1/8th Circuit Model cars come in many different shapes and sizes but with acceleration times of 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than two seconds, and top speeds in excess of 75 mph is it any wonder that 1/8th gas powered radio controlled model cars are considered the formula one of all radio controlled model car racing?
Racing 1/8th circuit radio controlled gas cars will add a whole new meaning to your understanding of the word excitement. Once you have driven a 1/8th car and experienced its awesome power, and stunning cornering speed, you’ll never be satisfied with driving anything else, and be back for more, again and again and again.
Your 1/8th scale I.C. powered four-wheel drive car can be built from one of the many available kits now on the market. Powered by a racing 3.5cc two stroke engine capable of delivering over two brake horsepower, you are just minutes away from the most mind-blowing experience in model car racing. Your car complete with engine will be a high tech 1/8th scale model racing car. All cars have front and rear independent suspension controlled by fully adjustable shock absorbers and springs. In addition you’ll have disc brakes and automatically shifting transmissions.
All this topped with a sports car style bodyshell painted to your own individual team colour scheme and designed for you to get the best from your car both mechanically and aerodynamically. 1/8th racing is a great activity and hobby for all the family to participate in, and as well as racing as individuals, many father and son teams compete in racing events. Once you’ve got used to the thrill of driving your own car around one of the purpose designed scale circuits located throughout the country you’ll be able to compete in your first event.
Following a practice session you’ll have tuned your car and engine for maximum performance. With your engine running you head for the drivers rostrum, whilst your pitman puts your car on the track for one of your qualifying races. Having qualified for a final you wait on the drivers rostrum as tension mounts waiting for the flag to drop. Accelerate hard into the first bend as you jockey for position with your fellow racers. As the race settles down you’ll have to think about the first of your scheduled re-fuelling pit stops. Head down the pit lane to your pitman, a full tank of fuel taken on in seconds, and you blast back into the action.
Well, could you handle it? If the answers yes, then come 1/8th I.C. racing!
By Ollie King Over the bank holiday the 8th circuit section hosted an exciting double header, two rounds of racing over two days! Saturday began with bright weather, which gave drivers the chance to refine their setups to help them survive this challenging circuit. Brooklands is the fastest track on our calendar, with its enormous back straight and sweeping layout, it requires focus and patience to stay out of trouble.
On Sunday, the second round of the national championship began. Overnight, rain had fallen on the track. Throughout qualifying lap times fell gradually. Tim wood set the fastest IC time in round 3 and Mark Green set the fastest Electric time in round 4.
Finals got underway in the afternoon, the IC B final win was taken by Dean Miles, followed by Jon Withington in 2nd and Robin Gearing in 3rd. A close race throughout, all three of the podium finishers showed good consistency from start to finish and crossed the line separated by just two laps. Paulo Fernandes showed great pace, setting the fastest lap of the race with a 15.56 but unfortunately didn’t finish the race.
The IC A final demonstrated how punishing this track can be. With only 5 drivers still going at the end of the race. The win was taken by Tim Wood who finished with a comfortable 3 lap lead over second place, David Spashett. Craig Hook finished Third and showed great pace towards the end of the race, setting the fastest lap of the race, but not quite enough to catch David.
The 3 leg electric final saw a continuation of Mark Green’s dominance, consistently finishing a lap ahead of his teammate Mark Boothman. The 3rd place spot was taken by Adrian Dew in leg 1 and then Jamie Goodall in legs 2 and 3.
Monday began with quicker lap times than we saw on Sunday morning, as it was dry overnight. Top spots in qualifying were again taken by Tim wood in IC and Mark Green in Electric, both in round 3.
The IC B final was won by Hayley Baker, who displayed impressive defensive driving skills in the middle of the race as she was challenged by former chairman, Andy Mollett. She then went on to continue to drive consistently to the line to take the win. Just 1 lap behind was Jon Withington, taking his second podium of the weekend. A great demonstration of the patience needed at this track. Dean Miles followed up his B final victory from the previous day with a 3rd to round off his weekend.
