BRUNEI'S very own Wirawan stepped up to the plate to prevent Sabah's KS Chu from repeating a double in last Sunday's fourth round of the 2011 Pemkar Electric National Series race at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
The winner of both the Justock and Open Modified class of the race's first series back in early April, Chu looked set to do the same last weekend but Wirawan would deny the Malaysian by racing his 1/10 scale radio control (RC) vehicle to the top spot in the Open Modified class.
Chu had started off the first heat of the Open Modified final brightly, outpacing everyone including top qualifier Wirawan but the Bruneian would come back strongly to win the second and third heat to secure his first place finish.
G Zoff rounded up the final spot on the podium behind Chu.
Four different categories were competed on the day, the Open Modified class was hands down the fastest of the lot where racers can choose to use any Electronic Speed Control (ESC) and motor they desire, propelling their vehicles to break-neck speeds.
Next came the Justock class where the organisers had put a restriction on the type of ESC and motor used to level the playing field to provide for better racing.
There was no stopping Chu in this class, his aggressive driving ensuring that he would return to Sabah with a gold.
Adib and top qualifier Keeman were forced to settle for second and third place respectively.
Consistency was the name of the game as top qualifier Hazmi managed to keep out of trouble to win the Pro-Stock category whereby the motor is controlled but the ESC is not, bumping up the speed and skill level from the previous class.
The racer from Kuala Belait was followed in hot pursuit by G Zoff and Lobo who finished second and third.
Also competed on the day was the Drift category, where the RC vehicles will don special tyres to allow the cars to break traction and slide sideways on the track, shifting the emphasis on the vehicle set-ups from speed to control and technique.
Unsurprisingly top qualifier Faiq was quickest of the lot with Hasree and Faris following closely behind.
During an earlier interview, race operator Edwin Sim had informed The Brunei Times that the series was just the second of its kind ever organised in Brunei.
The manager of the RC Model Department of Guan Hock Lee explained that the series, comprising six different races, was hoped to give local racers something to look forward to throughout the entire year, as opposed to just a one-off race.The Brunei Times
Racers competing during Sunday's fourth round of the 2011 Pemkar Electric National Series race at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas. Pictures: BT/ Melvin Jong
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
