’25 1:8 Onroad World Championship Chassis Focus Index

Another season of IFMAR World Championships wrapped up in Chile last weekend with 1:8 Onroad the fourth & final race of 2025.  While IFMAR’s original World Championship would attract a small entry, that didn’t take away from the racing at the front with qualifying ending with cars from four different manufacturers making up the new for 2025 Direct to Final Top 4 qualifiers.  For the 1-hour final that number would grow to 5 as Shepherd’s Tim Wood won the Last Chance Qualifier to represent the now British owned brand as the 11th car on the grid.  Statistics compiled by IFMAR, this the 24th running of the title race, would show Mugen Seiki as the most popular chassis ahead of Capricorn and Shepherd who tied for second.  Racing around the very large CACH, the most common source of power came from Ielasi Tuned followed by Max Power, who thanks to Shoki Takahata make it back to back engine World titles.  In terms of radios used, Sanwa was the choice of over 50% of the drivers.  With 2 X Mugen Seiki, 2 X Capricorn, 2 X Shepherds, and one Serpent and Xray each, we managed to get our hands on 8 cars from the five manufacturers represented in the final.

Shoki Takahata (Q4/World Champion) – Mugen Seiki

Simon Kurzbuch (Q5/P2) – Mugen Seiki

Andrea Catanzani (Top Qualifier/P3) – Serpent

Maxime Ripoll (Q2/P8) – Xray

Toni Gruber (Q3/P4) – Capricorn

Thilo Diekmann  (Q6/P11) – Capricorn

Tim Wood (Q12/P9) – Shepherd

Alex Esser (Q15/P17)- Shepherd

Chassis Focus – Shoki Takahata (Mugen Seiki)

Chassis: Mugen Seiki MRX7
Engine: Max Power 351R
Exhaust: Max Power /EFRA 2183
Radio: Sanwa M17S
Servos (Steering/Throttle): Sanwa PGS-XR II
Body: Xtreme Hyper Diablo
Tires (handout): Matrix
Fuel (handout): Energy

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Chassis Focus – Alex Esser (Shepherd)

Chassis: Shepherd Velox V8.3
Engine: Max Power 351R
Exhaust: Max Power /EFRA 2183
Radio: Sanwa M17
Servos (Steering/Throttle): Savox SC1256TG
Body: Xtreme Super Diablo
Tires (handout): Matrix
Fuel (handout): Energy

Notes – Competing at his first World Championship and the Top US entry in Chile, Alex’s Velox V8.3 is fitted with Shepherd screws, hinge pins, and aluminium pivot balls.  He is also using a rear body mount from top European Shepherd driver Lars Hoppe’s LHO brand.

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Chassis Focus – Toni Gruber (Capricorn)

Chassis: Capricorn C804 R
Engine: Ielasi Tuned Pista
Exhaust: Ielasi Tuned / IFMAR 2196
Radio: Futaba T10PX
Servos (Steering/Throttle): Power HD GTS2
Body: Xtreme Hyper Diablo
Tires (handout): Matrix
Fuel (handout): Energy

Notes – Toni’s car is fitted with the full range of Capricorn option parts – 13 in total.  He is also using T-Works titanium screws and turnbuckles in the rear because they are slightly longer.  Toni clutch uses one of his own Gruber Racing ‘Maximus’ Clutch Springs.

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Chassis Focus – Thilo Diekmann (Capricorn)

Chassis: Capricorn C804R
Engine: RS Engine
Exhaust: Max Power /EFRA 2183
Radio: Flysky Noble Pro
Servos (Steering/Throttle): Futaba 701
Body: Xtreme Hyper Diablo
Tires (handout): Matrix
Fuel (handout): Energy

Notes – Thilo’s C804R features a number of aftermark parts from Dimension JP, the brand owned by his mechanic Jean Pierre.  These include a Carbon Radio Box which is larger that the kit version, a rear body support, front body support and special bumper end plates for the very large CACH track which will go on sale shortly.  Finally there is the Dimension JP INS box which Thilo says is the lightest INS box on the market.

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Chassis Focus – Tim Wood (Shepherd)

Chassis: Shepherd Velox V8.3
Engine: Hasi Tuned 9R
Exhaust: O.S Speed / EFRA 2196
Radio: Sanwa Exzes ZZ
Servos (Steering/Throttle): Savox SB-3262SG
Body: Blitz Spider
Tires (handout): Matrix
Fuel (handout): Energy

Notes – The leading Shepherd at the end of qualifying here in Chile, Tim’s Velox V8.3 is fitted with Shepherd’s optional carbon chassis inserts front and rear, hard plastics, low friction belts and pulleys, and 9mm carbon Ackermann plate.  He has also opted to run Shepherd’s old HT (high traction) radio plate.  Equipped with Brilliant RC titanium hinge pins, Aluminium Pivot Ball, and Titanium Screw kit, the car runs on a Racing Edge bearing set.  The car is running an Infinity front bumper which larger and lighter than standard Shepherd one for better aero.  On the engine side Hasi Tuned has made a special ‘Chile WC’ head for the occasion and in the clutch he is using a Safety Car Model Proto clutch spring.

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