25.05.2016   6 comments

Report by J-P.Huhtala (VRC race reporter)


SEASON 1 2016 ELECTRIC ISTC 13.5 SPEC

PRO LEVEL

Steve Favrelle has wonned serie of electric on-road spec in season 1, 2016. Steve drove very strong season, he wonned races at Luxembourg, Messina and last race in Bangkok. By these three victories he guaranteed this season closer. Second place went to Dana Bailes from USA. Dana didnt won any event, but he was ”normal” Dana with those races where he participated, fast and consistent.
Benjamin Lehmann from Germany, got the third place at series. He had similar points with Bailes in second place, but Dana`s points row was little stronger compared to Benjamin.
Britains Graham Raistrick was tough opponent to these three at top. Against him you had to be in top shape, if wanted to beat him. As many knows how much different series Graham is driving, and he is not focusing his driving any specific series ... read more

22.03.2016   9 comments   Video: 3 available

Report by J-P.Huhtala (VRC race reporter)

2016 Season 1 and round 5, Messina

At fifth round this electric 1:10 ISTC spec series travelled to Italy, Messina circuit. This track is on the island of Sicily in the south of Italy. The track hosted 2005 IFMAR World Championship for 1:8 scale sportcars, and it was wonned by racing legend Lamberto Collari. Lay-out of this track is guite simple but this makes it even more difficult to gain time and make a difference.
Earlier race, in Carpet 1 circuit was wonned by Hungarian talent Barnabas Toth. Finnish Viljami Kutvonen and Swedish Christian Holmström were giving a hard time to Toth but finally Hungarian was the strongest at there. After four rounds, serie is leaded by Indonesian Hijrah Saputra, Graham Raistrick from Britain is at second place, but only one point behind Saputra. German Benjamin Lehman is at third place, 19 points behind leader.

QUALIFYING
When qualifying ended... read more

16.03.2016   2 comments   Video: 1 available

Report by J-P.Huhtala (VRC race reporter)

2016 Season 1 and round 4, Carpet 1

QUALIFYING
Round 4 of the ISTC 13.5 series was held in here, Carpet 1 track. Many top drivers participated also this one and it was expected very exiting event from this one. Toth, Kutvonen and Holmström were those guys at front after qualifying was ended. Hungarian Toth was in first place, with 1.3 seconds faster pace than Finnish Viljami Kutvonen who came second. Third fastest was Swedish talent Christian Holmström and his gap to TQ was 1.6 seconds. American Dana Bailes got the fourth and Indonesian Hijrah Saputra fifth grid. Behind those three at front, differences were very tiny, as those were all inside 3.4 seconds.
Prepairing to final had to be perfect, any mistake wouldnt be allowed.

RACE
When grid was arranged, atmosphere little collapsed as we saw that Bailes, Fossto and Favrelle were not at the grid. But we had these seven ... read more

22.02.2016   10 comments   Video: 1 available

Report by J-P.Huhtala (VRC race reporter)

2016 Season 1 and round 3, Luxembourg

Wellcome to Luxembourg, this event is third race of 2016 SEASON 1 1:10 ISTC 13.5 SPEC series.
This raceserie continue`s here at Luxembourg, earlier race at Atsugi, where Bailes and Rensburg were setting the pace, was very exiting. It was so close call, that the winner was resolved at last corner where Rensburg got better outcoming line and drived to win. Gap between Rensburg and Bailes was only 0.13seconds at finishline. Third podium place went to Germany`s Benjamin Lehmann, with 2.5seconds distance to winner. So, expectations are high in here, as those three fastest from Atsugi, are also here at Luxembourg. WELLCOME!

QUALIFYING
At qualifying round, for our joy, we could see that few new guys were on fire. In early stage of qualy, Finlands Jukka-Pekka Huhtala was setting the pace to other drivers and pace was good.
When German Stef... read more

08.02.2016   6 comments   Video: 1 available

Report by J-P.Huhtala (VRC race reporter)

2016 Season 1 and round 2, Atsugi 2

Here we are, at Atsugi 2. This race continues 13.5 spec touring Season1, wich started from Carpet 3 track. French Steve Favrelle and Finnish Viljami Kutvonen, who wonned that first race at Carpet3,
wasn’t at participants list. So this venue was all open, of course looking the entrylist and drivers, hopes were high for exiting race. At qualifying fastest speed held Dana Bailes from USA, second place went to Willem Janse van Rensburg from South Africa. Willems gap to Dana, was only 0.3 seconds. Also with very tiny gap to the leader, third qualifier was Benjamin Lehmann from Germany, loosing only 0.6 seconds to the TQ. So expects were really high, if everybody could hold they speed at finals, it was going to be very close battle.


From tone, drivers speed up and final was started. Dana and Willem were at front and competing very close each other. Si... read more

03.02.2016   10 comments   Video: 1 available

Report by J-P.Huhtala (VRC race reporter)

2016 Season 1 and round 1, Carpet 3


1:10 ISTC 13.5 SPEC, Season 1 started from VRC Carpet 3 track. Earlier in this track, modified class started they season. Also in this spec class, miliar names were at the top. Finnish factory driver Viljami Kutvonen who wonned that modified race, was also scary fast with these spec cars.
At qualifying Kutvonen and French Steve Favrelle competed with very tiny differences of TQ.
At the end, TQ went to Kutvonen but only half second faster than Favrelle. Britains gentleman Graham Raistrick was also on the fly, only 1.5seconds behind Kutvonen.
When race started, Kutvonen made little mistake at second corner and Favrelle got the lead. But after few laps driven, Kutvonen got his lead back and battle was ready. Lap by lap these two laprobots continue fighting at lead, until at 10th lap once again at curve compination 2-3, Kutvonen made little mistake ... read more