This year's Nitro Serpent Tour Asia was held on 14th and 15th January at the ACO Track in the New Territories of Hong Kong

The SERPENT NITRO TOUR 2006 IN HONG KONG was held on 14th and 15th January at the ACO Racing Track in Fanling, the New Territories of Hong Kong. This was the sixth year that such race was organized by World Model Company Limited. Formerly the race was known as Asia Serpent Challenge Race. Since last year, it was renamed to Serpent Nitro Tour. The race was divided into two classes: the 1/10^th 200mm class, and 1/8^th On-road class. More than 120 racers from nine different countries took part with local drivers from Hong Kong forming the largest contingent followed by Thailand, and the attendance is 100%! This is really a piece of great news to Asia market and a very good record that rare to be found in R/C racing.

Among the drivers were world's famous names like the Serpent drivers Michael Salven and Richard Keur from Holland, Max Power drivers Massimo Fantini and Fabio Domanin from Italy, Serpent Team driver Per-Ola Hard from Sweden, Suruth Vataniyapramote from Thailand and Hong Kong's own Christopher Cheung and Chui Kai Leung

Drivers received a lot of FREE souvenirs like 3 sets of Cheetah Club Tires and Protoform 200mm Bodies for 1/10^th class drivers, Protoform Lola Bodies for 1/8^th class drivers. All drivers also rewarded a Event T-Shirt, GRP foam gadget - model stand, GRP T-shirts, Serpent Lanyard, GRP Sticker, World Model Sticker and R/C Magazine Sticker as FREE gifts for their participations. Tornado had provided full sponsor of Tornado fuel for all participants during the racing days, too.

The ACO Racing Track had just recently been re-surfaced, so traction was high and traction roll was the thing to watch out for. The organiser could not have picked a better time for holding the event, as there was beautiful sun-shine for both days and temperature was at a comfortable 20 degree Celsius.

Day One (January 14, 2006)

Three qualifies for each of the classes were run on the first day. In the first round of qualify for the 1/10 200mm class, the fastest driver was Hong Kong's Danny Dung with 37 laps. Other drivers who made 36 laps were Richard Keur from the Netherlands, William Lee from Hong Kong, Cheung Kwok-wai from Hong Kong, Thongchai Suebsaithai and Surasak Kerinsaguna both from Thailand. In the second round, two other drivers also made 36 laps in the 10 min. they were Lau Chi-on from Hong Hong and Fabio Domanin from Italy. It was apparent that entry ticket to the 'A' Final would be 36 laps and above. In the third round, three more drivers made 37 laps; Lau Chi-on, Cheung Kwok-wai and Surasak Kerinsaguna with the provisional pole position taken by Lau Chi On; Irvine Feng from China and Christopher Cheung from Hong Kong also made 36 laps.

In the first round of qualify for 1/8 on-road, three drivers made 41 laps in 10 min., they were Chui Kai Leung and Samuel Chiu from Hong Kong and Massimo Fantini from Italy. In the second round, Chui Kai Leung further improved his time by making 42 laps. While three other drivers from Hong Kong also made 41 laps, they were Choy Kam Man, Wong Chun Ping, and Alex Chan. Incidentally, Alex Chan was the owner of the ACO Track. In the third round, Massimo Fantini from Italy took provisional pole position by running a scorching 43 laps followed by Michael Salven with 42 laps. Tang Wing Hung, Ng Kwok Fai and Christopher Cheung all from Hong Kong made 41 laps.

Day Two (January 15, 2006)

One more qualify for each of the two classes was run followed by the finals. There was to be no bumped up.

The top 10 drivers who made it to the 'A' Final for the 1/10 200mm class after four rounds of qualify were:

1. Lau Chi On (HONG KONG)

2. Danny Dung (HONG KONG)

3. Chris Lee (HONG KONG)

4. Thongchai Suebsaithai (THAILAND)

5. Suruth Vataniyapramote (THAILAND)

6. Surasak Kerinsaguna (THAILAND)

7. Cheung Kwok Wai (HONG KONG)

8. Fabio Domanin (ITALY)

9. Richard Keur (HOLLAND)

10. William Lee (HONG KONG)

1/10th TQ Winner: Lau Chi On HONG KONG

Result of the 'A' Main for the 1/10 200 mm:

WINNER: Lau Chi On HONG KONG 141 laps in 40:13.920

1^st RUNNER-UP: Danny Dung HONG KONG 139 laps in 40:01.722

2^nd RUNNER-UP: William Lee HONG KONG 138 laps in 40:04.845

The top 10 drivers for the 'A' Final for the 1/8 on-road:

1. Massimo Fantini (ITALY)

2. Chui Kai Leung (HONG KONG)

3. Suruth Vataniyapramote (THAILAND)

4. Michael Salven (HOLLAND)

5. Alex Chan (HONG KONG)

6. Choy Kam Man (HONG KONG)

7. Wong Chun Ping (HONG KONG)

8. Samuel Chiu (HONG KONG)

9. Ng Kwok Fai (HONG KONG)

10. Tang Wing Hung (HONG KONG)

1/8th TQ Winner: Massimo Fantini ITALY

Result of the 'A' Main for the 1/8 on-road:

WINNER: Massimo Fantini ITALY 165 laps in 40:08.496

1^st RUNNER-UP: Michael Salven HOLLAND 163 laps in 40:00.522

2^nd RUNNER-UP: Samuel Chiu HONG KONG 158 laps in 40:15.209

Drivers were so enthusiastic; the whole race was run smoothly and happily. Enclosed below to find the photos of the attractive sidelights throughout the race and the banquet dinner that held in the evening of January 15, 2006:

IN THE TRACK: