WORLDS: Rheinard reaps rewards of large-scale upset in 1/12-scale finals

Uncharacteristic mistakes from three-time defending champion and runaway top qualifier Naoto Matsukura cost the Japanese star his chance for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title. In both A1 and A2, the 21-year-old simply left the door wide open for Germany’s Marc Rheinard to waltz by on the inside. By wrapping up the title after the first two races, the three-time touring car class title-holder earned his first in the 1/12-scale division, joining ten other drivers who’ve won RC’s highest honor in more than one class. The win moves Rheinard into a tie with off-road specialist Ryan Cavalieri for fourth all-time with four titles and third among those who’ve won in electric on-road.

 

 

 

It wasn’t easy. Rheinard stuck to his game plan in A1 of not forcing the issue early in the race, but stayed close enough to capitalize on the first gap he found when TQ Matsukura pushed wide after smacking a track barrier. Once free, the German ace simply held it together to win by 1.5 seconds over the hard-charging Alexander Hagberg. In A2, Rheinard got drilled by Hagberg on the third lap and dropped to fifth while waiting for a turn marshal. Another accident just a few laps later left Rheinard playing catch-up until after the halfway point, and he drove like a man possessed - taking huge risks in a relentless charge to catch the checked-out leader. Once Rheinard caught his younger rival, he once again snuck by after a Matsukura mistake, made it past the finish line before time expired, and enjoyed a victory lap.

 

Matsukura’s mistake in A1 came early in the race, when he bounced off the rail in the first left-hand turn and Marc slipped by. Three laps later Naoto hit the barrier in the right-left switchback in the center of the track and tried to recover ahead of Alexander Hagberg. The collision sent the Yokomo flying and Alex waited for Naoto to be retrieved before continuing, which knocked them both out of the top five. Hagberg recovered more quickly and charged back to the second spot by race end, but was a non-factor in A2 and A3. Naoto finished A1 in fifth, clearly frustrated by the reversal of a penalty imposed on Hagberg after the incident. Forced with the pressure of holding off the rapidly advancing Rheinard in A2 in order to force a third main event, Matsukura said he had to push too hard with a car that was difficult to drive at the limit, resulting in the mistake that surrendered the title. Matsukura was relieved to win A3 going away, wrapping up the runner-up position, and was very gracious in defeat - both happy for his friend Marc, and challenging him to try and beat him again in touring car.

 

Futaba radio designer Hideo Kitazawa took the third step on the podium to match his previous best finish at the IFMAR Worlds, quietly earning a third place finish in A1 and a second in A2 from fifth on the grid. He crashed on the first lap of A1 and had to work his way through the field, a very difficult task. A2 went much more smoothly, with American driver Donny Lia crashing early to put Kitazawa in position to also take advantage of Matsukura’s meltdown, his first two finishes were enough to prop him up onto the podium.