the infield to make it a dream debut season as he retains the title for Xray.  In the Scorpion Power Formula class, Tim Benson wrapped up his first overall ETS victory taking his Serpent to the A2 win albeit by a smaller margin second time round from Infinity’s Jitse Miedema who was closing fast on the German over the closing laps. Bultynck completed the Top 3 while Jan Ratheisky retired meaning it is David Ehrbar who is the overall champion making it a great day for Team Serpent.

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Bruno Coelho cruised to an easy win in the opening A-Main of the ETS Season Finale in Germany this morning, the Top Qualifier having a winning margin of almost three seconds over Naoto Matsukura.  Top Qualifier at the uniquely challenging Minidrom Ettlingen track, Coelho immediately took control of A1 making a blistering start ahead of Xray team-mate Tim Wahl. Starting his first ever outdoor ETS A-Main from second on the grid, Wahl was looking good in 2nd early on but had a slight moment on the curbing was enough to let Matsukura and the rest of the pack to close, the Infinity driver executing an impressive move on the German on the entry to the sweeper to take second.  Matsukura’s Infinity team-mate Marc Rheinard would shortly make a similar pass on Wahl, these being the only two passes of the race, the rest of the field finishing in the order they started.

‘It was a very good final. I was very confident with the car after my 1/2 lap warm-up’, said Coelho after the race.  Chasing his fifth win of the season, the back to back Champion said, ‘Tim had not so good a start which gave me space so I could just drive my own race and lead it to the end’.  Describing track conditions as ‘completely different to yesterday’, he said, ‘it was more stable in the rear and much easier to drive and I hope it stays like this for the rest of the day’.

‘I’m happy with second’ was how Matsukura summed up his opening final.  Starting third on the grid he said, ‘I took Tim on the straight which was a perfect pass but it was too late because Bruno was too far away’.  Also describing track conditions as being ‘different’ today, the ETS Slovakia podium finisher said, ‘my car was super easy but after 2-minutes it had understeer so we make a little change in the set-up for the next one to get more steering’.  A driver who seems to have re-found his touring car form since joining class newcomers Infinity, the 2014 World Champion said, ‘I try to get one place better the next one’.

Giving his views on A1, Rheinard said, ‘What can I  say we lost the race in qualifying again’.  The 4-time World Champion continued, ‘Bruno is a little faster but I think we are closer than it looks.  If I was starting second I could at least challenge Bruno a little bit’.  He added, ‘It is a difficult track to pass but I made a nice move on Tim on the straight which gave me third’.  With Montech’s Racer body looking to have the advantage at this track Rheinard concluded, ‘I was the best LTC finisher’.

‘I’m happy with this’ was Wahl’s reaction to finishing 4th.  With 4-World Champions on the grid, he continued, ‘If anyone said before the start I would finish 4th I would agree with this’.  In terms of his car, he said, ‘It was not perfect for these conditions. The track is more stable today and my car is best when its loose but it is windy and getting hotter so I expect it to change’.

In the Pro Stock class, Olivier Bultynck couldn’t do more for his title aspirations as the Awesomatix driver lead from start to finish with championship rival Alexandre Duchet finishing 2nd.  Contact between Tom Krägefski and Max Mächler would benefit Tobias Vogel who would complete the Top 3.  In Formula, Serpent’s Tim Benson drove the perfect race, the Top Qualifier winning from Matej Dobnikar who closed in the final laps.  In the title battle, reigning champion Jan Ratheisky got the better of Bultynck to finish 3rd, the duo having start 8th and 6th respectively.

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