Red RC » Racing

February 2, 2026

VanDalen wins TNR Fuels A-Main Challenge

Tekno RC’s Seth VanDalen was the big winner at the annual TNR Fuels A-Main Challenge held in Norco, California, over the weekend, as he took the win in 1:8 Nitro Buggy. With the 2026 edition attracting 761 entries over 21 classes!, two rounds of qualifying would result in VanDalen taking the TQ honours ahead of Sworkz’s Camden Lime as his Q1 time was faster than Lime’s Q2 topping pace. Making the trip over from Europe, Mugen Seiki’s Burak Kilic would start P3 followed by Kyosho’s Phi-Long Nguyen, the Tekno of last year’s Top Qualifier Ryan Maifield, while the Team Associated of 2025 winner Spencer Rivkin completed the Top 6. Over the half hour final, while Kilic would lead for a lengthy stint, it was Van Dalen who took a close win over the Turkish visitor with Nguyen, who took a turn at leading, completing the podium. Kilic wouldn’t go home empty handed however taking the Nitro Truggy win ahead 2025 winner Maifield with Van Dalen in third. In eBuggy, Nguyen would get the better of Top Qualifier VanDalen to come away with the win as Kilic rounded out the podium ahead of the Mayako of Ryan Cavalieri.

Image: JConcepts [Facebook]

January 30, 2026

2026 Asia Nitro Party Chassis Focus Index

Last weekend Red RC kicked off our 2026 race coverage by travelling to China to the impressive Hongyu GDC track in Foshan for the inaugural running of the Asia Nitro Party. A brand new nitro onroad race providing an international stage for the category, it attracted a stacked international entry that only looks set to grow after a successful first edition. With newly crowned IFMAR 1:8 GT World Champion Alessio Mazzeo and his Raptor leading the biggest category, 1:8 GT, in 1:8 GP it was IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship Top Qualifier Andrea Catanzani and his Serpent who led the entry. Come the finals however the Italians couldn’t put their name on the race’s opening role of honour, that instead going to France’s double European Champion Bernard-Alain Arnaldi and Genius in GT and Infinity’s Naoto Matsukura in 1:8 GP. Over the busy weekend of high revving racing action we managed to get our hands on 8 cars from 6 different manufacturers and for those who missed the any of these chassis focuses as part of coverage from the Asia Nitro Party we have compiled them in our first Chassis Focus Index of 2026.

View Chassis Focus Index here

January 30, 2026

Xray confirm Zalewski & Bayer for MIBO International

Xray has confirmed that defending MIBO International 2WD Champion Bartek Zalewski and reigning EFRA 2WD European Champion Martin Bayer will lead their offroad team at the fourth edition of the Czech race on February 27-March 1st. The Slovakian manufacturer is a multiple champion of the Michal Bok organised international indoor event that uniquely brings together both onroad and offroad racers with the building of two side by side tracks. Last year young Polish star Zalewski made it two successive winning years in Hrotovice, having headed an Xray 1-2 with Bayer in 4WD in 2024. Held at the Sport V Hotel in the town of Hrotovice, MIBO International is officially a two and a half day event and gets underway on the Friday afternoon with practice allowing for travel Friday morning. Counting new 4WD World Champion Marcus Kaerup, Ronald Volker, Michal Orlowski, Bruno Coelho, and Joern Nuemann as winners, the race’s capped entry limit makes for a relaxed schedule meaning plenty of time in the evening to wind down and socialise over dinner after each day’s racing. For full details of the 2026 MIBO International Race and to register to be on the grid you can visit the Mibosport website by clicking here.

Source: MIBO [mibosport.com]

January 30, 2026

Infinity IF18-3 Aluminium Top Deck

With it 10-years since the IF18 1:8 Onroad chassis made its debut and continuously evolving from the original model, Infinity is releasing the option of an aluminium top deck for the latest IF18-3. Machined from lightweight aluminium, this 2.0 mm top deck for the IF18-3 combines high rigidity with just the right amount of flex for high-speed performance. It features a sharp, aggressive appearance and delivers a uniquely responsive driving feel compared to a carbon top deck.

Source: Creation Model [creationmodel.net]

January 28, 2026

Morganti joins Mugen Seiki Racing

Mugen Seiki Racing, the US distributor for the World Champion Japanese manufacturer, has announced the signing of top American nitro onroad racer Diego Morganti. Son of veteran 1:8 Onroad racer Paolo, the 21-year-old was the winner of 2025 KO Propo Grand Prix driving a Capricorn but goes into the 2026 season with a completely new program. Announced as joining Ielasi Tuned engines at the end of 2025, on campaigning Mugen Seiki’s newly released World Championship winning MRX7, Morganti said, ‘I’m very excited to announce my new collaboration with Mugen Seiki Racing! I can’t wait to get to the track and start testing the new MRX7. Thank you so much to Brian Thomas and to the entire Mugen Seiki team.’

Source: Mugen Seiki Racing [Facebook]

January 27, 2026

Rasmussen joins Schumacher

Schumacher Racing has announced the return of leading Danish racer & Spec Touring Car World Championship Finalist Jesper Rasmussen who will represent the British manufacturer in both onroad and offroad. The move comes after 11-years of racing for Team Associated in offroad and a one year stint with IRIS for his onroad program. Kicking off his new chassis sponsorship this weekend in Stock Touring Car at ETS Daun, on the announcement Rassmussen said, ‘I’m super happy to be back “home” after more than 10 years away from team. Looking forward to work together with team in On road and Off Road. I plan to do all ETS races in 2026, European Championship and World Championship in On Road, National races in On road and Off road fit in my race schedule. My first race will be ETS Daun with my Mi9.’

Source: Schumacher [racing-cars.com]

January 27, 2026

TITC to revert to ‘Classic Layout’ due to concerns over new layout

With just over 2-weeks to go to the 22nd running of the famous TITC (12-15 Feb) in Bangkok, host track RC Addict has announced a revised track layout due to safety and track flow concerns around the layout they had prepared for the 2026 edition. Have created an anti-clock wise layout that featured a very short back straight, today they have published that the layout will revert to a ‘classic layout’ in the clockwise direction featuring a full length straight. In announcing the revised layout RC Addict posted, ‘Due to safety and race flow concerns combined with local and international popular demands, the TITC 2026 layout will be changed for the Addict Classic Layout Clockwise direction. Since we didn’t race it for a very long time, let’s bring it back this year. Thanks for your understanding and support. See you at the track soon!’.

Source: RC Addict [Facebook]

January 27, 2026

Baldes joins Ielasi Tuned

Promising young German 1:8 Nitro Onroad racer Thilo Baldes has joined Ielasi Tuned engines for 2026. The 14-year-old Serpent Team Europe driver will use the Ielasi Pista.21 Team Edition with Energy fuel in his Serpent 990 R. From a well known family of nitro racers, Baldes’ 2025 season included becoming German Vice-Champion and finishing 16th in the overall standings of the Euro Nitro Series. For the 2026 season, the youngster plans to compete in the European Championship, ENS, and German Championship. Having raced the last three season with engines from Reds Racing, on the announcement Baldes said, ‘I am very grateful to Sabrina and Daniele Ielasi for supporting me on my journey. Daniele provides exceptional support on the race track, and his engines have proven themselves to be of outstanding quality for years – exactly what I need for the next steps. I can’t wait to finally drive the first laps with the new engines and start the new season. I am very grateful to Reds Racing for supporting me since 2023 and contributing significantly to my successes so far.’

Source: Ielasi Tuned [ielasituned.com]