IFMAR reverts to ‘Pre Tech’ inspection for tyre diameter

In a positive move widely welcomed as being in the best interest of the event, the IFMAR International Jury has announced that the 109mm minimum tyres diameter rule will now be determined by a pre-tech inspection.  Yesterday just as qualifying concluded at the 1:8 Offroad World Championship a bombshell, widely viewed as a strategy move my one tyre manufacturer, was landed on the event with IFMAR announcing it would implement checks after racing.  The World Governing Body of RC Racing, IFMAR’s own official ruling coming into the 19th running of these Worlds states the specs the tyres must meet but not when any inspection would be conducted.  With both EFRA and ROAR having used the pre-tech for the rules, most teams and drivers were working on that procedure so when the announcement came yesterday that cars must finish the final with tyres no less than 109mm it turned the race on its head.  With IFMAR first offering Semi finalists an extended 50-minute practice session so as to gauge track conditions after the lower finals and gauge tyre wear, pressure was mounting on them to review the ruling.

With talk of a drivers protest, having taken onboard feedback received since making its first decision, the IFMAR International Jury met once again and after discussing various scenarios made the decision to all Pre-Technical inspection for all finals taking place on Saturday.  With tyre manufacturers spending most of today trying to find solutions to ensure they didn’t fall foul of the minimum diameter post-tech, the move to pre-tech means they are now able to cover their drivers needs and that drivers, making young up & coming stars, can now race and show their true talents instead of being held back by a lack of tyres.  Understandable for the Baldo family, who with just 5-months notice essentially came to the rescue of IFMAR when Brazil cancelled, ‘Tyre Gate’ has been a hugely frustrating matter to overshadow their amazing work and investment in trying to present a world class stage for the great prize in our sport.  Taking the attention off the intense battles we have witnessed right through qualifying, today’s decision means we can now focus again on the action on the track, and see who is the best driver in the World come Saturday evening.

IFMAR International Jury meeting 13/09/2024

With reference to the decision made yesterday by the International Jury and all the comments received. This morning, the International Jury has met again to discuss rule 2.4.c The decision to check tires after the race was discussed at length and after discussing various scenario’s the International jury has changed their vote and has made the decision to allow Pre-Technical inspection for all finals running on Saturday.

At the end of the final, technical inspection will take place in the same manner as the previous IFMAR World Championships hosted at REDOVAN in 2022.

The following rule along with all others will be followed: 3.27.h All cars of semi-finalists and finalists go into a ‘Parc Ferme’ immediately after the finish of their race and are inspected. Cars must remain with the officials and be untouched by drivers or mechanics.

Any race distortion must be ignored. Inspection be on at least: engine, tank capacity, chassis (dimensions).

To confirm above all doubt that in 1/8th Off Road Buggy – ”Race distortion” includes the wear of the rubber tyre. Moving forward, there will be a clarification of the ruling to close this interpretation. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding on this difficult situation and we look forward to all working together to better this sport.

Sander de Graaf / IC Section Chairman

IFMAR to implement 109mm minimum tire diameter rule

With concerns over the interpretation of the rule on minimum tyre diameter rumbling around the pits today from around lunch time, IFMAR has this evening made a clear decision that it will implement the ruling as it stands post race despite the concerns over the high tyre wear being experienced at the 1:8 Offroad World Championship in Spain.  Many leading drivers had expressed concerns as to how the rule would be implemented, confusion appearing to stem from issues at the European Championship where a pre-race inspection was used.  When we were first made aware of the concerns of the ruling an official source told us that almost 50% of cars in qualifying would have been DQ’d had the post run rule been implemented.

It is understood that there was a major push from one tyre manufacturer to have the 109mm minimum diameter ruling implemented post race given the overall larger diameter of its tyres while the rest are at risk of disqualification due to the high wear being experienced at the RC-Redovan track.  While rules are in place for a reason, it appears the timing, right after the conclusion of qualifying, could now over shadow the race given drivers had used the final few qualifiers to gather tyre data for the finals.  For some drivers the ruling could mean having to switch to pin tyre with no previous running on such a set-up.

With the rule sure to affect many of the amateur drivers who have made the trip to Spain, the matter raises the issue of whether or not future World Championships should run a spec tyres.

IFMAR issued the following bulletin on the matter –

IFMAR International Jury meeting 12/09/2024

This meeting has to do with the minimum tire diameter of 109mm.

Rule 2.4c
2.4.c. Wheel/tire overall diameter must be:
Max dia. 120.00 mm / 4.724 inches
Min. dia. 109.00 mm / 4.29 inches
Width 47.00 mm / 1.85 inches

No rim specs
Tire wear here at Redovan is an issue and for the main final we foresee a problem, perhaps already in the earlier finals of 30 minutes, due to the rule above.

After a meeting with the manufacturers followed by a long discussion and a second meeting with the international jury, also with a long discussion the final decision was made to stick to the rules. During the meeting with the tire brands the majority of tire manufacturers told us that preparing a tire for 60 minutes is possible and asked us to stick to the rules.

The tire diameter must be respected , also after the final when cars are checked in technical inspection.

We stick to the rule, meaning 109mm after each race is the minimum for each tire. If smaller you will be disqualified.

For the main final 2 or more sets of tires per driver will be marked and after the final all marked tires must return to technical inspection to be measured.

