28.12.2017   5 comments   Video: 1 available

Report by Kevin Bacon

The 2017 World Championships at Cincinnati was the first ever official VRC event for the New 1/8 Nitro GT3 Spec class. VRC Pro released the 1/8 Nitro GT3 Spec class chassis just one month prior to the event. The GT3 Spec class was designed to provide fast, stable, good handling cars that are easy to drive and enjoyable at all racer levels to promote close and exciting racing. Suffice it to say, VRC clearly achieved all of its goals with the GT3 Spec class and the World Championships at Cincinnati was a perfect showcase.

The GT3 Spec class is based on the 1/8th Nitro vehicles but the chassis sport front and rear differentials, front and rear brakes and a slightly less powerful .21 engine as well as super soft rubber tires, which results in totally different driving characteristics. The class, like the other Spec classes on VRC Pro, also has limited adjustability, to focus more on driving and less on setup. How... read more

15.12.2017   2 comments   Video: 1 available

Joshua Berman is the undisputed 2017 VRC World Champion in 1:10 nitro sedans. After winning Spec class 2 weeks earlier, Berman now reigned again in modified class, taking the wholeshot at the start and never looked back. He benefited from his closest challenger, Giordano, strategy to do a tire change half way which cost him some 15 seconds extra. Giordano had the faster pace the 2nd half of the race but fell 4 seconds short of catching the flying American. Excluding pitstops Berman drove an impacable 21.460 average (without pitstops) with a fastest lap of 21.62. Giordano's pace was 21.338 average!

'Good old' Graham Raistrick from the UK secured 3rd spot 9 seconds behind Giordano.

Open class

08.12.2017   10 comments   Video: 1 available

Report by Kevin Bacon

The 1/8 Nitro On-Road Spec VRC World Championship was a war of the “Beasts”. “Monster” Martin Wollanka (AT) and “Juggernaut” Joshua Berman (US) clashed in Cincinnati.

PRO LEVEL

Qualifying
Qualifying opened up with several racers posting 15 lap runs. However, Kevin Bacon (US) was the first to break two barriers; 16 laps and sub 20 second laps. Bacon’s run of 16 laps in 5:15.210 set the pace initially with an average lap of 19.7 seconds. The Juggernaut was the first “Beast” to post a qualifying run. Berman’s initial run of 16 laps in 5:14.386 surpassed Bacon and put Berman into the TQ position. Berman’s run remained the top qualifying run until the “Monster” arrived. Wollanka posted a run of 16 laps in 5:12.154 with an average lap of 19.509 seconds. Berman responded with several runs of 16 laps in 5:12, but none faster than the Monster. Then, in his final qualifier, the Juggernaut went for ... read more

01.12.2017   8 comments   Video: 1 available

Report by Kevin Bacon

The 2017 VRC Nitro On-Road World Championships got underway with the first event, the 1/10 Nitro On-Road Spec Class. There were 110 racers from all over the globe who competed in the year-end finale, all hoping to obtain the coveted crown of VRC World Champion. Cincinnati 2003 was racetrack location. One mistake could cost racers seconds on the large, high-speed Cincinnati racecourse. As such, clean, consistent laps, with tight lines were essential in every round of the competition.

Pro level

Qualifying
“Juggernaut” Joshua Berman of the United States, who took home the 1/10 Nitro Spec crown in 2016, looked to make a repeat performance in 2017. However, this year’s competition was tight for the Juggernaut. Berman kept his composure in qualifying and claimed the top qualifying (‘TQ’) position with a run of 13 laps 5:06.738. Finland’s Jukka-Pekka Huhtala (‘Jupe’) was hot on Berman’s heels with a qualifying... read more