Red RC » Racing

July 12, 2025

Sobue takes opening 2 qualifiers in Singapore

Having topped seeding, Axon’s Akio Sobue has showed no signs of letting up on being the pace setter at this year’s Electric Singapore International Challenge (eSIC) as he took the opening two rounds of qualifying at the annual race. With main challengers Nicolas Lee and Alexander Hagberg both sitting out Q1, Hagberg more forced than opting, the first of the four scheduled qualifiers opened with Sobue leading an Axon 1-2 ahead of team-mate Hayato Ishioka with Chinese National Champion Jerry Dai completing the Top 3. With all the eSIC contenders back on track for Q2, Sobue proved Q1 was in fact a true indication of the Japanese driver’s speed at the controls of his new TC10/4 as he held off Lee to go two from two by a margin of 1.3-seconds. After missing Q1 due to his huge off in seeding, Hagberg proved he had rebuilt a good car being the only one to match Sobue in posting a 13.6-second fastest lap time. A spin however from the Swede in the second minute of the qualifier ended that challenge and he registered a P7. The benefactor would be Ethan Cheng, the Xray driver adding a P3 to go with his P6 from the opening round.

Continue reading here

July 12, 2025

Sobue ‘Top Seed’ at eSIC

Axon’s Akio Sobue has got his debut with the new TC10/4 off to a strong start as the Japanese driver topped seeding at the Electric Singapore International Challenge (eSIC). After drivers woke to rain this morning in Singapore, once the track dried out and the first official laps of the event where completed it was Sobue who laid down the fastest 3-consecutive laps ahead of Xray’s Alexander Hagberg. Separated by 4/10ths of a second over the 3-laps, Sobue’s fastest around the RCMC track a 13.695, unfortunately Hagberg’s run would be cut short as he found the circuit’s dreaded bump on the straight. Sending his car flying off the track, the impact means the Swede will miss the opening qualifier as he rebuilds his car. Completing the Top 3 would be Jan Ratheisky, the German visitor 7/100ths faster than pre-race favourite & team-mate Nicholas Lee, the Singapore driver struggling with a set-up change he made for seeding.

Continue reading here

July 11, 2025

Drivers settle-in in Singapore ahead of biggest eSIC

With the biggest Electric Singapore International Challenge (eSIC) taking place this weekend, drivers have been settling themselves in with open practice at the country’s only permanent track RCMC over the past few days. Just 10-minutes from the country’s famous Jewel Changi Airport, the third edition of eSIC is living up to its international title with drivers from 14-nations making up this year’s entry. This is also the first time the event has a greater number of international entries versus locals with 60% of the entry being drivers from other countries, Malaysia topping the visitor count followed by China. 2025 also marks the first factory entries from Xray and Axon. Singapore’s very own Nicholas Lee, a driving force behind the race, takes on eSIC for the first time in Xray colours and is joined by Alexander Hagberg and Jan Ratheisky. Hagberg returns to the track a decade on from his last visit. Axon are here with their up coming TC10/4 touring car release and while Sobue has raced here before with his previous team Infinity, the Japanese driver says he is going to count this as his first visit as he was very sick on the previous occasion and doesn’t remember too much about that particular trip. Another RCMC rookie this weekend is Atsushi Hara and the legend of the sport has a new Hara purple edition ride in the form of a Mi9 from Schumacher, this being his first run with the car on a ‘proper track’.

Continue reading here

July 10, 2025

AOC Korea 2025 – Date Announcement

Won last year by Axon’s Akio Sobue, Scotty Ernst has announced the return of his Asian Onroad Championship event to the beautiful GRC Raceway in Korea for 2025 with a race date of October 9-12. GRC Raceway which has just finished its full remodelling has positioned itself as one of the nicest RC venues in all of the World. GRC Raceway has everything you would need as a racer to enjoy the hobby at all levels. They offer 2 beautiful race tracks, 1 outside and 1 inside, with fully air-conditioned pit area plus an onsite Hobby shop all which is topped off with an onsite coffee shop and restaurant. The following classes with form the schedule for event AOC Korea – Modified Touring Car, 17.5 Boosted Touring Car, 21.5 Touring with Roar Legal Motor, GRC Super GT 21.5, FWD, and Mini 2WD.

