20 years on & Collari still top of the World

The weather forced us to wait a day longer than originally planned but today we got to witness another great World title drive from the master of 1:8 Onroad racing Lamberto Collari and see just why he is the greatest 1:8 driver off all time. Starting the one hour final from second, the Italian drove the perfect race taking his ninth title 20-years on from when he claimed his very first World Championship. Taking the challenge to Top Qualifier, and the only true danger man, Robert Pietsch in the opening part of the race Collari hit cruise control once he had forced problems on the German. In the end the Kyosho/Novarossi driver took a very comfortable two lap winning margin over American Mike Swauger who came out top of the biggest battle of the race to claim second over former Champion Adrien Bertin.

Following Pietsch for the opening part of the race Collari, who was on longer runs between fuelling than the other nine drivers, caught everyone by surprise with his early pace in particular Pietsch. The Mugen driver was forced to push much harder than planned as Collari, who set the fastest lap of the 1 hour final, chased him down. This extra pace meant both higher fuel consumption and tyre wear for Pietsch and in the end this was to bring an end to his challenge. At mid point of the race Pietsch’s car flamed out as he tried to hang onto Collari. Afterwards Collari was quick to praise the key role played by his pit crew, Andrea Gardini and Luca Poggiali, in helping him to claim the title today. Described as the Ross Brawn of the operation, Poggiali’s strategy just left the opposition with little or no chance, with Collari handed a 7 second extension every 20 minutes thanks to his 5 minute fuel stop stategy.

Runner up Swauger said he obviously came here wanting to win but was pleased with his result considering the man that finished in front of him and his lack of experience on European tracks which he said are completely different to the flat tracks in his home country. After a bad start and his engine needing to be leaned off during the first stop, the Mugen driver said once he settled into a rhythm the race went pretty much as planned. Working his way back up through the field he was part of the biggest battle of the race eventually getting the upper hand over Bertin. Having struggled in qualifying and having to come through from the 1/4 finals, Bertin said he wasn’t surprised by his podium. Having found the problem with his Team Orion powered Kyosho in time for the 1/4 Finals, which he won, the Frenchman said he had the package to beat Swauger for second but in the end it was his physical condition that let him down. Throughout the championships Bertin has suffered with a painful right arm but after the race he paid tribute to Collari saying the best driver won.

Missing out on a podium finish Pietsch was justifiably feeling low about the outcome of the delayed race. Having been the pace setter all week claiming the TQ honours and recording the outright fastest lap of the week, he said Collari’s speed in the early part of the race had caught them out and forced them to change strategy. Disappointed at not even making the podium he said he can take some consolation from the fact he was the only driver to challenge Collari for the victory.

For the other two direct qualifiers the race was a difficult one. Starting from third Alberto Picco said he just didn’t have the set-up to challenge for a podium placing. The Italian felt his Picco powered Mugen was very good in the 1 hour practice yesterday and he was confident of a good race. However this morning his car didn’t suit the conditions and despite changes in the 4-minute warm-up before the final he couldn’t get the car to work. Contact in the early part of the race saw him roll and chunk his rear right tyre. Trying to continue till his scheduled fuel stop he went off onto the grass losing a lot of time as the now wet tyres, from the morning dew, had no traction. In the end Picco finished fifth, six seconds adrift of Pietsch with the Motonica of Dario Balestri completing the Top 6.

Carrying all the hopes of the Serpent team in the final, Mark Green was disappointed to finish 8th. Having claimed his first ever direct qualification to a World Final, starting from fourth, the British ace got tagged a number of times on the opening lap and said his frustration got the better of him and he went off onto the wet grass. Having had to switch to an emergency engine from Novarossi, after problems with his other motors in the warm up yesterday, Green said his 966 and engine was great but his driving was the weakness today.

Final Official results
1. Collari Lamberto (IT) – 172 Laps in 1:00:19.212
2. Swauger Mike (US) – 170 Laps in 1:00:04.276
3. Bertin Adrien (FR) – 170 Laps in 1:00:11.468
4. Pietsch Robert (DE) – 169 Laps in 1:00:14.138
5. Picco Alberto (IT) – 169 Laps in 1:00:20.582
6. Balestri Dario (IT) – 167 Laps in 59:58.875
7. Shimo Takaaki (JP) – 167 Laps in 1:00:06.954
8. Green Mark (EN) – 166 Laps in 1:00:09.586
9. Vrielijnck Rick (NL) – 165 Laps in 1:00:10.562
10.D’hondt Robin (BE) – 164 Laps in 1:00:01.518

Click here for full final standings.

So the two year count down to the next 1:8 Onroad World Championship is already underway when the World’s best drivers will travel to the USA. Rumoured to being hosted at Kissimmee R/C Raceway in Florida, all the team’s need to go back to the drawing board if they are to deny the master, who still has the hunger for success, his 10th title. RedRC would like say ‘grazie’ to everyone at the Mini Racing Ticino E Moesa club for their help throughout our enjoyable stay at what is the most picturesque track settings in the world. Thanks also to Serpent and Mugen for making our coverage of this great event possible.

View our event image gallery here.