Continuing its release of option parts, Hong Nor has added to its line-up with this optional fan mount for its IX5B 21:8 Electric Buggy which the Taiwanese manufacturer officially released at the beginning of this year. The aluminium mount is finished with Team HN branding and comes complete with mounting screws.
Schumacher has some new option parts for its ‘Classic’ offroad buggies releasing a Longitudinal Carbon Fibre LiPo Strap, Purple Alloy Steering Radius Arms, and High Performance Slipper Pad. The longitudinal lipo strap can be used with and without the chassis stiffening system and allows the lipo to mount down the centre line of the chassis, especially helpful when running softer suspension setups as the car will settle quicker out of a corner. The weight bias will also be slightly more rearward for more traction but will transfer weight faster to the rear on larger jumps. The purple anodised Alloy Steering Radius Arms add some extra Schumacher violet gorgeousness to your Cougar 2 Works ‘Classic’ as well as increasing rigidity and strength for a better steering response. The optional slipper pad is made from an ultra low friction material which reduces temperatures, improving consistency and confidence with slipper clutch settings. Aimed as an improvement on all surfaces from soft to tight settings, it keeps consistent performance over multiple runs. It fits all Schumacher slipper clutches for the Cougar 2 Works ‘Classic’ and CAT 2000 ‘Classic’
Spanish brand XTR has announced that new WIRC signing Joern Neumann will use their accessories and Shoot fuel as part of his race program for the upcoming seasons. The highly accomplished offroad racer and former 1:8 GT World Champion, joined Italian manufacturer WIRC for 2026 after an 8-year stint with Taiwanese manufacturer Sworkz. Running Reds Racing engines, Neumann joins multiple time European Champions Elliott Boots and Reno Savoya in representing XTR and running Shoot fuel.
Source: XTR Racing [xtr-rc.com]
Italian tyre manufacturer Hotrace Tyres has announced its newest 1:8 Buggy racing tyre release, the Hawaii. Based off their successful Sahara carcass, it’s pattern features a smaller tread package making it ideal for smoother track conditions, consistent racing and high-end performance. The design revolves around the centre structure which has medium sized, The lugs have strategically placed cuts and grooves to allow flex in dusty conditions. The outer portion of the tread fits together like blocks, but also work together to flex laterally to provide a great side-bite. The Hawaii is available pre-glued and in all of Hotrace’s compound options.
Champion of the highly competitive AECAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy Spanish National Championship, Sworkz’s Juan Carlos Canas opened his 2026 campaign with a TQ and win. The Circuito RC Fernando Robles track in San Jose de la Rinconada played host to the first race of the 4-round championship with Canas taking 4 of the 5 qualifiers. Behind Robert Batlle made it an Sworkz 1-2 with a string of P2 runs while Tekno’s Joao Figueiredo completed the Top 3 having TQ’d the final qualifier. Winning his Semi final from Mugen Seiki’s David Todd Nieto, winner of the 2025 season opener, Figueiredo, and Sparko’s Daniel Pariente, winner of 2025 season finale, it was Canas who would start on pole, the Top 4 on the grid coming from the Semi A. Winner of the Semi B, Battle would line up P5. In the 45-minute final, Canas steered his Reds Racing powered Sworkz to the victory half a lap clear of Mugen’s Jose Miguel Sanchez with Adrian Pariente’s Sparko completing the podium ahead of Battle and Xray’s Oscar Baldo with Todd Nieto finishing sixth. In F2 category, the race attracting a combined 81 entries between F1 and F2, Saul Ordonez Ortiz made it a double celebration for Sworkz by also taking the TQ and win.
Image: Sworkz [Facebook]
Taiwanese manufacturer Hong Nor has released this optional One Piece Carbon Rear Wing Stay Set for their X5B 1:8 Buggy platform. With the X5B now available as both a Nitro or Electric kit, it is also possible to just upgrade individual parts of the kit standard rear wing mount the kit with just the universal 1:8 Carbon Fibre Wing Button or the One Piece Carbon Rear Wing Stay.
Sworkz’s Caleb Noble has won the opening round of the fourth season of the the Team Cayote and VP-Pro backed Asian Buggy Championships which was hosted by New Zealand’s Counties RC over the weekend. Having top qualified three classes, Noble went on to win all three – Nitro Buggy, eBuggy, and Nitro Truggy. It was a powerful performance from the Australian marking his move to Sworkz and JConcepts over the off-season. Noble led home Sworkz teammate, New Zealand’s Jayden Jamieson, in both buggy classes, and Kiwi Hotbodies driver Shane O’Connor in Truggy. The Nitro Buggy final was a straight shootout between Noble and Jamieson, with Jayden grabbing an early lead before Noble struck back on the cusp of the first fuel stop and, from there, driving away to a one-lap win. Kiwi veteran Mike Stratford drove a brilliant race from 9th on the grid to round out the podium and make it an Sworkz sweep. eBuggy was an easy win for Noble, dominating A1 and A2, with Jamieson trailing him home, and countryman Jonathan Coluccio (WIRC) an excellent third. Darren Perry (Masters 45+ EP and Nitro) and Shane O’Connor (eTruggy) were the other class winners. The series now moves to Malaysia’s Lap Paradise RC Raceway for April’s second round of the 2026 series.
Source: Asian Buggy Championships [asianbuggychamps.com]
Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski has added his name to MIBO International’s Roll of Honour for the offroad, the previous Touring Car Champion of the Czech event denying compatriot Bartek Zalewski the double when he took the 4WD Buggy title which went down to A3. Making the switch from the onroad track across to the parallel offroad track for the fourth edition of the annual race, Orlowski would qualify second to Zalewski in both 2WD and 4WD but coming up short on winning in 2WD, a team effort would see Orlowski lead a 1-2 result in 4WD from team-mate Daniel Kobbevik. Armed from fresh tyres for A1, Orlowski kicked off 4WD with a win ahead of Kobbevik as mistakes dropped Zalewski to P5. A2 would see Zalewski benefit from fresh rubber to win with ease over Orlowski despite the pair sharing identical fastest lap times for the race. In the decider while Zalewski looked to be dealing with the pressure of Orlowski almost on his rear wing, a small mistake at the tabletop with a minute to go gave us a lead change. While Orlowski led for a lap, Zalewski would then drive around the outside of his rival after they had came off the straight but they touched on the jump and both went tumbling handing Kobbevik the lead. With Zalewski trying for another pass after they resumed, he would catch the jump and roll out of contention finishing P3, 2-seconds back on Orlowski who took the overall win on tie break from Kobbevik.