Source: Asian Onroad Championship [aocrc.com]

July 9, 2025

Team Associated RC10 Masami Edition ’89 Stealth Car Kit

At the 1989 IFMAR 1:10 Offroad World Championships in Australia, a certain Masami Hirosaka drove the then groundbreaking RC10 “Stealth” car to victory and now in its latest re-release series Team Associated are giving fans & collectors the chance to own one. The 1989 Team Associated Stealth Car prototype was a radical evolution of the RC10 platform, purpose-built for top-tier competition at the IFMAR World Championships. Designed in secrecy, it featured several innovative elements that set a new benchmark in 2WD offroad buggy performance. Most notably, it introduced the Stealth transmission—a compact, three-gear unit with an internal slipper clutch. Unlike the bulkier six-gear design of the original RC10, the Stealth transmission offered smoother, more efficient power transfer and a lower centre of gravity.

View features & more images here

July 9, 2025

Czech gets new 1:10 astroturf offroad track

The Czech Republic is getting a new 1:10 astroturf offroad track which is set to open this August. The new track is part of the existing Max Land / RC Divoké Jelení racing complex in Horní Jelení which already includes a full-size 1:8 clay track and regularly hosts major national events. The new astro turf addition brings modern electric offroad racing facilities to the heart of Eastern Bohemia. Designed to accommodate 1:10 buggies, stadium trucks, and short course trucks, the track features a high-traction astro surface, a technical yet flowing layout, and jump sections that allow for configuration changes, that will also be upgraded in the future events. Supporting infrastructure includes a new drivers’ stand, covered pit area, solid fence around the track and easy access for visitors from outside. The official opening is scheduled for August 8th, during the weekend of the Czech 1:8 Offroad National Championship.

Continue reading here

July 6, 2025

Ronnefalk takes 4th European 1:8 Nitro Buggy title

David Ronnefalk is the new EFRA 1:8 Nitro Buggy European Champion, the Swede taking his fourth title in the category and bringing it back to Xray whose last title in the category also came in Portugal back in 2018. Racing at the upcoming eBuggy World Championship track of Barcelos Buggy Arena, it was defending back to back Champion Juan Carlos Canas who secured the TQ topping three of the 5 qualifiers. Chasing his first ever European Nitro title, reigning World Champion opened qualifying with a TQ run before ending up P2 ahead of Ronnefalk, who was fastest in Q4. Behind Mugen Seiki’s Berkan Kilic secured P4 with former 2-time Champion Elliot Boots completing the Top 5 for Sworkz. Winning the faster of the two Semi Finals it was Ongaro’s Team Associated which lined up on pole for the final ahead of Canas, winner of his Semi, and Robert Batlle, the Sworkz driver having a good Semi final to finish 2nd behind Ongaro having qualified 10th. Recovering from a bad start to his Semi, Ronnefalk would line up P5 behind Burak Kilic. In the final a mistake by Ongaro while under pressure from the fast starting Ronnefalk, handed the former World Champion a lead he wouldn’t give up. Towards the end Ongaro put in a charge setting the fastest lap but he was 3-seconds shy of the elusive first European title as Ronnefalk added a record fourth title, his last having also been at the Barcelos track in 2022. A mistake by Canas ended his hopes of three in a row, the Spaniard completing the podium 7-seconds up on fellow countryman Batlle.

Image: EFRA [Facebook]

July 4, 2025

Infinity IF15-2 Shock Update kits

Hot on the heals of their recent 1:10 Nitro Touring Car European Championship win with Dario Balestri, World Champions Infinity have announced the release of several new update parts developed specifically for the IF15-2 platform. Based on feedback from the team, the shocks for the IF15-2 have been updated. This update enhances overall grip and improves drivability across all speed ranges. The update includes newly developed shock pistons, newly developed shock plastic parts and newly developed shock shafts. The new 4-hole pistons are designed to provide more damping at higher piston speeds, resulting in a more stable car behaviour and improved drivability. The total hole area is the same as the 2 × 1.1 mm or 3 × 0.9 mm pistons, making it easier to quantify and tune your setup. Newly develop Sock plastic parts means damper ends now feature a flanged design, and the spring retainer system has been revised to allow for an additional 2 mm of stroke.

Continue reading here