New from Mikimodel comes this Rear Shock Tower Stiffener for the Yokomo MS2.0. Also compatible with the previous MS1.0, extensive showed this carbon stiffener to make the car much easier and more precise to handle. Its shape has been specifically designed to be stable, making it easier to handle in all track condition types.
Having announced in December his departure from Mugen Seiki after a very successful 16-year career with them both as a racer and designer, Robert Pietsch has been announced as the latest addition to the technical department at Infinity. The Japanese manufacturer, who are multiple World Champions in both 1:10 Nitro Touring Car & 1:8 Onroad welcomed the highly regarded German designer by saying, ‘With the beginning of the new year, we have decided to further strengthen our design and development department, with the goal of continuing to offer our customers the best possible products and making every moment dedicated to their passion even more enjoyable. We are therefore pleased to welcome Robert Pietsch, who officially joins our organization to support our technical department. Thanks to his decade-long experience and proven skills, Robert will be a significant added value for our future in the RC world. Welcome, Robert!’ On the move Pietsch posted, ‘Now the time has come — some of you may have already guessed it. I am very happy to announce that I have signed with Team Infinity and am officially starting my new role as a designer. I will give my very best to support the entire team and help bring new ideas to life. It is a great honor for me to be able to work for this amazing team, and I hope we will celebrate many successes together — especially with the goal of providing the best possible experience for all our customers. My special thanks go to the entire Infinity team for the trust they have placed in me, and especially to Kenji Taira and Yoshinobu Nikaido, who set everything in motion and made this opportunity possible. I am looking to the future with great excitement and am happy to be working again with familiar faces as well as new ones. Here’s to a great future!’
Source: Creation Model [creationmodel.net]
German body shell producer ZooRacing kicks of the 2026 season with two new releases, the Hyena 1:10 LHM Touring Car body and its first entry into the 1:12 GT category with the Zerda 1:12 GT Pan car body. The Hyena is the second hypercar body designed for the next generation of touring car racing. The difference between the popular Hyrax and the Hyena is the focus on more steering, more agile cornering, by also less low design of the body and cap to fit a bit older chassis. The longer front and larger front splitter allow more downforce and the higher, but shorter rear end gives the Hyena a better rotation on all types of tracks. Key aerodynamic features include an optimised front end with the aggressive front splitter and sculpted fenders minimising turbulence and generate high front-end grip. A sleek, realistic cockpit area reduces air resistance while maintaining high-speed stability while precision-formed side channels guide air around the body to reduce drag and improve rear-end balance. The integrated rear diffuser and large rear wing provide maximum traction while keeping air turbulence under control.
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The older of Japan’s very fast electric touring car siblings, Jin Sawada has switched to Team EAM batteries for 2026. Joining his brother in representing Xray at the end of last season, Jin makes the move from Sunpadow Batteries to the American Team EAM brand. Set for a busy race program in 2026 that includes contesting both the 1:12 and ISTC World Championships at the Hongyu GDC facility in China, on his new sponsorship the 2024 Japanese National Champion said, ‘I’m happy to be part of this team. There are a wide variety of high-performance battery types available from EAM, so I can choose the one that suits my different cars and track conditions.’
Source: Team EAM [teameamotorsports.com]
Body shell producer Blitz has released it latest 1:8 GT body shell the GT7. With 2024 European Champion Natanaele Senesi involved in the development of the GT7, it is designed to cope with the new rubber Sweep D Tyres as well as slicks from GRP and PMT, with the body length has also been increased by 10mm compared to the GT6. It also has enlarged front and rear wheel arch areas and two pre-set wheel arch lines. When using the PMT tyres, it is recommended to use the front tangent for the best stability, while the rear arch line can be used when using Sweep tyres. There is a total of 9mm of space between the front and rear arch line for adjusting the car’s steering characteristics. Available in standard 1.0mm thickness option, this weighs 287 grams, while the lightweight 0.7mm thickness option weighs 198 gram. The body included Type S rear wing and dedicated wing screws, combined with the new rear centre wing which provides better overall balance and dedicated wing screws. Also shipped with the headlights and window masking decals, the body design follows IFMAR GT rule and is pending EFRA Approval.
Currently one of the fastest Nitro Onroad racers in the World, Serpent’s Andrea Catazani is the latest top international driver to be confirmed for the inaugural Nitro Party race in Foshan, China, later this month. The 20-year-old Italian, who was the Top Qualifier at both the IFMAR 1:8 Onroad and the 1:8 GT World Championships at the end of the last year, joins the already stacked entry in making the trip to the new Hongyu GDC facility for its first major nitro onroad event. The reigning Italian GT Champion, he joins compatriots Alessio Mazzeo, Natanaele Senesi, and Filippo Domanin for the first edition of what the 2026 ISTC World Championship host venue plans to build into a major annual event on the nitro racing calendar. Other confirmed entries for the January 24-25th race include Infinity’s Naoto Matsukura and Genius Racing’s Bernard-Alain Arnaldi.
Source: Hongyu GDC [Facebook]
Schumacher has released this Alloy Link Mount Conversion for its Neon Mini Touring Car. The alloy link mount conversion lowers the centre of gravity of the car, therefore improving it’s handling. The number of components within the conversion is reduced compared to kit specification, making the car easier to maintain and giving improved access to the diff and spool.
Having shown images of a prototype of its 1:8 electric buggy in November, Hong Nor has now released official images of the production version of the iX5B. The Taiwanese manufacturer, who returned to the competitive 1:8 Buggy market with the release of its all new XB5 last Summer, say the new electric kit represents a significant milestone in their return to buggy, with its innovation, performance, and durability. The IX5B is scheduled for official release in mid-February.
