Red RC » GRP

January 15, 2026

Duraes joins Boots at GRP Tyres

Following the major announcement of top 1:8 Offroad racer Elliott Boots as their first factory supported driver for 2026, GRP Tyres continues to finalise its team line-up with the announcement of new Hong Nor signing Carlos Duraes. The Portuguese driver will now officially represent the Italian tyre manufacturer using their Ai-TECH 1:8 Buggy Tyre Ranged which it introduced last May. Adding to the range with the launch of their 5th pattern, the Micro, at the end of last year, announcing their latest driver signing GRP founder Maurizio Gandini posted, ‘I, Maurizio, together with Susi and Sara, owners of GRP, are proud to announce Carlos Duraes as an official GRP Factory Team driver for 2026. Fast. Experienced. Consistent. Carlos has been a proven reference on Portuguese tracks for years, recognized for his racing mindset, technical precision, and ability to push development where it really matters: on the track. This is not just another signing. It’s a clear step forward in our Buggy program. And it’s only the beginning.’ Duraes added, ‘Extremely happy to join GRP! I’ve been racing with their tires from last year and felt their quality was top notch with great performance and comfort driving around different track conditions. Thank you.’

Source: GRP [grpgandini.it]

January 2, 2026

GRP Tyres sign Boots

In a major signing for GRP, the Italian tyre manufacturer has announced that multiple European Champion and World Championship Top Qualifier Elliott Boots will represent the brand in 2026. Unveiling the factory Sworkz/Reds Racing driver, GRP posted, ‘After the launch of the new 1:8 Buggy line last May, we weren’t simply looking for a driver. We were looking for the right driver. Fast when it matters, solid in development, with real experience, a true racing mindset, and real weight in the international Buggy scene. Profiles like this are rare. Very rare. Among them all, Elliott was an immediate choice. We’ve known each other for years—we know what he can deliver on track and off track. He immediately understood the direction of the project and embraced our proposal with enthusiasm and determination. I, Maurizio, together with Susi and Sara, owners of GRP, are proud and excited to announce Elliott as the new official GRP Factory driver for the 2026 season. This is not just a new driver. It’s a step forward in our Buggy program. And it’s only the beginning.’ Reacting to his new tyre deal Boots said, ‘I’m so excited to share with you all that I will be joining GRP Tyres for the 2026 season. I’ve known Grp for many years, but since Maurizio, Susi, and Sara took over eight years ago, everything has changed for the better. I visited the company personally and found it to be truly impressive. They produce everything in-house, have direct control over the compound formulation, the laser-finished molds are fantastic, the tires they produce are unmatched on the current market, and their quality control is obsessive. Despite having many years of experience, I was impressed by their quality and enthusiasm. I’ll publish several tutorials in the coming weeks to better explain all the technical characteristics of the various components. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and really looking to our first race together.’

Source: GRP [grpgandini.it]

December 4, 2025

GRP expands Ai-TECH Offroad range with ‘Micro’ pattern

Having brought its brand new Ai-TECH 1:8 Buggy tyre range to market earlier this year, Italian tyre producer GRP has expanded the range with the introduction of a fifth pattern, the ‘Micro’. With the results for the new line very impressive, after many races and testing GRP saw they needed to add a new design to complete the line with a tyre for low/middle grip condition. Completely designed by Maurizio Gandini, who together with his wife Susan and daughter Sara have owned MRP since 2017, they worked on developing this new pattern and preparing the mould in very short time and now after many tests they present the new Micro. The big difference of the Micro compared to other similar products on market is the quality of the mould, the mould produced with special chromed steel, CNC machined and finished with new laser technology. The pins of the Micro tyre are very sharp, this guaranteeing maximum grip and long life. Feedback for the Ai-TECH range being their string performance, long life and very high quality for all components like the wheel, insert and tyre.

View more info here

September 29, 2025

Van Der Bol caps off Dutch 1:5 title with Rucphen win

The final round of the Dutch 1:5 National Championship took place at Rucphen, where it was Mecatech/GRP driver Rick Van der Bol who capped off his 2025 title success with a race win. In qualifying Hessel Roskam secured the TQ ahead of Van der Bol thanks to his time from the second of the three 8-minute qualifying runs. Luke Van den Berg completed the Top 3 on the grid for the 30-minute final. In the main, with set-up changes improving the speed of his car, World & European Championship finalist Van der Bol quickly got to the front before Roskam retired from the race. Staying clear out front, multiple Dutch Champion Van der Bol would win ahead of sixth place qualifier Bas Aalders with Marco Harleman completing the podium ahead of Van den Berg who recorded the fastest lap of the final.

