Red RC

December 31, 2025

Phend confirms switch to Matrix Tires

Having announced that he was leaving JConcepts after 6 seasons with the US tyre brand, Dakotah Phend has been confirmed at Matrix for 2026. The Xray driver joins reigning 1:8 Offroad World Champion Davide Ongaro in running the Italian manufacturer’s tyres. On sharing the announcement Phend posted, ‘With time comes change and with change comes opportunity and I’m extremely excited for what the future holds. Cristian, the owner of Matrix, has been great to work with and I can’t wait to help the brand grow and flourish over here in the states. First race up will be Clash with the newly announced Matrix slick tires!’

Source: Dakotah Phend [Facebook]

December 31, 2025

JConcepts Micro-T Finnisher body w/Rear Spoiler

Ending out the 2025 year, JConcepts has released their Finnisher body for the popular 1:28 Micro-T from Losi. The body incorporates pre-dimpled locations for the mini truck and has a slight cab forward, raked windshield and aggressive stance that highlights a performance-oriented core. The front hood scoop allows plenty of clearance for mini front-end geometry and body mounts while smoothing out the front down force area. Front chin spoiler, headlight, and grill protect the front-end from unwanted up-drafts during flight. Just like the larger trucks, the Micro-T body has all the performance-based features like air-escape passages which can be trimmed by the customer for better “in-flight” characteristics. Recessed windows look heavy and add to the depth of the Finnisher styling. Heavy bracing between the back of the cab and rear shock tower humps connects the features and add some rigidness to the design. The rear spoiler is included as part of the rear of complete body assembly mold. To assemble the rear spoiler, it’s necessary to use the standard mounting hardware and brace included with Micco-T kit. Each body receives window mask and a decal sheet.

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December 31, 2025

Genius XR5.26 1:5 Touring Car

Italian Large Scale and 1:8 GT chassis manufacturer Genius has unveiled its latest 1:5 Touring Car, the XR5.26. They say the XR5.26 represents the most advanced evolution of their 1:5 platform developed through over two years of design, simulation, and intensive on-track testing under real race conditions. The project was developed from a blank sheet, with the goal of creating a dynamically more efficient car, capable of delivering consistent performance, ease of setup, and a high level of control for the driver. Featuring a completely new, it is designed to operate with controlled and uniform flex along its entire length. The introduction of the new centralised engine mounting system, developed specifically for the Diablo R engine, allows for optimal mass centralisation and a significant lowering of the centre of gravity. The new chassis architecture enabled a complete redesign of the suspension geometry, with particular focus on the management of the front and rear roll centres. The steering assembly has been redesigned with new Ackermann angles and optimised linkages making the steering response more direct yet more predictable.

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December 31, 2025

Pietsch leaves Mugen Seiki after 16-years

Having brought them World Championship success both as a driver and then as a designer, Robert Pietsch has announced that he is leaving Mugen Seiki after 16-years working together. The German Nitro Onroad racer won the 1:8 Onroad World Championship in Miami in 2011 and was Top Qualifier in 1:10 Nitro Touring Car a year earlier among a host of other successes before taking up the role of designer with the Japanese manufacturer. His most recent design work the MRX7 won the 2025 World Championship on its debut in Chile with Shoki Takahata who used Pietsch’s previous design to win the 2019 title. Pietsch has also been instrumental in Mugen Seiki’s Electric Touring Car programme also regularly accompanying Ronald Volker to races around the world. Having had the pleasure of working with Robert both as a World class racer & a designer, and being there to witness him winning the biggest prize in our sport in 2011 and all the other highs & lows of racing along the way, Red RC wish him well with his ‘new challenge’.

