Red RC » Racing

January 8, 2026

Power HD sign German Champion Weigerding

Leading servo manufacturer Power HD has announced that current German 1:8 Onroad National Champion Marco Weigerding has joined its team driver line-up for 2026. The former Large Scale World Championship podium finisher, who now races 1:8 Onroad for Serpent with whom he has been a European Championship & ENS finalist, will now use Power HD servos as part of his race program. Joining the likes of Toni Gruber in representing the brand in 1:8 Onroad, on his new partnership Weigerding said, ‘I’m very happy and proud to be joining the Power HD team. I can’t wait to hit the track with my new power servos! I’m sure I will have the best servos in my car for the next time! See you all at the track.’

Source: PowerHD [chd.hk]

January 8, 2026

Genius confirm Arnaldi for Nitro Party

Italian GT manufacturer Genius Racing has confirmed they are sending 2 time European GT Champion Bernard-Alain Arnaldi to the inaugural Nitro Party race which takes place later this month at the Hongyu GDC track in China. Travelling to the southern city of Foshan for the brand new Asian nitro onroad fixture, the French driver is the latest top international driver to be announced. Taking place over the weekend of January 24-25th, Arnaldi, who is also one of the World’s leading Large Scale racers, joins fellow Genius driver & Spanish Champion Raul Daras Anton on the strong entry list that will also see the Raptor of newly crowned IFMAR 1:8 GT World Champion Alessio Mazzeo, Senesi Motorport’s 2024 European GT Champion Natanaele Senesi, Infinity’s multiple World Champion Naoto Matsukua, Xray’s Filippo Domanin, and Hotrace’s Nicola Marrone race at the multi track Hongyu GDC facility’s 80m X 43m asphalt circuit. Having ended our busy 2025 season coverage at the recent FEMCA Asia Electric Touring Car Championships at the track, Red RC is excited to be returning to this very impressive venue to cover the inaugural Nitro Party when it will echo to the sound of nitro engines.

Source: Hongyu GDC [Facebook]

January 7, 2026

Orlowski joins Hotrace

Hotrace has announced that reigning 1:12 World Champion Michal Orlowski will represent both its tyre brand as well as its LensBodies bodyshell brand. One racing’s most versatile racers, completing at the top level of both onroad and offroad racing, the Polish driver makes the switch to the Italian company having previously represented JConcepts. As part of the new deal Hotrace say the factory Schumacher driver will help with the development of its products in 1:10 Offroad, 1:10 Electric Touring Car, 1:8 Offroad and 1:12 Onroad. On the announcement Orlowski posted, ‘I am thrilled to announce my partnership with Hotrace Tyres Factory and LensBodies for 2026! I have known Nicola Marrone for a long time and it is high time to begin our official cooperation! I am looking forward to growing Hotrace and LensBodies brands together.’

Source: Hotrace Tyres [hotracetyres.com]

January 6, 2026

Infinity confirms Matsukura for inaugural Nitro Party

Infinity has confirmed they are sending multiple World Champion Naoto Matsukura to the inaugural Nitro Party race which takes place later this month at the new Hongyu GDC track in China. The Japanese driver holds one of the most impressive World Championship records in our sport winning 6 World Championship title over three different classes, 1:12, ITSC, and Nitro Touring Car, and has appeared in World final across numerous disciplines including 1:8 Onroad and 1:10 Electric Offroad. Fresh from racing at the FEMCA Asia Championships, TQ’ing the opening qualifier, at the impressive Hongyu GDC facility in December in preparation for the upcoming ISTC World Championships, the Japanese ace will return to the city of Foshan on January 24-25 for some nitro action. With the Nitro Party race creating great excitement within the Asian nitro onroad scene, the race has also attracted international attention with newly crowned 1:8 GT World Champion Alession Mazzeo one of a number of Italians already confirm for the first edition.

Source: Hongyu GDC [Facebook]

January 6, 2026

Sturdy moves to Schumacher for 2026

After 9-years with Team Associated, multiple Australian National Offroad Champion Chris Sturdy has been confirmed as joining Schumacher for 2026. Schumacher described the signing of Sturdy as ‘a great addition to our high level Off Road team.’ Announcing his departure from Team Associated back in November, giving his reaction to joining the British manufacturer & newly crowned 1:10 2WD World Champions Sturdy said, ‘I am beyond thrilled to be joining Schumacher for the 2026 season! Schumacher is where my story began and this feels like a homecoming for me. I look forward to joining the Schumacher Family and representing the Historic name and brand, as well as working with the team, both locally and abroad. A thank you to Harvey, Robin and all those at Schumacher for welcoming me on board for 2026.’

Source: Schumacher [racing-cars.com]

January 6, 2026

Batta joins Hobbywing

Hobbywing has officially announced the addition of IFMAR 1:10 2WD Offroad World Championship podium finisher Davey Batta to their team for 2026 and beyond. The 20-year-old, who previously represented R1 Wurks, returns to Hobbywing and will use their electronics as part of his package as a Team Associated driver. Winning 2WD over the weekend at the Clash of Champions, on the announcement the American said, ‘Really Excited to be back with Hobbywing for the 2026 Season and Beyond! Huge thank you to Charlie, Matty G, and Spencer Rivkin for helping me hit the ground running with the equipment. Hobbywing has proven to set and raise the bar for power. I’m excited to be a part of the amazing team!’

Source: Hobbywing [hobbywing.com]

January 5, 2026

Savox welcome Kaerup as team driver

Savox servos has announced 4WD World Champion Marcus Kærup as an official team driver for 2026. The highly talented Dane, who also won the 1:8 eBuggy World title in 2025, used Savox servos in his 1:10 World title winning Team Associated RC1084D and Top Qualifying 2WD RC10B7D buggies in Australia last October but now becomes an official sponsored team driver of the Taiwanese manufacturer. Welcoming Kaerup as a new team driver, Savox said that he will continue to run Savox servos across his Team Associated 1:10 buggies as well as in 1:8 Nitro and Electric buggies, and his TC8 Touring Car!, adding ‘We’re excited for what’s ahead.’

Source: Savox [teamsavox.com]

January 5, 2026

Champlin joins FlySky in new radio deal

2WD Buggy World Champion Broc Champlin is to use FlySky as part of his 2026 race package, the factory Schumacher driver making the announcement on his new deal with the Chinese radio manufacturer at the 2026 Clash of Champions event over the weekend. With FlySky having made huge market gains and and made quite a name for itself over the last two years, on becoming the latest World Champion to join the brand, Champlin posted, ‘I’m proud to announce my radio sponsor for the year of 2026 and beyond, Flysky RC. I first tried this radio in April of 2025 and was instantly sold. Due to the 2025 World Championships, I chose to stay with what I was most familiar with but after the Florida Carpet Championships, I began the switch. Whether they would end up as my sponsor or not, I chose this radio because it has all of the features I like best. I’m ecstatic to be apart of the fastest growing radio brand in competitive RC racing. I can’t wait to see all of my personal improvements and help the team provide a more quality and refined product for our community of racers. See you all at the races!’ It was a good official race debut for Champlin as he took the 4WD Mod TQ & Win at the Clash of Champions.

Source: Broc Champlin [Facebook]