Red RC » Drivers

October 9, 2020

Kohta Akimoto announces departure from Kyosho

Kohta Akimoto, multiple Japanese National champion and World Championship finalist, has announced his departure from Kyosho as well as top-flight racing. The likeable Japanese driver has been with Kyosho for 15 years and working with the company for the past 8 as a team driver and product designer. Kohta will continue to race for fun going forward and his next position will also be within the RC industry, but in a different role which he will announce in the coming weeks.

October 8, 2020

SWorkz add Callum Niblett to their team

SWorkz have announced the signing of UK driver Callum Niblett to their team. Callum will race their 1/8 Nitro and Electric platforms going forward cars in the next years. European Team Manager Jerome Sartel said ‘We are really happy to have Callum Niblett in our European Team. I am sure he will make his way and fits perfectly into our team’. Callum also added ‘It’s really awesome to be part of this successful team. After testing the SWorkz cars the decision to run them in the future was easy.’

Source: MW RC Cars [mwrccars.at]

October 2, 2020

Ronald Völker joins Mugen Seiki

Having dropped the bombshell on Wednesday that he was leaving Team Yokomo, Ronald Völker has just been confirmed as a Mugen Seiki driver. The former World, European, ETS & Reedy Race Champion will now head Mugen’s EP onroad race team, a move that shows very clearly the ambitions of the Japanese company within this category. Having only entered the ultra competitive touring car class for the first time back in 2017, they have always had a competitive platform but up until now were lacking a tier-1 driver, which they now have with Ronald. Völker, who is currently leading the ETS standings after 3 rounds, will have to adapt quickly to the all new MTC2 if he is to maintain that lead with the 4th round of the series taking place in less than 2 weeks. Mugen had this to say about the new deal:

Mugen Seiki is very proud to announce, that former IFMAR World Champion and multiple European-, National- and ETS-Champion Ronald Völker has joined their electric on-road team! Ronald will bring his amazing speed and all his knowledge into the team and he will campaign the all new MTC2 platform at all upcoming races. We are looking forward to a successful long term partnership with him. “Welcome to the Mugen family Ronald!”

Source: Mugen Europe [mugen.eu]

September 30, 2020

Ronald Volker shock departure from Team Yokomo

In big driver market news, Ronald Volker has announced his shock departure from long time sponsor Yokomo. The German was with the Japanese brand for 11 plus years and won everything there was to win including his World title in China in 2016. Yokomo has gone through some major changes in the passed 12 months with the famous marque changing owners and with Volker handling the onroad team activities alongside driver duties, this will leave a big hole in their team. Ronald gave the following statement:

After more than 11 years, from now on I am no longer part of Yokomo anymore! It was my decision to leave and my decision to look for a new challenge. I can not really describe how thankful I am for taking the opportunity back in 2009 to join Yokomo under Mr. Yokobori and to be able to stay for so many years. I grew in that period as a better driver and person in our wonderful RC World. Together we came a long way which personally highlighted in winning a World Championship and multiple European and ETS Championships, Nationals and many other events. Additionally we had developed some amazing cars within a great team and I had the chance to meet tons of people worldwide and collect so much experience which I never even have dreamed of.

September 30, 2020

Kev Lee joins Schumacher Racing

Schumacher Racing have announced that Kev Lee has joined their offroad team. Kev brings vast experience and great speed to the table, being a previous EFRA Euro’s A finalist, multiple BRCA National winner and regular top 10 performer. Kev will be seen at popular UK events including Worksop, Silverstone, BRCA Regionals and Nationals, all subject to COVID restrictions and he had the following to say.

I last raced for Schumacher in the late 90s and early 2000s and have fond memories of the team and cars of the time, so I’m really excited to return. The cars on offer at the moment are strong contenders in all classes, and with the continual development, from the factory and the team, I’m certain they will continue to be so. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in.

Source: Schumacher [racing-cars.com]

September 8, 2020

Rayan Medjoubi joins SWorkz factory team

SWorkz have announced the signing of top French race Rayan Medjoubi to their 1/8 factory team. The French National Championship runner up had this to say, ‘Already after little testing it was clear for me to join the SWorkz team. Quality and performance of the products and the friendly but professional atmosphere in the team, makes me looking totally positive into the future. Max Sonnleitner from SWorkz followed up by saying, ‘I am sure Rayan is fitting perfectly into our team. Thanks to Jerome Sartel for introducing Rayan to us and I am sure he will make his way.’

Source: MW RC Cars [mwrccars.at]

September 4, 2020

Dylan Saunders joins SWorkz Junior Factory team

SWorkz have announced the signing of 13 year old Dylan Saunders to their UK Team as well as Junior Factory team. Going forward Dylan will race the SWorkz line of 1/8 products and he had this to say about the deal, ‘I am very impressed by the quality of the SWorkz products. I am sure to make good results in the SWorkz team’. Max Sonnleitner from SWorkz continued by saying ‘SWorkz policies, giving young drivers the possibility of working together with some of the best drivers in the world, will also help Dylan on his way up. We are happy to have with Dylan and Jess another father/son team, that for sure fits perfectly into our racing team’.

Source: MW RC Cars [mwrccars.at]

August 27, 2020

Xpress sign Felix Law

Xpress have added all-round nice guy and multi-class talent, Felix Law to their factory team. Felix is known for his vast touring car knowledge and will attend all major races in the U.S. while also helping racers with track-side tech support.

Source: Xpress [rc-xpress.com]