Source: GRP [grpgandini.it]

September 15, 2025

Feldmann wins EFRA GP at Lostallo

Reigning 1:5 Touring Car World Champion Markus Feldmann enjoyed a perfect weekend in Switzerland as he took the TQ and win the concluding EFRA GP for Large Scale at the iconic Lostallo circuit. With the 3rd GP of the season attracting 91 entries to the 2026 World Champion host track, qualifying would see the German driver take his GRP Tyres shod Mecatech to pole position with the fourth round of qualifying proving fastest. Behind him, 2024 European Champion Emanuele D’Amico was second fastest followed by France’s Cédric Prevot and 2022 European Champion Edoardo Repetti. In Super Pole it was Repetti who booked his direct spot into the final behind with D’Amico winning his Semi Final to line-up 3rd with Prevot winning the other Semi to carry No.4. In the half hour, despite setting the fastest lap Repetti couldn’t deny Feldmann the win. With D’Amico having issues, it was Belgium’s Giovanni Verbrugghe who completed the podium ahead 2023 European Champion Dario Veseli from Croatia.

Image: GRP [grpgandini.it]

July 31, 2025

Feldmann Top Qualifier at 1:5 TC European Championship

Reigning 1:5 Touring Car World Champion Markus Feldmann is the Top Qualifier at the EFRA 1:5 TC European Championship in Luxembourg. Racing at the Mini Circuit “Ville de Luxembourg”, the German Mecatech/GRP Tyres driver set the fastest time of the four rounds of qualifying in Q1 with France’s Bernard-Alain Arnaldi his closest rival – the Genius driver setting his fastest time in Q3. 2022 European Champion & winner of Round 2 of Euro Large Scale Series (ELS) held at the same track earlier this month, Italy’s Edoardo Repetti completed the Top 3 ahead of Norway’s Marius Hetland. Defending Champion Emanuele D’amico would finish qualifying in P4 while for 2023 Champion Dario Veseli it was a tough qualifying with the Croatian MCD driver finding himself P11.

Image: GRP [grpgandini.it]

May 14, 2025

EFRA announce GRP as backup 1:8 GT Euros tyre supplier

EFRA has announced the selection of GRP Tyres as the back-up supplier of controlled tyre for the upcoming 1:8 GT European Championships after the withdrawal of the original supplier. PMT had been selected as the controlled tyre for the June 18-21 event in Leipzig, Germany, but following quality issues at the recent round of the highly competitive Italian National Championship, the company sent a letter to the Euros hosts in which they stated, ‘We believe it is our duty—out of respect for the organization and drivers—to step back from the 2025 Championship supply, as we are currently unable to ensure the quality standards required for such a prestigious event.’ You can read the full letter here. The fourth running of the 1:8 GT European Championships, drivers will now race on GRP’s T03 REVO on XM2 SuperSoft compound mounted on their rigid white wheel. Italian Natanaele Senesi will be hoping to defend his nitro title Modell Racing Club Leipzig track while fellow countryman Rosario Giaimo will aimed to hold on to his title in the electric category.

Source: EFRA [efra.ws]

March 24, 2025

GRP Ai-TECH 1:8 Buggy Tyres go into full production

Having recently announced its new range of Ai-TECH 1:8 Buggy tyres, Italian manufacturer GRP has begun full production of the four different tyre patterns on offer. A completely new concept, all elements of the tyres have been redesigned with new tread design, internal profile, insert, wheel and compounds, to improve performance in every track condition from traditional low-grip to modern high-grip. The internal profile has a new circular texture and lateral reinforced edge, calculated with Ai performing tools, which improves the deformation in traction and lateral grip. With each new Pixel, Block, Triky and Flexy thread designs produced using new moulds that have been made with chromed special steel using new laser technology, this ensures the tyres are perfectly balanced and do not require balancing before use. Each Ai-TECH thread pattern is offered in 5 options, 2 different polymers formulation, synthetic rubber and natural rubber, each in Soft and Supersoft, and a mixed compound in Soft.

Source: GRP [grpgandini.it]