WORLDS: Kitazawa TQ's as Japanese drivers finish top 5 in round 3

0 Aug. 21, 2016, 4:03 a.m.

By Thomas Tran
LiveRC.com

The Japanese drivers are here and on a mission today at the 2016 IFMAR 1/12th scale World Championship. Round 1 went to Akio Sobue. Round 2 was dominated by Naoto Matsukura. Finally in round 3, we have another Japanese driver earning TQ in round 3.... Hideo Kitazawa.

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Round 3 was far from your typical 1/12th scale qualifying round as drivers were all shuffling back and forth constantly changing their order. First, it was Naoto Matsukura leading round 3, but he would fly off the track at the end of the straightaway causing some damage to his car. Although he was able to continue and fight for the lead, Hayato Ishioka would take over from there.

However, late in the race everyone would suffer from tire wear and lap times would start to suffer. After a few bad laps, Ishioka would drop down the field and Akio Sobue would rise to the top. Soon, Akio too would make a few bad mistakes as his car was begining to suffer traction issues along with everyoe else. This time Hideo Kitazawa would jump to the lead at the very end, who was also nursing a 'hard to drive' car after in intense 8 minutes, but maintain to TQ round 3. Kitazawa would become the 3rd different driver to set fastest time in qualifying with a 38/8:01.904. Akio Sobue would go on to finish 2nd in round 3 with Naoto Matsukura hanging on and finish 3rd.