Naoto Matsukura crowned 1/10 Nitro Touring World Champion in Gubbio for the 7th time

Photo: Red RC (source)

Japanese driver Naoto Matsukura won the IFMAR 1/10 Nitro Touring Car World Championship this weekend, held at the Miniautodromo Internazionale Mario Rosati in Gubbio, Italy. Racing an Infinity, he claims his seventh world title overall, and his second in this specific class after his very first crown, achieved eighteen years earlier at just 15 years old in 1/12.

A final fought to the wire in Gubbio

Starting third on the final grid, Naoto Matsukura managed the pressure to take victory ahead of Italy’s Filippo Domanin, impressive on his first-ever world final, and Germany’s Toni Gruber (Capricorn), just a tenth of a second behind.

Further down the order, American Kyle Branson made a strong return to the front, finishing fourth ahead of Italy’s Andrea Catanzani (Serpent), fifth. Top qualifier Dario Balestri, also from Italy, had to settle for sixth after a costly pit stop during the final.

This new title confirms Naoto Matsukura’s consistency at the very top of world nitro touring, eighteen years after his first appearance on the IFMAR stage.