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July 5, 2024

IFMAR Large Scale World Championship – CANCELLED

IFMAR has just announced that the Large Scale World Championship scheduled for October in Sydney, Australia, has been cancelled. The unanimous joint decision was made between IFMAR, FEMCA, EFRA and RCRA due to lack of entries for the race. The cancellation of what would have been the 12th Worlds for the category, marks the first time in the history of IFMAR that a World Championship has been cancelled due to low numbers, only 9 driving committing to the race. Having dealt with NSWRCRCC last year on their excellent running of the 1:8 GT World Championship which Red RC attended, and having followed closely their efforts to try to put on a successful Large Scale Worlds it is a disappointing outcome for all involved. In the announcement on Facebook IFMAR stated, ‘It is with disappointment that for the first time in IFMAR history we are forced to cancel an event due to lack of competitors. The 2024 1/5th Scale IFMAR Worlds in Sydney will not be proceeding. With just over 3 months to go we only have the formal commitment of 9 drivers to attend the race, with such low numbers of drivers it is not viable nor responsible to commit to run a World Championship. This was a joint, unanimous decision, between IFMAR, FEMCA, EFRA, RCRA (who the committed racers represented) and the organizing club NSWRCRCC. With 3 months until the event, yes there may have been last minute entries, however, even with the number of racers at double or triple it is still not enough for a viable event and it is not responsible or fair to allow the organizing club to take on such risk. IFMAR and the BLOCS will discuss the further running of Large Scale events in the future and try to find a solution. The Host Club is still committed to running an event within the same date schedule as the cancelled World Championship and are working with FEMCA for an alternative event. We encourage all large scale racers to look out for these details and support the club if you are able to.’

Source: IFMAR [Facebook]

July 4, 2024

2024 FIRC – 2nd Edition Announcement

After a hugely successful inaugural running of the Foshan International Invitational RC Championship last December, hosts GDC Indoor Race Club in Guangdong, China, has confirmed the date for the 2024 edition. Confirming the 2nd edition will run on December 5-8, a week earlier than last year, the FIRC Championship was created with the goal of providing local racers with an opportunity to see some of the best drivers in the world in action while also getting to race against them. The inaugural event did exactly that with Mugen Seiki’s Ronald Volker coming away as the winner ahead of China’s Vening Zhuo and Japan’s Yugo Nagashima. Opened in May of 2023, GDC Indoor track is 800 square metres making it the largest professional indoor onroad track in China. Also housing an offroad carpet track, later this month it will also host the FEMCA 1:10 Offroad Championship, the governing body of RC racing that represents 15 nations in Asia and Australasia bringing back the category title after the race’s absence for a number of years.

Source: GDC Indoor Race Club

July 3, 2024

2025 Charity Race – Announcement

Having raised thousands of euros for local charities since its inception, the organisers of the annual Charity Race in Italy has announced a new earlier date for the 2025 edition of the popular Electric Touring Car event. Organised each year by ASD Team La Gang, the Charity Race will take place on January 11/12 at the RC Landia indoor carpet track in Scandiano. Having clashed with the legendary TITC in Bangkok, Thailand, this year, the earlier running of the 2025 edition should boost the number of factory drivers in attendance. Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski has won the past two editions of the race which over the years since beginning in 2010 counts reigning World Champion Bruno Coelho and former Champions Marc Rheinard, Ronald Volker and Alexander Hagberg among its winners. The club are always keen to highlight the main goal of the race stating, ‘Remember, this race is all about giving back! All proceeds will be donated to support children in need. Join us for a fun-filled weekend of racing while making a positive impact on the lives of these youngsters.’

Source: Team La Gang [teamlagang.it]

July 2, 2024

Epp joins 1up Racing as new Lead Designer

US racing accessories brand 1up Racing has announced the hiring of Eric Epp as their new Lead Designer & Brand Manager. In this role, Epp will spearhead all aspects of product development, graphic design, and brand management, focusing on elevating the performance and visual identity of 1up Racing’s proprietary products. Having dealt for many year’s with Epp during the heyday of Protoform bodies, Red RC is excited to see him joining Randy Caster’s 1up Racing, a company we have enjoyed seeing Caster start and grow into the success it is today. On the announcement Caster said, “We are thrilled to add Eric to our team. His exceptional talent and proven leadership in product development and brand management will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our company. Eric has been a supporter of our brand since the very beginning, and I know that his passion for innovation, style and commitment to excellence align perfectly with 1up Racing’s mission to deliver world-class products to our customers.” On his move to 1up Racing Epp said, “I can’t wait to get started!,” Eric said about the new position. “I’ve watched Randy grow this brand from simply selling battery tape and grease into the ultra-cool, wide-reaching, attractive RC brand and media company that it is today. Getting to work with both Randy and Joe Pillars to grow the 1up brand is super exciting. The sky’s the limit for 1up Racing with this group of talent.”

