July 13, 2013

Chassis Focus – Joern Neumann

Chassis Name – Durango Prototype
Engine – Picco Boost
Fuel – Runner Time
Tires – JConcepts
Radio/Servos – Futaba
Remarks – Joern, along with team mate Hupo Honigl, are running a prototype Durango here in France. The car is almost completely new apart from the drivetrain and is performing very well this week with Joern qualifying in 8th position. Having only got the hand built car just before the Euros warmup race, he has only driven it once since. Overall the car gives more traction and steering than its predecessor and with both drivers happy with the performance we will most likely see a similar car go into production in the coming months.

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July 13, 2013

Chassis Focus – Lee Martin

Chassis Name – Mugen MBX7
Engine – Beat B4 Plus
Fuel – Nitrolux
Tires – Pro-Line
Radio/Servos – Sanwa/Xpert
Remarks – Since arriving in France, EP Offroad European Champion Lee Martin has softened up the setup on his MBX7 adjusting diff oils, shock oils and roll bars to get more traction and to also get the car to rotate. Having run Ions, Big Blox and most recently Blockade from Pro-Line until now, he will use Big Blox from the Semi final practice onwards which he believes are similar to how the Blockade feel but he feels he makes less mistakes using them.

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July 11, 2013

Chassis Focus – Yannick Aigoin

Chassis Name – Team Associated RC8 / Centro conversion
Engine – nVision
Fuel – Meccamo
Tires – ProCircuit Hot Dices
Radio/Servos – Spektrum
Remarks – Two-time European champion Yannick Aigoin is running the Centro conversion on his Associated RC8 buggy. With the engine mounted 10mm further forward and the rear offset increased by 8mm, through a new rear upright and mounting it to the wishbone so that it is shorter, the car is working well for the Frenchman. In terms of setup it is almost identical to that used in his National Championship but he has slightly tweaked the diff oils for the conditions. In terms of tires, like all his ProCircuit team mates he has tried the different options of tires available to him but has reverted to the Hot Dices which he says just work the best.

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July 11, 2013

Chassis Focus – David Ronnefalk

Chassis Name – Kyosho Inferno MP9
Engine – Team Orion
Fuel – Meccamo
Tires – AKA Handlebar
Radio/Servos – KO Propo
Remarks – Last year’s European Championship runner up, David Ronnefalk is running the standard setup he uses on his MP9 in Sweden with the exception of shock oil which he has gone for harder to compensate for the hotter conditions. Currently running super soft Handlebars from AKA he will switch to soft in one of the remaining heats to try it out with a view for running them in the final. Another item of note on David’s car is the black Team Orion engine head which designer and mentor Adrien Bertin made for him with the engine below still the same.

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July 10, 2013

Chassis Focus – Renaud Savoya

Chassis Name – Xray XB9
Engine – Team Orion
Fuel – Runner Time
Tires – Sweep
Radio/Servos – Futaba/Highest
Remarks – 3-time European Champion Reno Savoya is running prototype parts on his XB9 comprising of new front and rear geometry and suspension parts. The rear sports wider suspension hinge pins with shorter suspension arms and less rear offset while the front now utilizes pivot ball suspension with easily adjustable Ackermann as well as the resulting geometry differences. Having tested the parts since after the Euros warmup the parts have been performing well with the car now being less aggressive with more power steering. In terms of setup the Shark has retained his French Nationals setup only tweaking small things like anti-roll bars as well as raising the rear upper shock mounting.

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July 10, 2013

Chassis Focus – Darren Bloomfield

Chassis Name – TLR 8ight 3.0
Engine – Novarossi Plus 21-4 BTTS
Fuel – Nitrotane
Tires – AKA Wishbone/Handlebar
Radio/Servos – Spektrum
Remarks – The reigning European Champion is taking a very calculated approach to his setup here focusing on get the car well balanced making it easier to drive. Removing steering from the car instead of trying to increase grip at the rear Darren has done so by small tweaks as well as adding unsprung weight to the front C-Hubs. Running a custom Ackerman plate which he always runs it makes the outside wheel turn less than the standard configuration which he says helps make the car easier to drive coming out of corners. Currently running AKA Wishbones, due to a limited supply, he will try Handlebars for the next run.

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