The IC A final saw another impressive result for Tim wood; setting an impressive best lap of 12.92, completing 2 more laps than his result from Sunday and beating teammate Craig Hook by 8 laps. Neil Diver had a great race, starting from 7th on the grid he managed to work his way up to 3rd by the end of the race to put himself on the podium.
Speaking to Tim Wood after the meeting, he said it was “A success for all the drivers. With the extended meeting, it offered a nice, relaxed atmosphere.”
A document with current championship and formula standings is available on the BRCA site at:
https://brca.org/8th-circuit-documents/8th-circuit/5059-champoinship-rd3-2026
See you all next time in the Cotswolds on 06 - 07 June for round 4!
By Michael Walton Halifax played host to the opening round of the championship, British weather played a big part, with a near wash out to Saturday practice, Sunday forecast was better but still produced a mix of showers and slightly drier weather.
So tyre choice and timing was the key, we had a good entry of drivers across both electric and nitro classes with a few newcomers trying 8th circuit for the first time and someswapping to different powered cars i.e. nitro/electric.
Cars
In electric the Serpent 990e remains the most popular chassis with a few also running the new Shepherd released. Nitro is very much a mix between Serpent, Mugen, Shepherd and Infinity.
Qualifying
This was very much potluck and weather dependent as if your run was on a drier track you were clearly going to get a better time and with FTD qualifying used it meant it was important to get a run without any issues.
In the electric class Glyn Beal managed to take TQ from Mark Green which was impressive considering Mark’s recent dominance, ahead of Mark Boothman now running Serpent and Michael Walton. Debut’s for Hayley Baker, Ralph Crampton and Cameron Felton who were all having their first 8th electric class outings in the tricky wet conditions.
In nitro Alex Thurston remained dominant with his Nova powered Mugen taking a fine TQ from Michael Lee, Richard Boult, Daniel Bancroft, one David Spashett (Shepherd), Ashley Gouveia, Sam Snell, Andy Hastings, Jon Withington and Mark Gilliland all lining up for the 30 minute A-final. Craig Hook just missed out getting BQ and Tim Wood wasn’t able to get a clean dry run meaning he would lineup in the B-final this time out.
Finals
With a number of runners opting to not do the finals due to the weather conditions we were down to one electric final with 3 legs to be run.
Race 1 saw Glyn win on a wet track from Mark G and Alfie Wadsworth taking a fine third, in race 2 the track improved and Glyn won again giving him the overall win from Lee Chapman with Mark G not finishing after a car issue. Thomas Jefferson would hang on to third from Alfie.
Into the final leg with a much drier track and all to be decided behind Glyn, Lee Chapman would completely pull away from Mark Boothman and Thomas Jefferson. Meaning the overall positions would be 1st Glyn Beal, 2nd Lee Chapman and third place Mark Green.
Nitro finals
First up was the C-final which was a close race with tyre choice being very important as it got drier as the race went on, with lap times improving in the 2nd half of the race, it was a close battle between Vincent Meron and Rob Mckenna with Vincent taking the win from Rob and Dean Miles taking third place.
As the B final blasted off it was the reverse to the previous nitro final starting off as a relatively dry track but soon more rain fell and lap times got slower, Craig Hook and Tim Wood ran some quick times but Tim was to retire, George Briggs would eventually take the win as Craig had an issue late on leaving him second and Lee Holland a few laps back would take third.
The A final was an eventful finish to the weekend, the weather that had made all previous track time unpredictable had finally begun to clear up. Throughout the race, track conditions improved and lap times dropped, drivers swapped to dry tyres which provided a significant improvement in pace. Alex Thurston (Mugen Nova) took the win, followed by David Spashett (Shepherd) and Andrew Hastings (Shepherd Nova) to round off the podium. Daniel Bancroft also showed impressive pace, putting in the fastest lap of the race.
The next rounds are at Brookland for a double header taking place 2-4th May.
[Photo credit to Donna Boothman]
May 18, 2026
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August 11, 2025
June 03, 2025
