Picco have announced the signing of Dino Giacalone. The young Italian made the final at the 2012 Euros in Cassino and will assist Edo Picco in developing and testing their new 2.1cc nitro engines. Expect to see Dino at upcoming National and International race meetings.
Source: Picco [teampicco.com]
Xray announce that 200mm Nitro World Champion Ralph Burch will stay with the Slovakian manufacturer trough 2013 and that the US super star will participate in all on-road classes this year. Additionally he will race electric off-road races with the new XB4. Ralph says:
I have been racing with Xray team since the very beginning since I have started to race the very first T1 more than 12 years ago. Over the years we have built a very effective team work & cooperation which has resulted into some of my best achievements in my racing career including the World Champion title. I am very proud to represent this finest company and I am very happy that our cooperation will continue and I hope some more great results will come either for me or for anyone at the Xray team. I have been available to any Xray drivers with any their questions or comments and I am looking forward to see you all during the 2013 at the races.
Source: Xray [teamxray.com]
Xray announce the signing of top US off-road racer and World Championship A main finalist Taylor Petersen. He will race in all the off-road categories using Xray’s XB9, XT8, 808E and the new XB4. Taylor says:
I would like to thank Xray & RC America for the opportunity to better my racing career. I look forward to getting to the track and start racing with the team. It is the start of what i hope will be a great relationship together. I’m super excited about the new opportunities they have asked me to pursue with 1/10. The quality of the product was apparent on my first kit build. Can’t wait to hit the track.
Source: Xray [teamxray.com]
Reds Racing announce that 2012 EFRA European Buggy Champion B Alessandro Magi has re-signed for the racing season 2013. It will be Magi’s third consecutive year with the Reds Racing team. Alessandro will be working with Mario Rossi in order to develop the company’s off-road line of engines.
Source: Reds Racing [redsracing.it] / Photo: Neo Buggy
Former World champion, triple European champion and multiple German nationals winner Daniel Reckward continues his sponsorship deal RB Products. He will use the RB engines, fuel, tires and also the brand-new RB One R 1/8th off-road buggy. RB Products is delighted to have Daniel on board and welcomes this experienced driver to the team. He and his brother Matthias will play an active role in enhancing the RB One R and will be involved in the testing and development process. This is what Daniel has to say about the deal:
I am excited to start racing with the new RB One R and firmly believe that RB Products have created a car that is capable of winning from the off. The move to RB Products and the RB One R completes the picture, as I have been using their hugely successful engines and fuel for many years and will now be using one of their cars too. Being part of this exciting project and in the ongoing development of the RB One R along with my brother, Matthias, is something I am very proud of. Looking ahead, I am really excited to be taking on this new challenge and to start racing. It is my firm goal to get the new RB buggy on track for the podium with the help of my brother.
Source: RB [rbproducts.com]
More driver news from Xray who have announced that multiple European Champion Dirk Wischnewski will continue to race for Xray in 2013. Dirk will focus on the 1/10 nitro racing and the further development of the NT1 in 2013 and will participate at all major nitro touring races. Dirk had this to say:
After 5 successful years with Team Xray I’m happy that we will continue our partnership in the future. In 2013 I will concentrate mainly on 1/10 nitro touring class, here the biggest race will be the European Championship in Austria. But I will also do some electric touring car races especially during winter time. I like to thank Juraj, Martin, Mario and everyone at Xray for the great support over the last years. I’m looking forward to great and successful future.
Source: Xray [teamxray.com]
Having recently signed for Dualsky for ESC and motor, Hupo Honigl has announced that he will run his own brand of batteries and chargers under the name H-Speed. The multiple European Champion will use his own line of EFRA homologated batteries, in stick, shorty and saddle pack configuration as well as his all new AC/DC charger. The factory Durango driver will release more products in the coming months.
Source: H-Speed [h-speed.at]
Beta have announced that both Luis Rodrigo and Ignacio Candel will be joining their European Team for 2013. Both of these drivers have continually performed excellently, both in their home markets of Portugal and Spain, and at International races. After testing Beta tyres, they both were convinced that to push them to the next level they had to choose Beta for 2013.
View the Ignacio Candel image here