Read Robert’s full post here

December 30, 2025

Phend leaves JConcepts

Top American Offroad racer Dakotah Phend has announced that his 6-year sponsorship with Florida based tyre & body manufacturer JConcepts has come to an end. Joining Xray for 2025 after a career long drive at TLR ended, Phend achieved a triple at this year’s US Nationals winning the Nitro Buggy, eBuggy, and Truggy titles with JConcepts providing the traction for each of his wins. Joining JConcepts in 2020, on making the announcement of his departure, Phend posted, ‘After 6 successful years my time with JConcepts is officially coming to an end. We have had a lot of National and other major race wins over the years and I can’t thank everyone there enough for all of the support over the years. Jason has been great to me and I appreciate the amount of time and effort that he has put into my race program. He does a lot for his drivers and the industry and I have a lot of respect for what he has created and accomplished. When I signed back in 2020 it was absolutely the right decision for my program and I wish them nothing but the best moving forward.

Source: Dakotah Phend [Facebook]

December 30, 2025

Team Powers R33K Hemicycle High-Airflow Cooling Fan

Team Powers has released this all new 30mm R33K Hemicycle High-Airflow Cooling Fan. The R33K series introduces a revolutionary hemicycle design paired with premium materials to set a new benchmark in compact cooling. Precision-machined from ultra-strong 7075 aluminium for maximum durability and heat resistance, its lightweight design is only ~0.2 grams heavier than a standard composite 30mm fan. Integrated side-slot channels boost exhaust thrust and airflow efficiency for superior airflow and cooling efficiency and the fan spins at a blistering 33,000 RPM, rivalling the cooling capacity of larger 40mm fans. A high-magnetism core ensures interference-free operation even when mounted near powerful brushless motors. Dual-hole mounting system guarantees seamless compatibility with all standard 30mm fan footprints and it is compatible with the Team Powers 8V BEC Fan Booster.

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December 30, 2025

Avid B7 -2° Wider C Mounts | Hard Anodised Slipper Screw

Avid Racing Concepts has released new -2° Wider C Mounts and a Hard Anodised Slipper Screw for the Team Associated RC10B7 platform. The Avid -2° C Arm Mount was first innovated by the US Upgrade parts producer for the B6.3 and has turned into a must-have if you are racing on high bite surfaces such as carpet or turf. These mounts for the B7/T7/SC7 and B84 frees up the vehicle in the turns and when landing jumps sideways such as corner tabletops. Typically, to get to the low rear toe settings that you need on carpet, you have to start narrowing the pills through the D Mount which is increasing side bite by decreasing your track width. Our C Arm mount prevents that from happening by widening the C pivot block, thus starting you at 1 deg of rear toe with centred pills on the C and D mount instead of 3. You will be amazed at how well your car handles with less rear toe done in the correct fashion. Also new from Avid for the B7 is their hard-anodised 7075-T6 aluminium Slipper Screw which weighs just 1.43 grams. While their titanium version saved weight it eventually picked up a slight bend which sent Avid back to the drawing board. The result is a screw that stays straight, keeps the weight low, and costs a lot less than titanium. The 2mm hex makes slipper adjustments easier, even with the motor fan still on.

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December 29, 2025

Neumann departs Sworkz after 8-years

Top German international offroad racer and 1:8 GT World Champion Joern Neumann has announced his departure from long time chassis sponsor Sworkz. Neumann gave the Taiwanese manufacturer their first World title when he won the inaugural IFMAR 1:8 GT World Championship in 202o in the USA. Sharing the news today on his social media, Neumann said, ‘After eight great and successful years with the Sworkz team, our time together will come to an end at the end of 2025. I will take with me many wonderful memories that I can look back on in the future. Together, we were able to achieve outstanding results, including winning the GT World Championship in Nitro and Electric in 2020 in Miami, followed by successfully defending the title in 2023 in Sydney (GT Electric). TQ and 3rd place at the 2023 European Championship in 2WD, and at the same event the European Vice-Championship title in 4WD. Countless German Championship titles in 2WD, 4WD, Truck, 1/8 Buggy, 1/8E Buggy, GT and GTE, and much more. I would like to thank Max, Georg, and Micha, and of course the entire Sworkz team, for the wonderful time. See you at the track.’

Source: Jorn Neumann [Facebook]