Red RC » Racing

May 31, 2026

Catanzani finally crowned European 1:8 GT Champions

Having led with 3-minutes to go in 2024 only to lose 2nd gear and the win, then crossed the line in 1st place only to have his fuel tank fail post tech in 2025, Serpent’s Andrea Catanzani is now finally the new EFRA 1:8 GT European Champion. Racing at the Vila Real track in Portugal, the rapid Italian would become the fourth champion of the nitro category with victory over the Genius racing team-mates of outgoing champion Filippo Beretta and two time champion Bernard-Alain Arnaldi. In qualifying it was the Raptor of World Champion Alessio Mazzeo who took the TQ honours ahead of World Championship Top Qualifier Catanzani, both drivers recording two TQ runs each but Mazzeo getting the tie-breaker with his Q5 time. Joining them directly onto the A-Main grid, Arnaldi secured 3rd, with the Q3 TQ run, ahead of Beretta. In the 45-minute final Mazzeo led them away and was leading at the half way mark when he broke a tyre and spinning out he was collected by another car which resulted in a broken servo ending his race. While Beretta took over the lead for a number of laps, it was Catazani, who set the fastest lap of the race, who led them home winning by a lap and a half. With 2024 Champion Natanaele Senesi finishing P4, it meant Catanzani’s win came ahead of all previous three champions. In GTE, Mazzeo would completed the perfect campaign securing the TQ and wrapping up the title with straight wins in A1 & A2. He was joined on the podium by the similar car of Burak Kilic, winner of A3, and Senesi. Xray’s defending Champion Adam Izsay would finish P5.

Image: Filippo Beretta [Facebook]

May 28, 2026

Kyosho Mini-Z ‘Carpet Track 50’

With its urethane “Grand Prix Circuit 50′ track the gold standard for Mini-Z and 1:28 racing for decades, Kyosho has just unveiled the ‘Mini-Z Carpet Track 50’ track system which is made using specialised carpet material. With the basic set containing 40 pieces, the biggest highlight of the new track is its 5mm thick sublime grip making it the perfect home circuit, but it’s also great for gathering with friends to set up a pop-up track in a meeting room or recreational facility for racing. The joints have been redesigned to be easier to install, instead of using screw holes it now features an Easy Lock – just a 60-degree twist of the joint. Just like the urethane ‘Grand Prix Circuit 50’, a full line-up of Expansion Sets, Large Corners, and 90-degree Fence Sets are being released simultaneously, giving you total freedom over your course layouts. A much slimmer track material the new Mini-Z Carpet Track 50 is not compatible with the conventional track.

View more images here

May 28, 2026

Jetko J-ONE 1:8 Truggy Race Tyre

Tyre manufacturer Jetko has released the 1:8 Truggy version of its J-One tyre. Originally released as a buggy tyre at the beginning of 2024, the J-One is engineered for maximum traction and stability in high-performance 1:8 Truggy racing. Its tread features tightly packed, stretched hexagonal pins that create a large, consistent contact patch for exceptional forward drive and corner speed on high-grip surfaces. The reinforced layout provides strong side bite and predictable handling under heavy Truggy loads. Flexible belt technology minimises tyre growth at high speeds, improving stability and consistency throughout a run. Jetko recommend the tyre for smooth, hard-packed, blue-groove, and carpet tracks.

Source: Jetko [jetkopower.com]

May 28, 2026

2026 IFMAR ISTC World C/ships Stage 1 Report – Huge RC

Just announced over the weekend as the new venue & host of the 2026 IFMAR ISTC World Championships, Huge RC in Bangkok, Thailand, has published the Stage 1 report for the 13th running of the 1:10 Electric Touring Car World title race. Taking place from November 8-14th, the report outlines the basics around the replacement event and general details around the 60m X 30m indoor asphalt facility which has previously hosted two IFMAR Nitro Touring Car World Championships, the most recent of which was in 2024. In terms of officials, as was planned for the original hosting of the event in China, Australia’s Clive Silva from IFMAR with be the Race Director. As yet no tyres or additive brands has been announced for the race, with more specific details around the event to be confirmed in the Stage 2 report that Surikarn Chaidajsuriya and his team will present. In terms of entries, IFMAR has stated that priority will be given to existing registrations and requested that racers please make it known to their BLOC should you wish to attend (or to not attend). For those who did not have a previous entry, IFMAR expect there will be some spots made available with interested racers asked to contact their local federation or BLOC to indicate their interest.