Source: 1up Racing [1upracing.com]

June 30, 2024

Orlowski wins European C/ship Warm-up Race

The Warm-up Race for this year’s EFRA Electric Touring Car European Championships took place over the weekend with Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski taking the win ahead of reigning Champion Bruno Coelho. Racing at the Roeselare track in Belgium, which hosts the 23rd running of the European Championships for the category on August 23-25, it was the very much on-form Orlowski who secured the TQ on tiebreaker as he and Coelho had two fastest runs each over the four qualifiers. Marc Rheinard would complete the Top 3 for Awesomatix ahead of the Mugen Seiki of the championship’s most successful driver 6-time Champion Ronald Volker. In the finals, Orlowski took the first A-Main from Coelho but in A2 it was the Portuguese Xray driver, who will chase a record breaking four titles in a row, that took the win from Orlowski who has yet to hold the title. In A3 however Orlowski got the win for the overall victory ahead of Coelho with the Awesomatix of 5th place qualifier Lucas Urbain completing the Top with Yokomo’s Antoine Brunet missing the podium on tie break. In Stock, top Belgian driver & 2022 Champion Olivier Bultynck had the perfect weekend taking the TQ and victory for Awesomatix over team-mate Lukas Ellerbrock.

Image: Michal Orlowski [Facebook]

June 25, 2024

Volker to defend inaugural eSIC title

Having won last year’s inaugural Electric Singapore International Challenge, Mugen Seiki’s Ronald Volker is to return to the RCMC race track to defend his title. A sell out race last year, Volker beat Yokomo’s Nicholas Lee who as the country’s top international driver is one of the main organisers behind the eSIC race thats goal is to bring back racing in Singapore in style with the creation of one big exciting weekend for the on-road racers. Taking place on 14-15th September, one week before the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, Volker’s return makes him the third World Champion confirmed for the second edition of eSIC with Infinity’s Jilles Groskamp and Andy Moore already announced as part of the international entry that will travel to Singapore.

Source: eSIC [Facebook]

June 24, 2024

Balestri European Champion with dominant 200mm win

17-years on from when he last held the title, Dario Balestri is once again the EFRA European 1:10 Nitro Touring Car European Champion after a dominant win in France over the weekend. Having secured the TQ ahead of Infinity team-mate Jilles Groskamp at the Le Model Club Thionvillois track, the Italian would win the 45-minute final from the Dutch driver by over a lap. With Balestri’s main challenge in the final coming from the Capricorn of the defending Champion Toni Gruber, the only glitch in the race for Balestri came with just under 10-minutes left on the clock when he had a moment and his car put all four wheels on the grass. 9-seconds up on Gruber at the time, the German couldn’t capitalise because at the same time he would flip his car and on low fuel with a scheduled fuel stop just 2-laps out he suffered a flame out. Rejoining in fourth behind Carmine Raiola, he would recover and get back passed the Italian Champion to complete the podium behind Groskamp as Balestri took the title for a third time making him the most successful champion of the category.

Image: EFRA [Facebook]

June 21, 2024

Balestri Top Qualifier at 1:10 200mm European C/Ship

Dario Balestri is the Top Qualifier for the 2024 EFRA 1:10 Nitro Touring Car European Championship, the Italian heading an Infinity 1-2 in France from team-mate Jilles Groskamp. Racing at the Le Model’Club Thionvillois in northern France, where rain has effected the action, Balestri topped the opening three qualifiers to secure pole position for Saturday’s title race which is the 18th running of the championship. A former double champion of the category, reigning 1:8 Onroad World Champion Balestri last held the 1:10 European title in 2007 having successful defended his 2006 win. Fastest in Q4 & 5, Groskamp will start second ahead of the Capricorn of defending Champion Toni Gruber. Enjoying a very strong season in his National 1:8 Onroad Championship with wins at the first three rounds, British driver Alex Thurston locked in the final direct qualifying spot in the Main taking his Mugen Seiki to P4. Top French nitro onroad racer Quentin Leroux just missed the cut ending qualifying P5 despite being second fastest in Q5 and he will have to progress from the Semi Finals.

Image: EFRA [Facebook]