Red RC » Mugen

November 5, 2024

Mugen brings new MTC3 to World Championship

Mugen Seiki has brought two of its all new MTC3 1:10 Electric Touring Cars to the IFMAR World Championship which gets underway tomorrow (Wednesday) with the first day of track action. The very close to final production prototypes will be raced by former World Champion Ronald Volker and top US racer Jacob Cruz, both drivers getting their very first feel for the car on asphalt when they joined a number of other manufacturers for a final shakedown over the weekend at the Exeter RC Speedway, that track about a one hour drive from the WC venue. While the Japanese manufacturer is currently working on the planning of parts production for the new car, the MTC3’s designer Robert Pietsch, who has travelled out to California with Volker, says that no release date has yet been set for the car adding that from a design aspect what they are racing is very close to the final product. Making the decision to not yet allow any detailed photograph of the cars as it looks to keep the design under wraps, speaking to Volker during today’s registration and tyre prep day here at Finishline RC Raceway here in Bakersfield, the German said the new car is a big step forward, the new design bringing the car in line with the latest design trends in the category. Having had four bodies painted in his trademark colours for the World Championship, unfortunately we wont be seeing much of Volker’s MTC3 in his scheme as the bodies failed to arrive in time for his departure to the US.

October 10, 2024

Mugen Seiki Electronic Gel Double-sided Tape

Mugen Seiki is offering new Electronic Gel Double-sided Tape intended for secure mounting of car electrics. The strong adhesive power double-sided gel tapes offer protection for the receiver, ESC, etc. from vehicle vibrations. Available in two sizes, the 1.5mm thickness is suitable for offroad cars that produce a lot of vibration, while 0.8mm thickness is suitable for on-road cars. The 1.5mm is 30mm wide while the 0.8mm is 20mm wide. Although highly adhesive, the tapes cloth thread reinforcement makes it easy to peel off cleanly and leave no marks compare to the common double-sided tape.

View roll options here

September 20, 2024

Kurzbuch Top Qualifier at 1:8 European Championship

Mugen Seiki’s Simon Kurzbuch is the Top Qualifier at the EFRA 1:8 Onroad Championship. The former World Champion came out top of the 5-rounds of qualifying at the Miniautodromo Locorotondo in Italy, where 4 different drivers posted TQ runs. Thursday’s opening day of qualifying would see defending Champion Dario Balestri kick off proceedings by taking his Infinity to a TQ run before Kurzbuch posted the first of his two TQ in Q2. Friday’s second day of qualifying would open with the Serpent of Practice Top Seed Andrea Catanzani topping the times sheet for Q3 before Kurzbuch went on to take Q4. With the overall TQ wide open going into the fifth & final round, it would be Infinity’s Carmine Raiola who set the pace from the Capricorn of Toni Gruber, Kurzbuch, Catanzani and Balestri. With 3 from 5 to count overall, Kurzbuch was declared the Top Qualifier from Catanzani with the all important Top 4 direct Main Final qualifiers being completed by Raiola and Gruber, the latter’s 1-2 in Q5 knocking Balestri back to P5. The 22nd running of European Championship will be decided tomorrow over 45-minutes with Kurzbuch going for his second title having previously won it in 2018 when the race was also held in Italy.

Image: Simon Kurzbuch [Facebook]

September 16, 2024

Volker defends eSIC title

Having won the inaugural Electric Singapore International Challenge (eSIC) 12-months ago, Mugen Seiki’s Ronald Volker successfully returned to the RCMC race track in Singapore where he defended his title over the weekend. The former World Champion would kick off the event with a TQ run but some impressive driving from new ARC signing would see Brayden Stanley top Q2. A close battle in Q3 saw Volker back on top but only just from the Awesomatix of Lucas Urbain, the French driver setting a new track record in his efforts to better the German. One of the organisers of the eSIC event, Yokomo’s Nicholas Lee took the final qualifier but overall it was Volker who claimed the overall TQ, with Lee second, Hayden third and Urbain fourth. In A1 the Top 4 finished as they started with a repeat win in A2 giving Volker the overall win. Winning A3, Australian Stanley would finish runner-up on his eSIC debut with Lee completing the podium ahead of Xpress driver Yugo Nagashima. In the Cayote 13.5T Open Brushless Class, Danny Lim took the TQ and win ahead of Johnson Tsang with Zaccheus lam completing the podium.