Sander de Graaf / IC Section Chairman

Canas states intentions with fastest time in Q6

Having already wrapped up the overall TQ at the 19th running of the IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship with one qualifier to go, Juan Carlos Canas stated his intentions very clearly to his rivals by setting a new outright fastest time in sixth & final qualifier.  The Sworkz driver’s fourth TQ run came ahead of defending Champion Davide Ongaro, the Team Associated driver’s run hampered when he got blocked by two crashed cars when exiting pit lane leaving the Italian 5.5-seconds in deficit to his rival.  After his impressive showing in Q5, Bruno Coelho failed to repeat a clean run ending up on his roof during his final 10-minute effort meaning he couldn’t deny Ongaro P2 overall and pole in the Semi B.  Instead the Xray driver starts second in the Semi A behind Canas.  2016 World Champion David Ronnefalk will line up behind the man who took that title from him in the Semi B.  With many surprised that there hasn’t been a better showing from the America contingent given their previous experience of the RC-Redovan track 2-years-ago, Dakotah Phend has put himself in a solid Semi Final position after ending qualifying P5 overall ahead of former Top Qualifier Elliot Boots.  While qualifying is complete, there are concerns among drivers that the ruling on tyre size could turn the event on its head.  As it currently stands, given the type of tyre being used and the high wear rate most tyres will fail to meet the minimum diameter with one source saying that almost 50% of cars in qualifying would have been DQ’d had the rule been implemented how IFMAR currently interpret the wording.  IFMAR has called a international jury meeting to seek clarification having already had a meeting with representatives from 7 tyre manufacturers.

Reacting to his Q6 time Canas said, ‘I had pretty good lap times.  I tried new things on the car and also new stuff from JConcepts and it was working really well so I have a new idea for Saturday’.  Asked more about the car changes, he said, ‘I changed the car completely.  I think for longer run it is better, lap time was fast but it was also pretty safe.’ On run time, he said, ‘fuel was perfect, tyres I need to try on Saturday morning.  The wear is pretty high for everyone.’

Summing up his run Ongaro said, ‘Super unlucky, the feeling was better but super unlucky, I was on pace with him (Canas) but coming out of the pit lane I found two cars that were upside-down and blocking the pit lane so I had to stay there ’til someone get the cars so I lost about 5-seconds.  Overall I am happy with the car, we are in a strong position’.  Asked about tyre wear, ‘I think tomorrow with all the lower finals run the track will change again.  We will watch tomorrow while we are here wrenching our car and see what it is like.’

‘That one didn’t go really good’ was Coelho’s thoughts on the round.  He explained, ‘I went on the softs again and I don’t think conditions were right for them now, we would need to change the set-up a lot for it, the car was diffing out a lot on the track which made me touch a lot of pipe and have some bobbles but still the speed was there.  As I said there will be a time when Clays will work and I think now is the time they start to work and we were not with the right compound.  We know what we need to do now and go with Clays and change set-up’.  With all the mistakes I did I still finish 3rd second to Ongaro.  Asked if he had the match of Canas’ pace he said, ‘I don’t know how my Clays are going to work so we will see on that and we will also see on the IFMAR decision on the tyres I hope they don’t destroy the race.  At the moment everyone is running tyres with no pins so if they follow the run like checking the tyres after the run everyone is going to have to change to pins which I think will be a big mess so I hope there is a good decision outcome’.

Ronnefalk was upbeat about his qualifying performance.  He said, ‘It’s going to be Top 2 on grid, second behind Davide in the Semi B so it’s all good.  It is an improvement from 2-years ago and I am closer to the top.  I am confident going into Saturday and we will see what it brings.  On his final qualifying run the Swede said, ‘I had good speed in the last one unfortunately I got caught by the wind, there was a big gust coming right when I was on the double double and I could save it, lost 5-seconds there, and then I had another mistake trying to push after that one, obviously not ideal.  We tried some stuff, car had good speed, so I am feeling good it’s just qualifying isn’t my strong point.  Top 5 in every run throughout qualifying this is probably my better qualifying showing still’.  I am pleased with 4th but I would like to have had at least a TQ run to show the speed is really there’.  Asked about his preparations for the final he said, ‘I think the track is going to change a lot tomorrow when the mains are running, longer runs usual put down a lot more grease from the exhaust so I definitely think we are going to see the Clay compounds come into play her Saturday which is going to really mix up things because so far nobody has used them with great success I would say from what I know.’  On tyre wear he said, ‘tyres are wearing a lot but it’s the same for everyone, everyone will pretty much be bald.  I guess we are going to see what IFMAR is going to do because there is a rule on the tyre diameter.  They said they are going to have a decision today but it would have been nice to have that before qualifying because we would have known what to work with’.

One of three Americans to make the final at RC-Redovan 2-years ago Phend said his final qualifier was, ‘Not so great’.  He added, ‘We tried some different dirt compound and it didn’t do exactly what I thought it was going to do but we still have a long time to figure that out.  The track is going to change a ton tomorrow and then all day Saturday until we get to that point.  I think we are on a decent spot with the car we probably get some tyre options mounted up for the Semi practice and then do a data debrief and come up with a game plan.’  I’m content with 5th for now, the Top 4 are really fast and definitely a bit of speed on me.  I think the Semi will be really good for me as I’ll be about to see where they are faster maybe it’s a line I can adjust or if we need to make an adjustment to the car.  I haven’t really been able to figure that out ’cause I haven’t run with them in the heat that I am in so I think we will learn a lot from the Semi.  I’m just going to try keep it smooth at the start and hopefully Top 5 going to the main and go from there’.

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