Chassis Focus – Atsushi Hara

Chassis – Kyosho TF7
Motor – LRP X20 4.5T
ESC –  LRP FLow
Battery – LRP 5600mAh LCG P5
Tires (handout) – Sweep
Radio/Servo – Futaba
Body – Protoform LTC-R

Remarks – Former World Champion Atsushi Hara is running a privately entered Kyosho here in Beijing. Having run the same car at the ETS final in Slovakia last month he found that when the grip was low there just wasn’t enough mechanical grip so after a lot of testing in Thailand, Kyosho have produced new parts for the car to address these issues. There is a new two piece motor mount and chassis plate with the aim to give more mounting points which allow the car’s flex to be adjusted and moved further to the rear. The top deck is also new with the motor now 2.5mm closer to the centre line. Hara is back to back testing a rear end with an ARS type system but has settled on using rear arms that are actually shorter than the front arms with a larger offset on the wheel.

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Chassis Focus – Elliott Harper

Chassis – Schumacher Mi6
Motor – LRP X20 4.5T
ESC –  LRP FLow
Battery – LRP 5600mAh LCG P5
Tires (handout) – Sweep
Radio/Servo – Sanwa
Body – Protoform LTC-R

Remarks – British National Champion Elliott Harper is using the Mi6 from Schumacher, arriving in Fengtai with a setup based on that used to make the main at ETS Rd6. Expecting lower traction they have made changes to the car’s shock package and changed the flex in an effort to get a car suitable for the conditions. Still lacking overall bite they will play with roll centres and droop to lock the car into the track.

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Chassis Focus – Marc Rheinard

Chassis – Tamiya TRF419X
Motor – Muchmore Fleta ZX 4.5T
ESC –  Muchmore Fleta Pro
Battery – Muchmore 6000mAh
Tires (handout) – Sweep
Radio/Servo – Sanwa/Xpert
Body – Protoform LTC-R

Remarks – 3-time touring car World Champion Marc Rheinard is using the latest TRF419X from Tamiya starting with the setup from mechanic Takayuki Kono. This didn’t work as expected due to different traction levels so they have reverted back to a mic of ETS and Euros setup which sees the front spool and rear diffs 1.3mm higher for more roll and bite as well as 0.5mm high roll centres. With the traction coming up and needing more steering they have also changed from 3 degrees rear toe-in to 2.5 degrees.

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Chassis Focus – Marc Fischer

Chassis – Capricorn TE03 Evo
Motor – Trion 4.5T
ESC –  Trion Trico Pro V2
Battery – Gens Ace 6500mAh
Tires (handout) – Sweep
Radio/Servo – Sanwa/Savox
Body – Protoform LTC-R

Remarks – German Marc Fischer is sitting in the top 6 after free practice with the TE03 Evo, the same car he ran in Luxembourg for ETS Rd5. Using the practice to back to back between two cars, he decided for the version with the Italian company’s unique centre bridge. This car was more safe and while it understeered slightly it means it will be safe for 5 minutes. Looking to get just a little more steering he may change to a harder rear diff oil and shock package.

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Chassis Focus – Viktor Wilck

Chassis – Serpent Project 4-X
Motor – Speedpassion 4.5T
ESC –  Speedpassion GT2
Battery – Gens Ace 6500mAh
Tires (handout) – Sweep
Radio/Servo – Sanwa
Body – Protoform LTC-R

Remarks – Viktor Wilck is running an almost production ready Project 4-X from Serpent, only some anodising missing compared to the final car. Having tested a lot in southern China in Xiamen, he started the day with the setup from that test which worked well early on but with the grip coming up and lacking forward bite and steering he will make his first setup change. In the search for traction he will change both spings and oil for the down and side shocks.

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Track Focus – Fengtai R/C Model Area

Track Name – Fengtai R/C Model Area
Host –  Car Modelling Association of China
Country – China
Location – Beijing Fengtai
Direction – Anti-clockwise
Surface – Asphalt

Having successfully hosted the 1:12 World Championship indoors in the Fengtai Science, Technology and Sports building, the Touring Car Worlds moves outdoors to another part of the Fengtai Sports Center which centres around the 2008 Beijing Olympics Softball stadium.  They say first impressions last and on arriving at the track one cannot but be impressed.  Obviously putting some of their Olympic experience to good use on entering the facility you immediately get the feeling this is something a bit special.  Situated next to the offroad track that was built to host the 2013 1:8 Offroad FEMCA Championship, the unique aspect of the 9th running of the 1:10 Electric Touring Car World’s is that the surface and layout has never been driven on prior to the opening round of free practice.  Originally built in September of last year, the track got new asphalt last month in preparation for China’s first hosting of an IFMAR World Championship, it expected to host its second next year for 1:10 Offroad, and with no teams or drivers having run on it before it has added a extra element to this year’s title.

Arriving to a security check, where you pass through a scanner, you then enter the massively long pit area.  120-metres long and all glass down the right hand side about half way down is the door to the track and impressive driver stand structure which houses everything needed to run a World Championship event.  Such is its size that on the same floor as where the drivers stand for their races there is a press room on one side with race control mirroring it on the opposite side.  Two stairways up to the top floor keep the flow of drivers, officials and press flowing without disturbance to racers.  One nice touch of these and the 1:12 event is a drinks area just off the pit area for racers where they can get complimentary juices, tea, coffee and bottles of water.  For lunch, a huge marquee has been erected across the street with this also set to be used for Saturday night’s award ceremony.

In terms of the track, which is over looked by a 300 + seater grandstand, it covers an area 68-metre long by 38-metre deep.  Featuring 16 turns, the layout is defined by steel dividers with the infield painted blue. Commenting on the layout as he watched the first heats of practice, reigning World Champion Naoto Matsukura said, ‘It’s a good layout, I think I will like it’.  Designed by Lung Chuan Lee from Tawian, who has designed many tracks in China include the Fengtai R/C Model Area offroad track, Matsukura feels the layout maybe a little tight.  He also pointed out that the curbing is nice and low in some areas but quite high in others and with a straight edge on the inside of the higher ones he said if you go off you will be stuck inside the curbing.

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