Double win for Pain highlighted Western Australia electric off-road state title race

 

Over the weekend, the Model Off Road Buggy Club (MORBC) hosted the 2017 AARCMCC Western Australian EP Off-Road State Titles. The state’s best off-road electric racers attended to decide who will be crowned state champion in the 5 classes contested. The MORBC club built a fresh layout a few weeks prior, with an emphasis on the track being split into 2 sections, the front 'short track' for 1/10 scale cars, and a 'full track' with a large double-step-up section for 1/8 scale cars at future events. 

 

 

In 2WD modified Josh Pain stamped his authority on the field as he looked towards winning his 5th WA State 2WD Modified Title in a row, he secured the overall TQ by winning 3 rounds as Chris Mitchell TQ'd round 3, lining up 2nd in the A main, Mark Hawkins would qualify 3rd. In the triple-A mains, Pain walked away with the win in A1 ahead of Aaron Dexter in 2nd and Mitchell in 3rd. Pain looked like locking down the title early in A2, however a last minute crash gave a fleeting chance to Mitchell for the win, ultimately Mitchell crashed into the barrier on the final lap, handing the A2 win and overall to Josh Pain, Riley Papalia coming across in 3rd. In A3 Pain opted to race and led out early, a small mistake put him back to second trying to chase down Mitchell out front for the remainder of the race. In the final minute Pain capitalised on a mistake from Mitchell, taking A3 from Mitchell in 2nd and Dexter in 3rd.

 

 

Due to a lack of entries in 2WD Stock, the host opted to run a class of '2WD Open' demo class with open tires and no technical rules, sporting a mix of all kinds of power plants, including some 'throwback' brushed systems. Alex Senior proved too good during qualifying and finals, by clean-sweeping the field to take the win ahead of Jordan De Filipis and Harry Simms.

 

 

In 4WD Stock, Kai Jaeger stepped up to the plate early and never looked back, winning all qualifiers to secure overall TQ ahead of young newcomer Marcu Vermulen and Tim Kenny. In the A mains, Jaeger continued his solid form by dominating all 3 finals to win the overall ahead of some turbulent racing behind him. Ben Dexter who only decided to race earlier that morning, climbed his way from 8th on the grid to score 3rd and 2nd in A1 and A2, securing 2nd overall ahead of Marcu Vermulen.

 

 

4WD Modified showed the largest field of the event, with 20 of WA's best lining up to race. Josh Pain once again showed great form, by taking all 4 Qualifying rounds to secure the overall TQ. Kyle Francis would secure 2nd on the A main starting grid ahead of Chris Mitchell who managed to salvage a 2nd place in Q4 to start 3rd. In the Triple A finals Pain would run away with both the A1 and A2 wins to secure the 4WD Modified title, his 6th State title win so far in 2017. Kyle Francis and Chris Mitchell bringing home lonely drives in A1 to finish 2nd and 3rd. in A2 a great battle emerged for 2nd as Francis struggled for traction on the freshly watered surface, Mitchell held the advantage through the corners but Francis made up time in the jump sections. Mitchell held out for 2nd from Francis in 3rd and Riley Papalia in 4th. A3 was set to be a fight for the remaining podium positions, but less than 2 minutes in Mitchell and Pain had both broken and were left to watch from the sidelines. Mistakes from both Kyle Francis and Fabio Silvi allowed Riley Papalia into the lead where he never looked back, stretching out an A3 win from Francis in 2nd and Silvi in 3rd. Francis securing 2nd overall and Papalia 3rd on the tie-break with Mitchell.

 

 

EP8 Buggy added some variety for this event, acting as a demo class to give racers another chance to race, with drivers racing the 'long track' with 15 car heats and 7 minute races. Fabio Silvi scored the TQ winning 3 rounds ahead of Jarrod Smith in P2 and Steve Smith (not related) in P3. During the A mains, Steve Smith struck early, leading out Silvi for most of the race and Jarrod Smith in 3rd. Silvi gained back his own in A2 and forced a 3rd final decider, by winning a wild A2 from tone to tone ahead of Jarrod Smith and Chris Murphy. A3 was set to be a showdown between Silvi and Steve Smith, Jarrod Smith looked poised to capitalise and potentially force a 3-way tie. Silvi shot to an early lead and didnt look back as Steve Smith struggled early, although in 2nd, a long way off the back of Silvi for a shot. With a little less than 2 minutes to go Steve Smith suffered a failure which ended his run, handing the runaway win to Fabio Silvi ahead of Jarrod Smith and Ruben Martins. Silvi ending with the overall win ahead of Jarrod Smith and Steve Smith.

 

 

A great weekend at MORBC, despite some small class numbers. Great racing and great fun had by all! congratulations to all the winners and thanks to the MORBC club for hosting the event in their busy year, with FEMCA being held over October 4-8 and of course hosting the 2018 IFMAR 1/8 Off Road Worlds next year!