Red RC » Mugen

December 6, 2025

Kurzbuch cruises back into contention in Chile with Semi win

Having missed out on a Top 4 direct to final qualifying position as he ended P5 at the end of the 6-rounds, Mugen Seiki’s Simon Kurzbuch has put himself back in contention for a second IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship title by cruising to victory in his Semi final this morning in Chile. Winner of the World title in Brazil in 2015, a decade on the Swiss racer returned to South America as one of the pre-race favourites but on arriving at the CACH track in Santiago he struggled to find his true form. Leading away the second of the half hour Semis, Kurzbuch drove a calculated race with his crew executing a swift tyre change en-route to him winning by over a lap from the similar car of Britian’s Alex Thurston who together with third placed finisher Christope Louis progresses to their first World Championship final. The 24th running of IFMAR’s original World Championship, the first of the Semi Finals woulds see 15-year-old German driver Leon Fuhrmann head a Capricorn 1-2 from team-mate Thilo Diekmann, the separation 4.7-seconds at the finish. In third, a driver who needed the Last Chance Qualifier race to make Main here at the 1:8 GT Worlds back in September, Brazil’s Flavio Elias booked himself another 1:8 Onroad Worlds final appearance after recovering from a plug change during one of his pit stops to overtake leading Shepherd driver Tim Wood for the bump up position. Wood however would take the win in a very close finish to the 15-minute LCQ, 2/10ths of a second ahead of a Ricardo Hofmeijer, to become the 11th car on the grid and make it five different manufacturers in the final.

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December 1, 2025

A decade on – life is different, but the drive & focus on winning in Chile are the same for Kurzbuch

2025 marks a decade since Simon Kurzbuch became the Champion of the World. A driver Red RC have had the pleasure of following on his journey up through the ranks and into 1:8 Onroad racing history books, we first got to know him through the early days of the Euro Nitro Series and as one half of the talented Swiss racing duo that was himself and Silvio Hachler. Unfortunately we would miss him claiming the biggest prize the sport has to offer, Brazil in 2015 the only 1:8 Onroad World Championship we have missed since going online in 2006. Thankfully Simon, being the super nice guy he is, hasn’t held that against us and just before he caught his long flight to Chile we had a quick chat to get his thoughts on where he feels he is at as he attempts to become only the 3rd driver to ever win IFMAR’s original WC category more than once. If he can pull off that feat he would also be the first non Italian to ever do so. While legend of the category Lamberto Collari won’t be in Santiago for a chance at a 10th World title, and defending Champion Dario Balestri’s chances of a hat trick are on hold as he also wont be there, Simon did address the big talking point around this year’s 24th running of the Worlds – the absence of the entire Infinity team. ‘I am disappointed that the Infinity drivers are not coming, it is a real shame for Kenji that none of them are coming, but no Infinity does not affect anything from my side in how we approach this race. In the end there are still very good drivers there and you need to beat them and to beat them you need to work properly before the race in your preparations and then work hard when you get to Chile. I have a really good focus on the race so from this side it does not change anything if Infinity are there or not.’

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November 10, 2025

Takahata takes MRX7 to JMRCA Japanese National title

With Mugen Seiki having only officially released their latest 1:8 Onroad Chassis at the end of last month, their factory driver Shouki Takahata gave the Robert Pietsch designed MRX7 its first major title by winning the 2025 JMRCA 1:8 Onroad Japanese National Championship. With a field stacked with World Champions, it was the 2019 World Champion secured the TQ at the K2 International Circuit ahead of multiple World Champion Naoto Matsukura while Infinity team-mate & defending Champion Takaaki Shimo ended up 3rd. While the Top 2 directly went to the 45-minute final, Shimo and 1:12 World Finalist Hayato Ishioka won the Semi finals to progress along with the other 6 drivers to make up the Main grid. In the final Takahata would take back he last held in 2024 with his Max powered MRX7 setting the fastest lap on his way to the win with the rest of the podium a repeat of last year – Matsukura second and double Nitro Onroad World Champion Tadahiko Sahashi third from 5th on the grid. Unfortunately Shimo would retire from the final just before the half way point. For Takahata the result is a nice boost ahead of the upcoming IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championships in Santiago, Chile.

Image: Mugen Seiki [Facebook]

October 29, 2025

Mugen Seiki MRX7 Onroad Car

With the IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship just a month away and their factory driver Simon Kurzbuch one of the title favourites for Chile, Mugen Seiki has unveiled their latest 1:8 Onroad car, the MRX7. Using prototype of the Japanese manufacturer’s car, Kurzbuch was able to secure the TQ and runner-up tspot at the EFRA European Championship. The MRX7 has been fully adapted to the current requirements of the category and incorporates a few parts from its successful predecessor – Shoki Takahata winning the 2019 World title in the USA with a prototype of the MRX6. The Japanese driver is another who will fight for the title at the impressive CACH track in Santiago in early December. Mugen Seiki said that having spent a lot of time testing, rethinking existing parts the MRX7 has new suspension geometry and improved weight distribution.

