Red RC » Racing

March 14, 2024

Kato joins O.S Engines

Promising Japanese onroad and offroad talent Kouki Kato has been announced as a O.S Engines supported driver for 2024. The 17-year-old Japanese driver has put in some very impressive international results recently including making the Final on his debut at the 1:8 Onroad World Championship last November, after TQ’ing the final round of qualifying, and making the A-Main at the ultra competitive TITC electric touring car race in Thailand earlier this month. The reigning Japanese 1:8 Offroad Champion, he is also the double 1:10 Offroad National Champion, and his Team Associated Offroad and Infinity Onroad nitro programmes will be powered by O.S. Speed engines and Nitro Fuel.

Source: O.S. Engines [os-engines.co.jp]

March 14, 2024

Matrix announced as 1:8 Onroad European C/ship tyre

Italian tyre manufacturer Matrix has been announced as the official tyre supplier for this year’s EFRA 1:8 Onroad European Championship. The 22nd running of the Championship, the category an evolution of the European Federation’s original European Championship, reigning World Champion Dario Balestri will aim to defend his European title on September 18-21 when the championship is hosted at the Miniautodromo Locorotondo track in Southern Italy. Infinity driver Balestri secured his third 1:8 Onroad European title in Portugal last year ahead of Mugen’s Simon Kurzbuch and the Capricorn of Top Qualifier & 1:10 European Champion Toni Gruber. Miniautodromo Locorotondo peviously hosted the Championship in 2010 where Robert Pietsch took the victory for Mugen ahead of Balestri, then driving for Motonica, and the Kyosho of Lamberto Collari.

Source: Miniautodromo Locorotondo [Facebook]

March 13, 2024

Neumann to lead Sworkz effort at Philippine Masters

Having won the Truggy title at the Philippine Masters last year with Micha Widmaier, Sworkz will be pinning their hopes on Joern Neumann this year at what has become Asia’s biggest annual 1:8 Offroad race. With Widmaier also finishing runner-up to World Champion Davide Ongaro in the 1-hour Buggy Final, this will be Neumann’s first time to the very 3D Circulo Verde offroad track in the capital city of Manila. The German joins Kyosho’s Ryan Lutz and Sparko’s Ryan Pavidis as the latest international entry for what will be the 12th edition of the race. A race that has a unique vibe that lives up to the nation’s tourism tagline ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’, many of the large international entry combining the race with holidays at the country’s world famous white sand beaches, on the news of his entry Neumann said, “Finally the Philippine Masters fits in my schedule and I am looking forward to racing at this beautiful track. Super excited to meet everyone and it should be a fun race.” The Philippine Masters is the second round of the ambitious Asian Buggy Championship which having already visited New Zealand will also have rounds in Australia and Indonesia.

Source: Asian Buggy Championships [Facebook]

March 13, 2024

RC Doctors IF18-III brass battery trays

Greek company RC Doctors has released two brass battery trays for Infinity’s latest 1:8 Onroad chassis, the IF8-III. Available in a 50gram and 60gram option, the trays are machined from 2.0mm and 2.5mm thick brass respectively offering different setup choices for different track conditions.

View more images here

March 12, 2024

Team Associated RC10B74.2 ‘Champions Edition’

New from Team Associated is the ‘Champions Edition’ of their 1:10 4WD RC10B74.2 Team Kit. The B74 platform is the current IFMAR World Champion, European Champion, Australian Champion, British Champion, and more! Successfully competing at the highest level world-wide has given us the insight needed to push the B74 platform a bit more. With the addition of Factory Team items and setups, the new B74.2 and B74.2D Champions Edition kits are ready to add to the list of accolades! The Champions Edition retains key features from its predecessor. The RC10B74.2 molded gearboxes front and rear lower the centre of gravity by removing weight from high points of the car. The latest 13mm big bore shock technology from Team Associated keeps the RC10B74.2 at the highest level in jump and bump handling performance. The gull wing front suspension arms and the LTC gear sets for the differentials make the RC10B74.2 platform easier and more predictable to drive on any track condition.

View more images here

March 12, 2024

Andy Bishop wins Large Scale Pre-Worlds

This year’s IFMAR Large Scale World Championship hosts New South Wales Radio Controlled Racing Car Club held their Pre-Worlds Race over the weekend where it was the MCD chassis of Andy Bishop that took the win. Having hosted a hugely successful IFMAR 1:8 GT World Championship in October, this year the John Grant International Raceway in Sydney, Australia, will be that battle ground for the 12th running of RC Racing’s biggest scale World Championship category on October 20th to 27th. Due to the location of this year’s championship with many of its top drivers coming from Europe, the Pre-Worlds Race was dominated by local racers and in qualifying it was Mectech driver Andrew Shapland who took the overall TQ ahead of Bishop. Having had engine issues in qualifying an overnight engine rebuild for the final qualifier allowed Shapland to post the fastest run of the 6-rounds to take pole for the final. Incurring a penalty for the engine rebuild, he would have to serve an early Stop & Go in the race. In the half hour Semi Finals there were wins for Ben Dunn and Craig Hawkins who would line-up 3rd and 4th respectively for the 1-hour main event. While Shapland lead away until he served his Stop & Go, as he tried to chase back down Bishop his tyres suffered allowing Bishop to take a convincing win. With track records being broken throughout the event, Shapland’s efforts in the final would see him leave as the new lap record holder with a 19.944 fastest lap. The Mecatech of Mike Davis would complete the podium.

Image: NSWRCRCC [nswrcrcc.org.au]

March 11, 2024

Factory Team Tire Adhesive

Based on feedback from its race team, Team Associated’s Factory Team brand has introduced an improvement on its formulation for their popular Tire Adhesive. The new glue is slightly thicker, allowing for more control when applying it while still has a fast drying time. New packaging includes applicator tip and pin-in-cap bottle top. The ‘medium-thin viscosity’ glue comes in a ¾ ounce bottle.

Source: Associated [associatedelectrics.com]

March 11, 2024

Pavidis confirmed for Philippine Masters

Sparko Racing’s Ryan Pavidis is the latest driver to be confirmed for the annual Philippine Masters which takes place in just over a month’s time in the country’s capital city of Manila. The American joins fellow countryman Ryan Lutz as they both make their debut at what has become Asia’s biggest annual 1:8 Offroad race. Son of 2006 World Champion Mark Pavidis, a title he won in Asia, this will be Ryan’s first trip to the continent and the first of two appearances he will make in this year’s Asian Buggy Championship of which the Philippine Masters is the second round. Confirming his entry for the April 18-21 event, Pavidis said, ‘The trip to Manilla will be my 2nd international event (his first one being the 2023 Worlds in Spain) and my first time to Asia. The track there is world famous for its unique surface and technical sections, definitely a bucket list race for any serious racer. I’ve never raced on molasses before but with the confidence I have in my equipment and the experience I’ve gained over the past few years, I expect to run at the front. I can’t wait to meet a bunch of new people and experience a different country/culture!’

Source: Asian Buggy Championships [Facebook]