Caretti's Super Stock and Modified Touring Car double highlighted Australian AOC round

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By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

Race report from Scotty Ernst's Asian On-Road Championship (by Thomas Tran):
www.aocrc.com

Making its 4th return to Australia, the Asian Onroad Championship was a complete success as this year’s race was held in Canberra, Australia and hosted by the ACT RC club over the weekend of July 28th - 30th. With the club pushing to make this the best event ever to be held in Australia, the decision was made to import the popular ‘ETS black carpet’ so that the Australian racers could experience the high grip surface most commonly found in Europe and parts of Asia. With nearly 170 entries, the 2016 AOC in Australia has become the largest race on the Australian 2016 calendar. 

With the addition of the new surface came new experiences as most of the Australian onroad scene is accustomed to loose - medium grip asphalt. However, the grip was welcomed by many as they were able to enjoy a different style of driving, tuning, and racing. The ACT RC club did an outstanding job keeping the track presentable as well as professional. Overall, it was enjoyable and memorable experience for everyone that attended the 2016 AOC.

The layout was fast and filled with tight turns and chicanes that tested one’s quickness and precision. To get around was quite simple, but to gain the tenths needed to top the charts was risky business as racers would have to maximize braking and speed through the chicanes. One mistake sent cars flying across and/or off the track. However the feeling of doing a perfect lap was magical and the times definitely rewarded those who were able to succeed. 

The racing was excellent from top to bottom. Starting with a class that has grown in popularity in Australia, the Vintage Trans-Am class saw Team Yokomo’s Scott Rawlings consistently lay down the fastest times and became the man to beat. As the grip came up, Rawlings seemed to adapt well and stretched his gap even further from his competitors. 

With a dialed car and driving to match, Rawlings was able to TQ as well as win A1 and A2 in dominating fashion. The battle for the remaining podium spots was between 2nd and 3rd place qualifier Scott Giles and Ian Webber. The two rivals had identical points going into A3, but Giles proved too much as he was able to distance Webber in the final main and finish 2nd wrapping up 2nd overall. Webber would claim the final spot on the podium in 3rd.

The action in the Formula 1 class was terrific all weekend long. Each round of qualifying saw 3 different drivers TQ as the field was closely matched. Top seeder, Bradd Vercoe would deliver the fastest run in the final round of qualifying securing the overall TQ. However, it was United States’ Thomas Tran peaking at the right time and was able to pressure Vercoe early in A1 and A2 to take over the lead. Once Tran was in the front, he managed the gap back to 2nd to take the win in A1 and A2. Vercoe would finish 2nd overall with a 2nd place finish in A1 and a dominating win in A3. Also delivering when it counted was 6th place qualifier, Team Yokomo’s Scott Rawlings. He would move up the grid to finish 3rd overall with a 3rd in A1 and 2nd in A2. 

Known to be one of the more difficult onroad vehicles to drive because of it’s size, insane speed, and crazy agility, the 1/12th division saw one driver standout from the rest by winning the 10.5 division as well as the modified 1/12th scale class presented by Yokomo. T.O.P. Racing’s Brett Drayton’s silky smooth and consistent driving paid off in the end as he was able to capture both 1/12th scale titles in just 2 mains. 

T.O.P. Racing’s Chris Peet would finish 2nd overall in 10.5 blinky by winning a very crucial A3. ACT club president Mark Wallin would finish 2nd in all three mains giving Wallin 3rd on the podium.

With Drayton already securing A1 and A2 in the Yokomo presented 1/12th modified, Kerren Nottle would finish 2nd overall with convincing performances in A2 and A3 with a 2nd and 1st place finish. Once again, Mark Wallin would secure a top 3 performance in modified with a 3rd in A2 and a 2nd in A3 to finish 3rd overall in the lightning fast class.

In the Xray presented 21.5 blinky sedan class, it was defending champion Patrick Saelzle going head to head with this year’s stock sedan TQ, Terry Norman. Saelzle would strike first by taking the win in A1, but Norman would bounce back with a win of his own in A2. With the 2 drivers both having a win, the final main would decide who would be crowned the 2016 AOC stock champion. In the end, it was Saelzle putting in a clutch drive to take the overall win and defend his title. Norman would finish 2nd with a 1st and a 3rd and Josh Freund rounding out the podium with a 2nd and 3rd.

Schumacher’s Antoni Caretti turned it on when it counted most in the Sweep presented 13.5 blinky sedan class as he was out qualified by Awesomatix’s ultra fast Tom De Nardis. Starting 2nd on the grid, Caretti would quickly attack De Nardis from the tone in A1 and eventually get by De Nardis and hold onto the lead to take a hard fought win. 

A2 started out much the same as A1, but this time De Nardis would keep his composure and put up a worthy fight till the very end. With a few laps to go, De Nardis would open the door and Caretti would seize the moment and make the pass happen. De Nardis would counter immediately to take the lead back in the very next corner. Not giving up, Caretti would seize another opportunity and make another pass around De Nardis and this time making it stick. With no time left, De Nardis would attempt a last lap pass, but unfortunately make contact and was forced to give the spot back giving Caretti the overall win. De Nardis would go on to win A3 giving him 2nd and Chris Stack put in an impressive drive all weekend to finish 3rd in all triple mains to finish 3rd on the podium.

Once again, Schumacher’s Antoni Caretti was on a mission when it became main time in the Scorpion Power Systems presented modified sedan class. While reigning Australian National champion and Awesomatix’s newest addition Ryan Maker was able to set TQ, it was Caretti showing a pace too great for Maker in the mains. In A1, Maker was able keep Caretti at bay until a mistake over the center chicane dots allowed Caretti through to take the lead. Once in the lead, Caretti would drive at his pace and take the win. A2 was much the same, with Maker making a slight touch on a dot opening a small gap for Caretti to sneak by and seal the deal in 2 mains. Maker would go on to win A3 with relative ease giving Maker 2nd on his carpet debut with his new team. Awesomatix’s young and talented Jeffery Mackie would stun the field by finishing 3rd overall with two 3rds and a 2nd. 

Huge thanks goes out to the ACT RC Club for hosting the 2nd round of 2016 AOC and all their hard work. Also, many thanks to all the racers who came to join us in this wonderful event and we hope to see you next year.