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October 5, 2025

FIRST LOOK – Mugen Seiki 1:10 4WD Buggy Prototype

First making an appearance at the EFRA European Championships in Slovakia back in early August, Japanese manufacturer Mugen Seiki is debuting the prototype of its upcoming entry into the 4WD market here at thhe IFMAR 1:10 Offroad World Championships in Sydney, Australia. In the hands of team driver Burak Kilic, the buggy is off to a very impressive start setting the second fastest time in the opening round of qualifying today. Red RC was given a first look at the prototype just after its Q1 run. Having unveiled their first 2WD Buggy, the MSB1, at the previous 1:10 Offroad World Championships in Arizona 2-years ago, the 4WD is again the work of Japanese car designer Shin Adachi.

View Chassis Focus here

September 22, 2025

Max Land’s new 1:10 Astro track hosts first race

Having announced the addition of a brand new 1:10 astroturf offroad track to the existing Max Land / RC Divoké Jelení racing complex back in July, the Czech Republic’s newest track hosted its first race over the weekend. The opening event saw racers complete over four buggy classes with Mod and Stock of both 2WD and 4WD. In 2WD Stock, it was the club’s own Martin Minyuk who claimed the TQ spot, while in 2WD Mod qualifying went the way of Daniel Hofman. The 4WD action saw the Stock TQ claimed by another club member Vaclav Jires and while 4WD Mod went to the track’s very own Max Gotzl. In the finals, 2WD Stock would be an intense fight before the overall win went to the TQ man Martin Minyuk and his Xray ahead of Vojtech Hejzlar with Pepa Vich’s Team Associated completing the podium. In 2WD Mod, factory Xray driver Götzl overtook Hofman at the beginning of the first two legs of the A finals to seal the overall victory. Vojtech Hujer made it an all XB2 podium. In 4WD Stock, Jires managed to convert his TQ position into a win in front of Petr Vondrus for an Sworkz 1-2 ahead of the Xray of Vojtech Hejzlar. 4WD Mod saw Götzl win the first two legs to secure a double win at the opening event of his home track ahead of Hofman and Jindrich Jirak. With the race wrapping up the Czech outdoor season, the club are looking forward to fully utilising the new astro track for the 2026 outdoor season.

View race winners here

September 15, 2025

Tavernon claims Euro B title with last lap pass

Mugen Seiki driver Hugo Tavernon is the new EFRA 1:8 Offroad European B Champion, the French driver pulling off an impressive comeback drive at the Ospyteam R/C Off-Road Circuit in Italy to snatch the win from Top Qualifier Erik Lykke on the final lap. In qualifying it was the young British racer Lykke who impressed taking his Agama to the top of the times in 3 of the 4 qualifiers. Fastest in the final qualifier, Italian Dario Gabrielli would finish qualifying in P2 with his TLR ahead of Tavernon and Riccardo Masaggia. With Lykke winning his Semi final ahead of Samuele Senese and Thomas Musso with the fastest race time that would secure him pole for the Main ahead of Austrian Julius Siklodi who won the other Semi from Mirko Carrettin and Gabrielli. Racing in the same Semi as Lykke, Tavernon would suffer a DNF meaning he would have to win the Last Chance Final to progress and that is exactly what he would do. Lining up 13th & last for the title decider, over the 45-minutes Tavernon worked his way to the front and on the very last lap forced a pass on Lykke to become the 20th European B Champion. With the Top 3 all finishing on the same lap and covered by less than 3-seconds, Gabrielli completed the podium.

Image: Hugo Tavernon [Facebook]

August 25, 2025

Mugen Seiki Europe MBX8R Premium Edition

Mugen Seiki Europe has announced a limited ‘Premium Edition’ of the MBX8R 1:8 Buggy platform in both nitro and electric versions. Exclusive to MSE and the European market, it is aimed at drivers who expect race-ready, durable performance and precise control straight out of the box. This exclusive special set includes, in addition to the standard kit, a selection of high-quality optional parts that noticeably improve handling, durability and serviceability, ideal for ambitious hobbyists and club racers. These options benefit the buggy by significantly improving robustness and longevity of key drivetrain and steering components. It also makes for better traction and more consistent power delivery under racing conditions.

View Premium Edition parts list here