June 2, 2024

Senesi crowned 1:8 GT European Champion

Natanaele Senesi is the new EFRA 1:8 GT European Champion claiming the title for the very first time at the Naxos World track in Sicily, Italy.  Lining up P5 for the 45-minute title decider, the World Championship finalist took his Senesi Motorsport S21 GT car to victory by a 10-second margin from the Xray of Top Qualifier Edoardo Repetti with Serpent’s Andrea Catanzani completing the nitro podium.  Only the third running of the European Championships for the category, there was plenty of drama at the start of the final.  Set to start P3 on the grid for the 45-minute encounter, Capricorn’s Alessio Mazzeo called a technical timeout in the warm-up which put him to the back of the grid.  On the race start Repetti suffered a flame out.  Taking the lead of the race after a few laps, during his first fuel stop Senesi would flame out handing Catanzani the lead.  Chased down by a recovering Senesi, with three minutes to go Catanzani would lose 2nd gear allowing Senesi back to the front where he would stay to the finish to end Bernard-Alain Arnaldi reign over the category.  Arnaldi  would give up his back to back title finishing P6.  In the 1:8 GTE title race, Top Qualifier & Schepis Model team driver Rosario Giaimo was able to complete the job and wrapped up the championship with wins in A1 & 2 of the triple finals with Senesi and 2023 Champion Mazzeo completing the Top 3.

Image: Natanaele Senesi [Facebook]


May 31, 2024

Repetti is 1:8 GT European C/Ship Top Qualifier

Italy’s Edoardo Repetti is the Top Qualifier at the 2024 EFRA 1:8 GT European Championships which are underway at the Naxos World track in Sicily, Italy.  The former European Large Scale Champion took his Ielasi Tuned powered Xray to the TQ honours with TQ runs in Q3 & 4 together with a P2 in the fifth & final round.   Also registering two TQ runs and a second, but losing out on the tie-breaker, Schepis Model driver Rosario Giaimo, winner of the recent Italian National Champion round at the same track, qualified 2nd having taken the Electric GT overall TQ earlier in the day.  Former 1:10 Nitro Touring Car Champion Alessio Mazzeo completed the Top 3 for Capricorn.  Top Qualifier at last year’s European Championship in Croatia, Serpent’s Andrea Catanzani ended qualifying P4.  Only the third running of a European Championship for the category, defending back to back Champion Bernard-Alain Arnaldi took his Genius Racing chassis to 6th as the fastest non Italian driver.

Image: Xray [Facebook]


May 31, 2024

RDRP RC10B7 0° and +/-2.5° Steel Bulkheads

Continuing its run of aftermarket premium upgrade parts releases for the Team Associated RC10B7, RDRP has added these 0° and +/-2.5° Steel Bulkheads to its range.  Designed to replace the standard bulkhead of the RC10B7 and RC10B7D buggies, they increase weight of 26g compared to the standard aluminium part increases the steering and helps to keep the front end on the track, which especially helps with high traction surfaces like carpet or astroturf.  These bulkheads are made from high-grade steel, offering superior stability and durability. With heat treatment and a black oxide coating, the bulkheads are particularly resistant and long-lasting.

View more images here


May 30, 2024

Revolution Design B7 Machined Idler Gear 26T

Revolution Design Racing Products has released this Machined Idler Gear 26T (RDRP0672) for the Team Associated RC10B7 and RC10B7D as a premium upgrade compared to the standard injection molded idler gears. This option part is machined from white POM and offers improved durability while also lowering friction thanks to POM’s self-lubricating properties.

Source: RDRP [revolution-rc.com]


May 30, 2024

2024 Speed King Tour Rd2 – Report

After a successful opening round of the Speed King Tour 2024 at the Super RC Omiya indoor tarmac track, the popular and competitive electric touring car series sponsored by Rakusai Model moved outdoors for Round 2 at TM Circuit Wakayama in Wakayama prefecture.  Now in its 11th year, this race series travels to circuits across Japan to compete for the series championship through six rounds.  For the first time in the event’s history, the number of entries reached 100, Atsushi Hara among the line-up, and many racers came to the track a day early.  Considering the weather forecast that the next day would be rainy, the organisers decided to hold one round of qualifying for the top category TC0 (Modified) class on Saturday afternoon.  Unfortunately, it rained on the day of the event, and the decision was made to cancel the race.  The TC0 class standings were determined based on the previous day’s qualifying results.  The winner was Tamiya driver Ryoma Yoshida, a local junior high school driver, with Takara Sano also driving a Tamiya in second with the Infinity of Ryosuke Yamamoto completing the podium.  The next round, Round 3, will be held on 14th of July at the new Next Rush Circuit in Chiba prefecture.

Source: Speed King Tour [speedkingtour.com]


May 29, 2024

Revolution Design B7 Steel Suspension Mount C and D

Revolution Design Racing Products has released a Steel Suspension Mount C and Mount D for the Team Associated RC10B7 and RC10B7D buggy.  These high-quality and durable option parts are made from high-strength steel, making them extremely durable and resilient.  Compared to the standard parts, they offer significantly improved durability and stability, which is particularly beneficial in demanding racing conditions.  Additionally, the weight distribution can be influenced, which is especially advantageous on slippery surfaces such as clay tracks or wet astroturf.

View more images here


May 28, 2024

Wins for Smith & Orlowski at Scotty Ernst UK Showdown

With it a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK, Scotty Ernst took his UK Showdown to the famed Robin Hood Raceway where Schumacher pairing Ben Smith and Michal Orlowski took the two big wins.  The second year of the event,  in 2WD qualifying it was Smith, fresh from his British National win a week earlier, that took the TQ after topping 3 of the 5 rounds.  Behind him with 2 TQ run was Orlowski ahead of Team Associated’s Tommy Hall and Schumacher’s Lee Martin.  While Smith took all three A-Mains, the main battle as first second.  Hall got by Orlowki for the second in A1, with Orlowski 2nd in A2 but both where passed by Luke Holdsworth in A3 and it was a tie-breaker between the pair with Hall getting the second spot.  Bank Holiday Monday’s 4WD action saw reigning European Champion Orlowski secure the TQ with fastest times in 2 of the 4 qualifiers.  Fastest in Q1, Jamie Hall would line up second ahead of Lee Martin, Tommy Hall and Smith who had TQ’d Q2.  In the triple finals, Orlowski secure the overall victory with wins in A1 & 2, while Jamie Hall secured the runner-up spot with the A3 ahead of Martin who completed the 4WD podium.

Image: Schumacher [racing-cars.com]


May 27, 2024

Ongaro wins Euros Warm-up Race

Team Associated’s Davide Ongaro took the win at the Euros Warm-up Race at his home track the Ongaro Ring, the Sacile track set to host this year’s EFRA European 1:8 Buggy Championship at the end of July.  With rain forcing qualifying to be reduced to just 3 rounds, it was the Sworkz of reigning European Champion Juan Carlos Canas who secured the TQ from World Champion Ongaro with Sworkz’ Mattia Polito third ahead the Xray of David Ronnefalk.  In the Semi’s both Canas and Ongaro won their Semi finals with Ongaro’s race time giving him pole for the final which he would lead all the way.  Setting the fastest lap of the 45-minute Main, Elliot Boots who take his Sworkz to second  finishing 8-seconds behind Ongaro.  Canas would complete the podium ahead of Daniel Pariente and Polito with Mugen’s Berkan Kilic rounding out the Top 6.

Image: ModellismoRC [modellismorc.net]


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