Red RC » Brand

November 21, 2023

Hoppe continues with Team Shepherd

Following the recent sale of Shepherd Micro Racing to David Spashett’s Zen Racing, it is good to see that the Nitro Onroad manufacturer is still committed to top level racing with the announcement German racer Lars Hoppe will continue to represent the brand into the 2024 racing season. A World Championship Semi-Finalist and Europe Championship Finalist, Hoppe took the TQ and was runner-up to Dominic Greiner at this year’s German National Championship. Commenting on the announcement, Hoppe said, ‘I am pleased to extend my contract with Shepherd and continue to represent this great brand at various race tracks around the world. I would like to thank Zen-Racing / Team Shepherd for your trust in me and look forward to a good collaboration. I am happy to be involved in the further development of all platforms and am available to answer any questions at the racetrack’.

Source: Zen Racing [zen-racing.co.uk]

November 21, 2023

Chinese National Champion Ma confirmed for FIRC

Having announced a number of top international drivers for the inaugural Foshan International Invitational RC Championship in China on December 15-17, the organisers have confirmed that leading national onroad talent Marco Ma will also contest the event. The 19-year-old, who joined Xray in 2021, was the 2019 Chinese National Champion in both electric and nitro touring car and just recently added the National 1:8 GT title to his CV. Having announced Hobbywing as a main sponsor of the event which will take place at new 800 square metre GDC Indoor Race Club track in Guangdong, the organisers expect over 100 entries for inaugural running of FIRC. Already having confirmed 2016 World Champion & Mugen Seiki team driver Ronald Volker, Japanese Xpress factory driver Yugo Nagashima, and Team Yokomo’s newly crowned Australian Champion Simon Nicholson, this international invitational championship is not only an international competitive event but also an opportunity to promote the development of RC competition in China. With the sponsorship and support from brands such as Hobbywing, the organisers are confident RC racing will be promoted positively among more people, adding new excitement to the development of sport in China.

Source: Foshan International Invitational RC Championship [Facebook]

November 21, 2023

Novarossi engines ‘for sale by mid-2024’ – Statement

After making a number of social media posts that forced Nova Engines to issue a statement to clarify some ‘very confused’ rumours, Novarossi has today published a much clearer statement about the rebirth of the iconic Italian engine brand. The statement published on the Novarossi World Facebook is from Massimo Rossi, the grandson of Ugo Rossi founder of the Rossi Company and who’s brother Cesare Rossi was the driving forced behind Novarossi in its heyday. Apologising for the previous Novarossi posts made on the matter, Massimo outlines the new generation of Novarossi engines will be entirely produced in Italy with the first engines ready for sale in mid 2024.

Read statement here

November 20, 2023

Gruber agrees 2-year deal with Capricorn

In a significant driver announcement, Toni Gruber and Capricorn have agreed a new contract that will see the German ace continue with the Italian chassis manufacturer for the 2024 and 2025 nitro onroad seasons. After 4-years with Shepherd, Gruber joined forces with Patrizio Rossi’s team for the 2023 season with the 27-year-old going on to have an outstanding season. In 1:10 Nitro Touring he secured the European Championship title which he then followed up with the TQ and a podium finish at the 1:8 Onroad European Championships. Adding his first ENS Championship title in 1:8 and then becoming the 1:8 GT World Champion in Australia with Hong Nor, he was to be title contender at the 1:8 Onroad World Championships. Having made his first World Final appearance at the previous World Championships in the United States in 2019, in Japan he was in the mix from the start and after one of the most intense and heavily stacked Main Finals in the category’s history he finished Runner-up just 7.5-seconds off Dario Balestri after 1-hour of racing. After such a season the continuity with Capricorn and also engine sponsor Ielasi Tuned should see Gruber become even stronger in 2024.

Source: Toni Gruber [Facebook]

November 20, 2023

Xpress Arrow AM1S 1:10 M-Chassis

Hong Kong electric onroad chassis manufacturer Xpress has announced the release of an entry level version of its M-Chassis, the Arrow AM1S. Launching the shaft driven AM1, which is a M-Chassis size version of its Arrow AT1 1:10 electric touring car, back in June, the AM1S kit has been made more economical through the use of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) for the Main Chassis and Top Deck instead of carbon fibre. The car also gets a more tradition shock tower set-up using FRP shock towers. The AM1S features 4WD Shaft Drive Floating Gearbox System with a sealed transmission gearbox with drive via composite instead of aluminium propeller shafts.

View more images here

November 19, 2023

Florida Carpet C/ship wins for Orlowski & Coelho

The JConcepts Florida Carpet Championship at Beachline Raceway in Orlando saw wins for Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski and Xray’s Bruno Coelho with Orlowski the back to back overall Champion of the event. Attracting a strong international overseas entry, in 2WD Buggy it was Orlowski who dominated qualifying topping all four rounds to secure the overall TQ. Behind him, Coelho would end qualifying in second with a pair of P2 runs followed by Orlowski’s Schumacher team-mate Broc Champlin. TLR’s Dakotah Phend, Team Associated’s Spencer Rivkin and Sworks’ Joern Neumann completed the Top 6. In the finals, Orlowski continued his form with A1 & 2 wins to retain his 2022 title. With the win in A3, Coelho would finish second with Champlin completing the 2WD podium. In 4WD, former World Champion Coelho would secure the TQ ahead of Champlin after taking 3 of the rounds with Champlin posting a TQ run in Q2. Orlowski rounded out the Top 3 ahead of Phend and new Xray signing David Ronnefalk. Again the overall win would be decided in A2 as Coelho made it 2 from 2 ahead of Orlowski, the Polish driver securing the overall runner-up spot with victory in A3 promoting Champlin to the final 4WD podium step ahead of Ronnefalk.

Image: JConcepts [Facebook]

November 17, 2023

Xtreme Aerodynamics Aria 1:8 Buggy Bodyshell

Like it’s sister brand Matrix Racing Tires’ move into the 1:8 Offroad market, Italian company Xtreme Aerodynamics has announced its first 1:8 Buggy body shell with the release of the Aria. Announcing the body shell on social media, they said, ‘After several months of hard work with our R&D department we are able to show a new 1:8 Offroad Bodyshell who moves up the standard of performance in terms of Aero details and Model Balancing’. The body is available in light and ultra light lexan options and is available pre-cut for the Associated RC8B4, HB Racing D8 WORLD, Mugen Seiki MBX8R, Serpent SRX8PRO, Sworkz S35-4EVO and Xray XB823.

View more images here

November 17, 2023

ARC R8.4 LCG Chassis

ARC has released a new optional Low Centre of Gravity chassis for their R8.4 1:8 Onroad car. The R8.4 LCG Chassis was tested and raced at the 2023 IFMAR World Championship in Japan with all ARC drivers with the resulting lower engine height improving the corner speed and overall stability especially on the medium traction high speed tracks. The R822025 LCG engine mounts are necessary parts to fit together with new LCG chassis, with new option chassis and engine mounts lowering the engine height by 2mm.

Source: Team Titan [team-titan.com.tw]