View Stage 1 Report here

May 27, 2026

Philippines ‘True North RC Raceway’ track nearing completion

Having reported back in March on the ground preparation work for the new True North RC Raceway in the Philippines, track builder Edward Sio has now shared aerial images showing the track nearing completion. Built on the grounds of the El Masfino Hotel and Resort in San Rafael, which is around 50km north of the capital city, True North RC Raceway is a completely new build to replace the iconic Circulo Verde Race Track which has hosted Asia most famous offroad race the Philippine Masters, which was last held in 2025. On the latest work to the track, Sio, who is known for his 3D track builds, posted, ‘Track is almost ready! Initial surface treatment is done, driver stand is up, and next up are pipe layout and pit lane. Dogbone Hobby Shop is coming soon. Excited to get back into RC after more than a year away – back to being a NEWBIE again!’ We are excited to see the final build and look forward to an announcement on the return of a ‘new’ Philippine Masters and the Philippines once again being back on the Asian Buggy Championship, the Scotty Ernst promoted championship born out of the success of the original Philippine Masters.

View more imsages here

May 26, 2026

Ongaro wraps up Italian eBuggy title with 3rd win

Team Associated’s Davide Ongaro has wrapped up the AMSCI Italian eBuggy Championship with Round 3 victory at the Buggylandia track in Montopoli over the weekend. With the Mayako team of Pekko Iivonen and Joseph Quagraine joining the race, qualifying would see Ongaro top all four rounds to secure the TQ ahead of Iivonen. Having topped seeding Kyosho’s Marco Baruffolo completed the Top 3 ahead of Sworkz’s Mattia Polito. While Iivonen would win A1 ahead of Ongaro and Polito, Ongaro would win A2 & 3 to claim his third win of the season and the overall title. Despite dropping down the order in the next two Mains and ending up equal on points with Barufollo and Polito, it would be Iivonen who took second with Baruffolo completing the podium.

Image: Pekko Iivonen [Facebook]

May 26, 2026

Kobbevik doubles at 1:10 Euros Warm-up in Austria

Schumacher’s Daniel Kobbevik completed the double at the Warm-up Race for this Summer’s upcoming EFRA 1:10 Offroad European Championships in Austria. Racing at the ERT-Steyregg astro track, qualifying would see Kobbevik secure the TQ in both 2WD and 4WD as the Norwegian topped 3 of the 4 rounds in each. Behind him in both would be fellow Scandinavian Joona Haatanen, the Finnish Team Associated driver managing a TQ run in the second round of 4WD and the final round of 2WD. 2022 European Champion Tommy Hall completed the 2WD Top 3 with his Team Associated while the Xray of Bartek Zalewski completed the 4WD Top 3. In the finals, Kobbevik wrapped up both overall wins in A2 before going on to complete the perfect weekend with clean sweeps in A3. The 2WD podium would see him joined by Haatanen and Sworkz’s Micha Widmaier while 4WD it was a repeat of the Top 2 with Mugen Seiki’s Burak Kilic claiming the final step. Reigning 2WD Champion Martin Bayer would finish the Warm-up Race in 18th position while 4WD champion David Ronnefalk was 5th in the category having finished 10th in 2WD. The EFRA European Championship take place from July 27 to August 1st.

Image: Daniel Kobbevik [Facebook]

May 26, 2026

Ben Mohamed again at 3rd round of French Nationals

Noha Ben Mohamed took another win in the FFVRC French National 1:8 Nitro Buggy Championship, the Sparko driver winning the third round hosted by Limousin Mini Racing Car over the weekend in Limoges. After the five rounds of qualifying it was the Round 2 winner Ben Mohamed who took the TQ honours with three fastest runs ahead of Hugo Tavernon who was fastest in Q1. Behind Remy Bermudez would end up 3rd ahead of Rayan Medjoubi with reigning Champion Clement Boda completing the Top 5. Winning his Semi from Boda, Ben Mohamed would start on pole for the 13 car/45-minute final. With some big mistakes from Boda, winner of the season opener, early on while the Team Associated driver but in a charge to chase down Ben Mohamed setting the fastest lap of the race he took the win albeit just by 8/10th of a second. Also finishing on the lead lap, Bermudez completed the podium for Xray.

Image: Noha Ben Mohamed [Facebook]