October 1, 2023

Salemi wins ENS Italy, Gruber takes title

Capricorn driver Mirko Salemi has won the season finale of the Euro Nitro Series where team-mate Toni Gruber was crowned the new 1:8 Champion.  Racing at the Leno track in Italy, the Italian claimed his first ever win of the series with victory over team-mate & defending Champion Dominic Greiner with just 8-seconds separating them at the end of the 45-minute final.  Completing the podium at the third round would be Serpent driver Andrea Catanzani who lined-up 6th on the starting grid.  Securing the overall TQ from Dominic Greiner, Mugen Seiki’s Simon Kurzbuch lead early on before hitting problems and would eventually retire at the 30-minute mark. Taking over the lead from Kurzbuch, ENS Germany winner Greiner enjoyed a long stint at the front before 4th place qualifier Salemi moved to the front in closing stages of the race which he described afterwards as ’45-minutes of racing at the limit’.  Despite retiring from the final after 17-minutes, ENS Netherlands winner Toni Gruber would clinch the overall ENS title by a single point from Greiner with Infinity’s Jilles Groskamp completing the Top 3.  In 1:10, Top Qualifier Kyle Branson took his Xray to the win by the narrowest of margins over new Champion Melvin Diekann who made it title double for Capricorn RC.  The 1:10 podium in Leno was completed by France’s Quentin Leroux.

View Overall Championship podiums here


September 30, 2023

Willspeed RF3 Full Carbon Edition

With the carpet season return upon us, Willspeed has announced that its popular RF3 conversion kit is now available in a ‘Full Carbon Kit’ edition which includes many of their popular carbon option parts.  Offered as a conversion kit for the Team Associated B6.4 and World Championship winning TLR 22 5.0 2WD buggies, the carbon edition contains the following replacement item – 1x Carbon Fibre Shock Tower Uprights (pair)  with 1x Carbon Fibre ‘Take 3’ Shock Tower Uprights (pair), 1x Chassis Skid Plate (Polycarbonate) with 1x Chassis Skid Plate (Carbon).  Additionally it includes a pair of Carbon Side Rail Pair and a Carbon Radio Tray. Having just restocked the standard RF3 kit, the British company has announced that new Bi-Material tower will now be standard in all kits.

View complete ‘Full Carbon Kit’ here


September 29, 2023

Xray X4 ’24

Xray has just presented its latest 1:10 Electric Touring Car, the X4’24.  With factory drivers Bruno Coelho and Alexander Hagberg officially debuting the new car at the Monaco RC Race Of Champions at Luca in Italy this weekend, the kit features new suspension arms with relocated shock positions improve lower arm flex and reduce twist under load.  Inner shock locations improve weight distribution with the shocks closer to the vehicle midline.  Lower arms use under arm anti-roll bar mounting and reduce shock height by 4.5mm for ultra-low CG while the upper arms are shaped for clearance around the new shock position while maintaining proper suspension geometry and rigidity.  The front and rear shock holders use shims to adjust shock positions in finer increments with 3 different shock holder mounting options provide chassis flex alternatives to tune responsiveness and grip while active or fixed rear shock holder configurations provide two dampening alternatives in one mount.  A simplified shock absorber installation uses a fixed set screw to secure the threaded shock mount stud and prevent movement in the mount during maintenance.  The car gets front steering plates with improved Ackermann positions integrate with the new arms and shock positions.  Rear ARS plates move the link forward for improved rotation.  An improved ECS drive shaft case uses a C-clip to secure a new aluminium sleeve that captures the coupler pins without the use of set screws for improved reliability and easy assembly.  A narrower chassis design reduces cornering drag, while additional material in the central motor area improves durability and reduces chassis fatigue.  Updated chassis layout matches the new lower arms, shock holders and motor mount attachment points, while also moving the battery holder mounting points closer to the centreline to reduce chassis width 3mm centering pins and an additional forward motor mount attachment point improve durability and expand flex adjustments to provide improved stability on high grip black carpet tracks.  Additional motor mount clearance for ESC wiring allows cleaner electronics installation.  Bulkhead anti-roll bar locations are moved lower, along with a new ARS link position on the rear bulkheads, to match the improved suspension geometry.  Rear graphite body post holder improves durability and stability, and offers 8 adjustment steps for even more precise horizontal body mount positioning.

View the full X4’24 presentation here


September 29, 2023

Axon 351mm Precision Drive Belt

New from Japanese electric touring car chassis manufacturer Axon is this 351mm Precision Drive Belt.  Not only for use on their own TC10 but also across a variety of other car brands due to the belts standard 1:10 Electric Touring Car belt size, it is designed to reduce drive friction while improving durability.

Source: Axon [team-axon.com]


September 28, 2023

Baruffolo joins WIRC (formerly WRC)

As was widely mooted following his departure from Tekno last week, it has been officially announced that Marco Baruffolo has joined with WIRC, the new name of Italian manufacturer WRC Racing.   The Italian will get straight down to business when he makes his race debut with the team this weekend at Buggyland in Spain where he will face a strong international field.  A major signing for WIRC, who just 10-months ago shocked many with their signing of high profile US racer Ryan Cavalieri, reacting to the announcement Baruffolo posted on his social media, ‘Super excited to join WIRC Professional RC cars.  Thanks to Franco Ghiotto for this amazing opportunity, I will do my best.
See you at Buggyland in a few hours.’

Source: WRC Racing [wrc-racing.com]


September 28, 2023

Blitz TCN-S 1:10 Touring Car Body

Blitz has released a new 1:10 Touring Car body shell, the TCN-S.  Based on the Blitz TCN, the TCN-S future an overall smaller size and improved details for better steering response, corner speed and reduced overall down force.  The first TCN was designed to work on the low traction track or car with modified power with the new TCN-S focused on improving the handling on the high traction tracks with open boost power and stock 13.5T class.  Compared to the TCN, the TCN-S has better low speed steering and corner speed with the high speed stability on par with the TCN.  The TCN-S standard is made from 0.7mm high quality clear polycarbonate with the light weight version 0.5mm.  Each body comes with pre cut window mask, decal and wing screws.

BView more images here


September 28, 2023

Team Powers XPS Sport V4BT & XPS Pro V4B ESCs

Team Powers has announced the upcoming release of two new speedo controllers, the XPS Sport V4BT & the XPS Pro V4B.  Based on the previous XPS V3 Series, the improvements offered by the V4 include built-in Bluetooth device for advanced programming and firmware update through the Mobile APPS which will be available on both IOS and Android.  Real Time Data Analysis through Mobile APPS reads current Input &  Output Throttle, Temperature, RPM, Adv. Timing, Voltage and min. voltage, Max Temperature, RPM & Adv. Timing.  Housed in a light weight plastic casing with a built-in one touch On/Off switch, the ESC changes to a 32-bit MCU with ultra-smooth, faster response with precise throttle and braking control. It also offers more top end power with the same item function setup.  A new PCB layout and new internal hardware design increase the heat dissipation and should be around 10’C lower than XPS V3 series working on the same condition. You can also change to 30mm fan with fan mount enclosed for better heat dissipating capacity and reliability.

Source: Team Powers [team-powers.com]


September 27, 2023

Willspeed bi-material RF3 rear shock tower

New from Willspeed is this new bi-material rear shock tower for the Willspeed RF3 1:10 Buggy conversion.  The new rear shock tower is made from T6 aluminium with a 3mm carbon inlay creating a strong yet light shock tower.  This new rear tower fits both the Losi and Team Associated WS RF3 conversion kits.

View more images here