Red RC » Hong Nor

December 13, 2023

Kocher to race for Hong Nor GT team in 2024

1:8 GT World Champion manufacturer Hong Nor has announced the signing of Swiss racer Michael Kocher for its 2024 line-up. Kocher is best known for his collaboration with Italian designer Andrea Contarini in bringing the Raptor 1:8 GT chassis to market and in particular for racing the non production nitro version of the car at the 1:8 GT World Championships in Australia this year. Now joining the Taiwanese brand, Kocher said, “I am very happy to join the Hong Nor family and factory Team for upcoming season. I started 4 years ago in GT8 Nitro Racing. I had the chance to cooperate with an Italian designer and produced my own racing car brand – Raptor Racing. After 3 years of building cars for customers, I didn’t spent much time on the track. I think it’s time to start a new journey. During the Worlds held in Australia this year, I had the chance to test with different cars. Among all the cars I’ve tested, I had the best experience with Hong Nor’s X3GTS 2023 World Edition, fast and easy to drive. After a really nice meet with Hong Nor’s two bosses – Tony Chen and Hsiang Lin, it was clear to me to go forward with this great brand. Hope the winter season pass soon, and I could be back on the track with the car. See you on the track.”

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]

December 7, 2023

Hong Nor Soft Adjustable GT Clutch Shoe

Reigning 1:8 GT World Champion manufacturer Hong Nor has released a new soft compound Adjustable GT Clutch Shoe. The newly developed ‘Black’ adjustable clutch shoe is made of soft material allowing drivers to adjust the power of the car to suit the grips levels of different tracks.

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]

November 8, 2023

Hong Nor X3 Series Buggy & GT Harder Suspension Arms

New from 1:8 GT World Champion manufacturer Hong Nor are these front and rear lower arms for its X3 series 1:8 Buggy and GT platform. The new suspension arms made of a stronger composite material making them a harder optional part for adjusting the car’s handling for different grip levels at tracks. Available as a pair of front or rear arms.

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]

November 2, 2023

Hong Nor X3GTS height-adjustable anti-roll bar

Hong Nor has released a new height-adjustable anti-roll bar for its World Championship winning X3GTS 1:8 GT chassis. Used by newly crowned World GT Champion Toni Gruber in Sydney last month, it not only allows the car to maintain a better balance but also allows for more delicate adjustments of the car set-up. Hong Nor offer four front anti roll bars for the car, 2.0, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.8mm, and four rear anti roll bars, 2.3, 2.5, 2.8 and 3.0mm.

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]

October 24, 2023

Lin wins 2023 Futaba/O.S. Cup

Taiwan’s largest event of the year was held over the weekend at the Erchong Floodway track in New Taipei City, where Hong Nor’s owner Hsiang Lin took the win in 1:8 GT. The annual Futaba/O.S. Cup attracted almost 80 drivers from Taiwan and Singapore, and just back from Australia after watching his team driver Toni Gruber claim the IFMAR 1:8 GT World Championship with their X3-GTS, Lin took his own explain to both the TQ and win. Making it back to back wins of the event, Lin was joined on the all Hong Nor/Ielasi tuned podium by Su Jiahong and 3rd placed Liú Qiáozhì.

Image: Hong Nor [Facebook]

October 14, 2023

Gruber is GT World Champ with master class Down Under

Toni Gruber is the new IFMAR 1:8 GT World Champion, the Hong Nor driver taking his first World title with an absolutely dominant and perfectly executed drive in Sydney, Australia. Disappointed at missing out on the TQ in qualifying but managing to book his direct starting position in the final by winning Super Pole, the German driver led the 1-hour final from start to finish after getting the holeshot on Top Qualifier Alex D’angelo. It was to be a difficult race for the Genius Racing driver, his race hampered by flame outs resulting in 6th place at the finish. A lap up on the entire field after 20-minutes, Gruber extended that to 2 laps by 40-minutes, with the attention on the battle for second between home hero Jeff Hamon and his young Serpent team-mate Andrea Catanzani who put in a sensation drive in the Semi final to go from last to winning it. A driver to call time, his 2-speed needing adjustment, Hamon had to start the race from the No.11 box on the grid as a result but worked his way through to second with World’s rookie Catanzani marking his arrival to the world by completing the podium. For out going champion Joern Neumann it wasn’t to be a good race, the Sworkz driver suffered a number flame outs during his refuelling stops and after an off 17-minutes in some slow marshalling saw his engine stop costing the German a lap. In the end he would finish 8th 12-laps down on Gruber.

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October 11, 2023

Gruber TQ’s opening qualifier at GT Worlds

Having laid down his intentions with the fastest time in this morning’s final practice, Hong Nor’s Toni Gruber delivered a TQ run in the opening round of qualifying at the 1:8 GT World Championship in Sydney. Despite run time for the 7-minute qualifiers a concern for everyone, the early pace was blistering and drivers would later pay. Gruber pushed hard by Andrea Catanzani clearly managed the situation best as extra hot temperatures today added to the challenge and his work with engine tuner Daniele Ielasi clearly paying off. A whole host of drivers came to a halt in the dying moments as they ran dry, the first of them being defending World Champion Joern Neumann. Behind Gruber it would be Alex D’angelo who was second fastest as the Genius Racing team looked to have finally found their way. Team-mate Bernard-Alain Arnaldi also had a strong Q1 securing P4 behind Top Seed Jeff Hamon who would suffer his second brakes issue of the event.

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September 25, 2023

Hong Nor Covered Serrated Wheel Nuts

Hong Nor has released new Covered Serrated Wheel Nuts. The brand which has become heavily involved in the 1:8 GT category is offering the wheel nuts in black or red colour options with the texture design on the bottom of the nut allowing the wheel rims to be locked tightly.

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]