Red RC Events

July 1, 2008

Dust settles quietly on Day 1

Tuesday Action

The opening day of the 2008 EFRA European 1:8 off Road Buggy Championships has come to a close and as the dust settles here in Crete the drivers had little to report as they eased themselves in to the event over the single 15 minute practice session that made up today’s timetable.

The track was the biggest talking point today with many of the top drivers saying the surface was their main concern. It would appear from drivers who took part in the Warm up race earlier in the year that the track surface has remained largely untouched since that event.

Joseph Quagraine’s Hobao

One interesting story in the pits is Joesph Quagraine is back running a Habao 8.5 that has been given the JQ touch with a number of modifications, the biggest of which is the placing of the receiver over the steering servo. Quagraine is also running his own shock towers on the car along with JQ Products lower suspension brackets.

Two times European Champion Davide Tortorici said after his run that his car was OK. The Crono team leader has reverted to standard kit shocks saying he prefers them to the prototype big bores and the Italian is also running a new front shock tower on his RS7. Top Kyosho driver Daniel Reckward said his first run went off OK but said while the track looked easy it was in fact quite challenging mainly due to the surface conditions. The German will make some changes to the diffs on his MP777 for tomorrow’s timed practice.

Top British driver Neil Cragg had a steady run but was another who reckoned the track is not as good as the Warm-up. The leading Team Associated runner now has Big Bore shocks on his RC8, which he didn’t have at the Warm-up, and is running new V2 Proline wheels which he says smooth the car out over the bumps. American star Richard Saxton has crossed the Atlantic to support the Associated team and was busy in the pits giving driver tuition to one of the team’s top drivers on the best lines to take.

Adrian Bertin is here supporting Team Orion drivers running the new CRF .21 engine and is also mechanic for electric touring car ace Teemu Leino. After the Finn’s run Bertin said the Xray/Orion combination was working really well and Leino was putting in really good lap times. Asked by Red RC about the dust levels, Bertin told us this is normal for off road saying ‘welcome to Buggy racing’.

Track view in the eyes of Mr. Gandini

Drivers will start Day 2 of the 2008 Euros with two timed runs tomorrow which will determine the reseed ahead of the first qualifying round in the evening. We will bring you more coverage, which is sponsored by Kyosho and LRP, throughout the day.

Check out our event image gallery here.

July 1, 2008

Final countdown under way to ’08 Euros

IMC Track

The final countdown is under way here in Crete for the start of the 2008 EFRA European 1:8 Off Road Championship with the sunshine beating down on the IMC track.

European Champion Robert Battle

The whose who of European off road are here and they are all looking to get their hands on the title currently held by Robert Battle. The young Spaniard is looking forward to the challenge of trying to retain his crown here on the Greek Island but is a little concerned over the small pebbles coming through the track surface. A concern raised by many of the drivers here. In terms of new parts on his GRP Hobao a slighted revised body shell is the only significant change.

The biggest news here is the all new Serpent prototype car that Joern Nuermann is running. The German who has tested the car already and says it a major step forward on the previous prototype and appears very confident that it will show well here. Unfortunately the car is being kept under wraps for the moment.

LRP S8BX of Hupo Honigl

Other product news from around the pits includes new big bore shock from LRP which are being run on Hubert Honigl car and leading Mugen driver Daniel Vega is trying some lightweight parts on his Mugen. News from the Kyosho team is that they will stick with the tried and trusted MP777. No MP9 will run as the car that won the recent Kyosho Masters was the C prototype version of the new car with a few small changes planned for the production model.

The first free practice run is due to get underway in just under an hour after which we will bring you the drivers first impression of the track as they settle themselves into the event.

Check out our event image gallery here.

