Yokomo Grand Prix Round 43 Event Report

The Concours d'Elegance was awarded to Pika and Mokobasu, both participants in the Light Touring class.

■ Super Scale SS48 Class (On-Road Sports Course)

This class uses a low-speed 48-turn motor (no modifications allowed) from Yokomo and highly realistic-looking bodies. It is a class that is easy for beginners to participate in.

[Finals]

After a great run in qualifying, TQ driver Koma-san pulled off an excellent start dash, pulling away significantly from the rest of the field. Koma-san took the victory, finishing one lap ahead of second-place driver ☆-kun.

■ Light Touring Class (On-Road Sports Course)

Chassis and bodies are open, and the motor must be either a 21.5T Yokomo "ZERO" or "ZERO2" brushless motor, resulting in a higher speed range than the Super Scale class.

[Finals]

Qualifying TQ driver Mokobasu took the lead from the start and never looked back. However, a fierce battle broke out for second place and below. Makoto Tabe, who qualified 5th, gradually moved up through the field, rising to 2nd place just after the 3-minute mark. He chased the leader, Mokobasu, but couldn't quite catch him. Mokobasu, showing impressive speed, finished in first place.

■ YD-2TC Scale Class (On-Road Grand Prix Course)

This is a one-make class for the Yokomo "YD-2TC" 2WD touring chassis. As the "scale" name implies, the class uses bodies like the highly realistic Yokomo Drift Package series. In addition to using a fixed 21.5T Yokomo "ZERO" or "ZERO2" brushless motor, the gear ratio is also fixed, allowing for a high-quality racing experience.

[Finals]

From the beginning, a fierce battle for the lead unfolded between TQ driver mogyy and kuro, who started 2nd. About 30 seconds after the start, kuro dove to the inside of mogyy, but carried too much speed and flipped. mogyy maintained the lead, but fell over just after the 2:30 mark as the race reached its second half. kuro seized the opportunity to pull away and take the win.

■ GT Stock Class (On-Road Grand Prix Course)

This class is contested with the Yokomo YRS chassis, GT300 or GT500 series, which are rear-wheel drive (2WD) direct-drive chassis. The use of bodies from the GT series is mandatory, making this a class where you can enjoy racing that feels just like a real GT championship.

[Finals]

The final was a long-haul 8-minute race. In the early stages, top-qualifier mogyy put together a smooth string of laps. However, he had a heartbreaking crash just after the 5-minute mark. He was passed by the group fighting for second place, Ken-ichi and kuro, who had been closing in from just behind. In the subsequent fierce battle for the lead, kuro took advantage of a slight mistake by Ken-ichi to come out on top. Starting from 4th place, kuro pulled away to secure the victory.

■ Formula Sports Class (On-Road Grand Prix Course)

This class uses formula chassis from various manufacturers equipped with rubber tires. Motors are limited to either the Yokomo 30.5T "ZERO" or "ZERO2" brushless motor. There are no restrictions on gear ratios, so you can enjoy the agile movement unique to formula machines.

[Finals]

Pole sitter Nozomu Iizuka jumped out from the start and maintained the lead all the way to the finish line. Second-place Tsubasa Iizuka chased hard, but could not close the roughly 1-second gap. This intensity shifted to the battle for third place. Mendy, who started 5th, moved up to 4th shortly after the start and engaged in a dead heat with Guru-guru. In the end, Guru-guru held on to secure third place.

■ GT Open Class (On-Road Grand Prix Course)

The rules are basically the same as the "GT Stock Class," but this class uses either the 21.5T Yokomo "ZERO" or "ZERO2" brushless motor, allowing for a faster, more exciting race.

[Finals]

Qualifying leader Katsu-Radi No. 1 used overwhelming technique to lead from start to finish without ever relinquishing the top spot. He was also the only driver to record a lap in the mid-14-second range, finishing the race in a literal landslide victory, more than two laps ahead of second place.

■ 12th Stock JMRCA Class (On-Road Grand Prix Course)

This class is contested under regulations compliant with JMRCA, which oversees the All-Japan Championships. It is the fastest racing car class in the Yokomo Grand Prix.

[Finals]

TQ starter Haruyasu Ueda got a good start and maintained a large lead, cruising solo. Behind him, KAZUU and Yamasan battled intensely for second place from the early stages. After closing in and falling back repeatedly, KAZUU made a mistake in a corner just after the 5:30 mark. Yamasan moved into second place. He then followed with a string of consistent laps and took the finish in second place.

■ YD-2TC Class (On-Road Grand Prix Course)

The difference between this and the "YD-2TC Scale Class" is the body. In this class, only the body included with the YD-2TC kit can be used.

[Finals]

Early on, second-place starter Guru-guru pressured race leader Katsu-Radi No. 1, who started from the first grid, but fell back after a mistake. Katsu-Radi No. 1 followed up with consistent laps. A fierce battle for second place ensued between kiyo and Guru-guru, but Guru-guru flipped near the 2:30 mark. kiyo, who had been running right behind, passed him, and from then on, the drivers ran in order of their grid positions, with Katsu-Radi No. 1 taking the win.

The next Yokomo Grand Prix, Round 44, will be held on May 10, 2020, at Yatabe Arena. We look forward to seeing you there.