Image: eSIC [Facebook]

August 30, 2024

Mugen Seiki MSB1 updated Top Deck & Diff Gears

Mugen Seiki has released a number of updated parts for its MSB1 1:10 2WD Buggy. A new Top Plate features a redesigned shape to avoid rod interference when using the optional servo weight plate. Having entered the 1:10 2WD Buggy market for the very first time earlier this year with the release of the MSB1, the Japanese manufacturer has also updated the gear set for the ball diff. By reducing the diameter of the gear part of the B2301D, the rotation of the gearbox has become smoother. The gear differential has also been redesigned to improve oil leakage from the B2302A/B. For identification purposes, the new gears will be grey in colour.

View Diff Gear updates here

August 22, 2024

Niko Saarinen crowned Finnish 1:8 Onroad Champion

Mugen Seiki driver Niko Saarinen is the 2024 Finnish 1:8 Onroad National Champion, the title being decided at the fourth & final round which took place in Hyvinkää over the weekend. Three drivers went into the final race still with a chance of the overall with drivers counting 3 from the four races with Pekka Koivula leading the standings from Niko Saarinen and the defending Champion Jere Saarinen. The race was run in tricky conditions with the track changing from wet to dry. Practice was run on a drying track but luckily when qualifying came around the track had dried up allowing for 2 rounds in the dry before the rain returned. Based off the dry runs it would be Niko Saarinen who took the TQ, from Panu VehniäinenI and Jere Saarinen. The main final was driven in drying conditions meaning everybody had to be very careful to not push over the limit. Niko took the early lead followed by VehniäinenI while there was a collision on the straight between Jere, Joona Lempiäinen and Koivula, which forced the Champion to change tyres due to a broken rim and while Lempiäinen required a bodyshell change. After 20 minutes Niko was till leading followed by Vehniäinen until the second placed driver ran into transmission problems and was forced to retire. Allowing Niko to take the win ahead of Jere with Lempiäinen completing the podium, overall Niko’s Max Power engined Mugen took the title ahead of the similar O.S powered car of Koivula. Also driving a Mugen, fitted with a Max Power engine,the outgoing champion complete the Top 3 ahead of the Infinity of Lempiäinen with Vehniäinen’s Mugen 5th.

Source: Teemu Saarinen

August 22, 2024

Mugen MBX8R ECO 2-Piece Carbon Battery Box

Mugen Seiki Europe’s parts brand MSE Performance Parts has introduced a 2-Piece Carbon Battery mount for the Mugen MBX8R ECO 1:8 Electric Buggy. Machine from high quality carbon fibre, the mount fits two 2S lipo batteries and is a upgrade from the standard plastic mount that comes with the MBX8R ECO kit.

View with battery installed here

August 8, 2024

Thurston crowned British Champion with 5 in a row

Alex Thurston is the new 2024 BRCA British 1:8 Circuit National Champion, the YMC Racing supported driver claimed the title with a perfect season of 5 wins from 5 races. With round 5 of 7 taking drivers to the centre of the country and to the Wombwell Circuit, Thurston would take his Ielasi Tuned powered Mugen Seiki to the TQ ahead of the Shepherds of out going champion Tim Wood and Andrew Hastings. In the process of his Q4 FTD, Thurston claimed a new track record with a fastest lap of 16.02. In the half hour final Wood would keep Thurston on his toes but a late push in the final minutes allowed Thurston to build as gap he could maintain to the finish to make it 5 from 5 by a margin of 6-seconds. Behind Wood, Hastings completed the podium 2-laps down. The title win sees Thurston retake the title he had previous held for three years in a row in 2022. The penultimate round of the 2024 championship will see drivers return to Halifax, having hosted previously Round 5, on September 7/8th.

Image: Alex Thurston [Facebook]