July 1, 2008

1/8th scale Buggy Europeans – Live

European 1/8th scale Buggy Champs - Live

The best 1/8th scale buggy drivers in Europe are converging on the Greek island of Crete this week to battle it out on the fast and tricky IMC Club track in Iraklio and see who will become the 2008 European Champion. Robert Batlle will be of course be there to defend his crown, won last year in France, and he is up against some strong competition with the top factory teams pulling out all the stops to try and wrestle the title away from the Spanish Hobao driver. Red RC reporter Oisin O’Briain will be present all week reporting live trackside, bringing you our usual blend of quality reporting, photographs and interviews from this exciting event. Baring any last minute hiccups, the reporting will begin Tuesday afternoon and carry through to Saturday’s main final. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for the event, Kyosho and LRP, without whose support this would not be possible.

October 14, 2007

World Championship Final report

Final Podium

Lamberto Collari is the new 1/8th scale IFMAR World Champion, giving him an amazing 8th World Title. The race started clean for most racers except for Andrea Cristiani who had to pit for a new tire as his had come off from the wheel, this left him over a lap down behind the leaders. Early on, the race was turning into a 2 man race between pole man Massimo Fantini in the lead and Collari in 2nd position with Collari putting a lot of pressure on his fellow Italian. With this kind on continued press it looked inevitable that Collari was going to make the pass, which he did just after the 10 minute mark to the cheers of the huge crowds present to witness this spectacle. Once passed he just checked out and easily pulled a gap.

Fantini Rolls

It appeared that something was obviously wrong with Massimo’s Serpent and he was struggling with his pace resulting in a roll in the midfield that lost him a lot of time before the marshalls got to him due to his dangerous position. Once underway again he came into the pits for a long unscheduled pitstop and his challenge was over, despite continuing, a brake lever problem being the cause. Massimo’s problems promoted Tosolini to 2nd position behind Collari with Bertin in 3rd and the fastest driver on the track Andrea Cristiani to 4th who was 1 lap behind and looking to unlap himself. Andrea managed to pass Collari at the 24th minute but unfortunately needs to pit and so drops back behind the World Champion but goes after him again, all the while Motonica racer Dario Balestri is having problems on track and at the 28th minute he comes in for a very long stop, dropping him down to last.

Collari Pit Stop

At the 30 minute mark a lot of the drivers come into the pits for a tire change with some waiting later for the stop including Collari who leaves it another 5 minutes to make the change which gives the American Kyosho driver Chris Tosolini the lead as it turns out that he will go the full hour without a tire stop, a gamble that looks as it might pay off. But Collari has other ideas and sets off after his team mate. Cristiani, who set the fastest lap of the race by 2 tenths, is eager to unlap himself from Toso and get back on the lead lap after his tire stop, which he does and once passed he is gone and it looks like the tires may be affecting Chris.

Cristiani in the final

With 15 minutes to go Balestri retires but at the same time the action on the track is amazing with Collari shadowing Tosolini and the crowd are errupting with excitement as the Italian looks for a way passed and when he makes the move a huge roar comes over the track but they hit each other and Toso gets back in front but it looks inevitable, how long can Toso hold him off. Collari catches back up easily and makes another attempt going through the carrosel but they hit again with Collari rolling and hitting the barriers. The car is damaged but it doesn’t affect him and he manages to catch up a gap of 8 seconds in about 3 laps, showing the huge pace difference between the 2 drivers. Another attempt to pass results in heavy contact and Lamberto must come in for a stop and go, at this point with 7 minutes to go, it looks good for Chris.

Collari is the Winner

Cristiani meanwhile, is back on the lead lap and is faster than everyone on the track and is getting closer to the leaders thanks to the problems affecting the leading pair. Lamberto takes only a minute after his penalty to get back on the tail of the Sirio powered Kyosho and this time makes a pass which results in the American rolling, the crowd goes crazy with appreciation, this is close racing. Once passed Lamberto immediately pulls out a gap, Toso has no tires left and is now falling back to Cristiani, who with 2 minutes to go takes the American easily and sets after Collari, looking to take his first World title. Despite being faster and having lost over a lap at the start of the final the Serpent driver finishes only 4 seconds back on the winner Lamberto Collari, Tosolini claims 3rd in what was an incredibly exciting race to watch.

Official Final results:
1. Lamberto Collari – 193 Laps in 1:00:06.035
2. Andrea Cristiani – 193 Laps in 1:00:10.657
3. Chris Tosolini – 193 Laps in 1:00:12.287
4. Adrien Bertin – 191 Laps in 1:00:00.086
5. Mark Green – 190 Laps in 1:00:16.087
6. Daniele Ielasi – 189 Laps in 1:00:04.449
7. Massimo Fantini – 188 Laps in 1:00:8.629
8. Yuya Sahashi – 169 Laps in 1:00:17.426
9. Walter Salemi – 143 Laps in 46:52.817
10. Dario Balestri – 121 Laps in 45:26.248

UPDATE: You can download the complete final results here (.txt)

View our event image gallery here.

October 13, 2007

Lamberto Collari is World Champion

Collari World Champion

Just a quick post to say that Lamberto Collari has done it again, winning the race by 4 seconds from Andrea Cristiani in 2nd who was followed 2 seconds behind by Chris Tosolini. This is the 8th World title for the Kyosho driver and the main final was a really exciting race between the top 3 who finished all within the same lap after 1 hour.

Unofficial Final results:
1. Lamberto Collari – 193 Laps in 1:00:06.035
2. Andrea Cristiani – 193 Laps in 1:00:10.657
3. Chris Tosolini – 193 Laps in 1:00:12.287
4. Adrien Bertin – 191 Laps in 1:00:00.086
5. Mark Green – 190 Laps in 1:00:16.087
6. Daniele Ielasi – 189 Laps in 1:00:04.449
7. Massimo Fantini – 188 Laps in 1:00:8.629
8. Yuya Sahashi – 169 Laps in 1:00:17.426
9. Walter Salemi – 143 Laps in 46:52.817
10. Dario Balestri – 121 Laps in 45:26.248

We had the problems with our servers during the final, just too many people connected at one time so we apologise for that but we will have the report online from the event later today.

October 13, 2007

World Championship final coverage

Follow our live report from the main final of this years World Championship in Cordoba, Argentina. We will be updating regularly so keep refreshing (F5) the page.

> OK guys the driver presentation will begin in 5 minutes and after the photographs are done we will have a 6 minute warm up and then the race begins. The atmosphere here is electric with thousands of public in the stands.

Driver Presentation

> Driver presentation is now complete and they will now start the warm up
> Engines are started and the warm up has now begun.

Server overload sorry about that

0m – A clean start for most racers
5m – Its a 2 horse race with Fantini and Collari battling it out
10.5m – Collari passes Fantini and checks out, the crowd are going wild
15m – Collari, Fantini Tosolini
19.45m – Fantini rolls and looses lots of time before marshall gets to him. Cristiani got the pace but a lap down
21.3m Fantini long unscheduled pitstop
23m – Collari tosolini bertin cristiani green
24.4m – Cristiani un laps himself from Collari
26m – Cristiani pits and goes a lap down again
28m – Dario with a long unscheduled pitstop
29m – Collari, Tosolini, Cristiani
32m – Collari tire stop
33m – Mark Green tire stop
34m – Yuya Sahashi tire stop
35m – Mark Green rolls it on to the straight
36.4m – Dario with major handling problems cant get out of pits
39m – Tosolini leading ahead of Collari and Cristiani 1 lap down
40.5m – Collari is smoking a lot and loosing time of Tosolini
41m – Cristiani all over the back of Tosolini trying to unlap himself
44m – Tosolini has Collari all over him
45m – Toso is Resisting the pressure but the pass looks inevitable
47m – Collari passes but toso gets back and hit
49.30m – Collari crashes tring to pass Tosolini over the kerbs
50m – There is a bit of breathing room for Toso but not much Collari wants his 8th title
51m – Order is Tosolini, Collari, Cristiani, Bertin
52m – Cristiani pits
53m – Collari is all over Toso again they hit and he passes. Collari gets a stop and go
54m – Its looking good for Tosolini as Collari takes his penalty
54m – Collari is back again, he is so much faster. He passes and they hit then Toso rolls it
55m – Collari leads Toso in 2nd
58m – Cristiani takes Toso
59m – Order is Collari, Cristiani and Toso. Cristiani has pulled away
60m – Collari is World Champion for the 8th time