December 2, 2024

Batlle move to Sworkz confirmed

Sworkz has confirmed the signing of former World Champion Robert Batlle with the Spaniard filling the role of International Team Manager and Brand Ambassador.  Announcing his departure from Mayako last week after a 2-year stint with brand, Sworkz had already teased the move with an image taken from behind a driver signing a contract and on making things official posted, ‘Some of you guys guessed right… Welcome to the Sworkz team Robert Batlle!  We are very excited to announce Robert Batlle as our new International Teammanager and Brand Ambassador!  Robert has many years of experience in the industry and is a super kind and helpful person.  He is the perfect addition to our team to get the best out of our drivers and the brand. We are looking forward to a great time together and wish him a good start with the team!’  On his own social media the 2012 World Champion posted, ‘Everything to RED. Very happy to start this new challenge, let’s go for it and I hope you love many new things we have cooking ALL IN RED. Really happy to join this awesome Brand!  New chapter in my life, looking forward to make you all feel like home! Great things coming up.’

Source: Sworkz [sworkz.com]


December 2, 2024

O.S. Speed B2105 Ongaro WC V3

To mark Davide Ongaro’s history making 3 in a row IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship victory in Redovan in this year, his Japanese engine sponsor O.S. has released the O.S. Speed B2105 Ongaro WC V3.  Based off the B2105 the Italian used to take his second nitro WC victory with the brand, features of this special release include the outer head being double anodised in black and gold to meet Ongaro’s request.  The letters on both sides of the crankcase have special laser engraved for a shiny finish, with the “World Champion” logo also engraved on the front bearing.  The reducer is a gold-plated φ6.5 II that was used in the World Championship. The TB02 tuned silencer is also a special edition with Ongaro’s signature and the “World Champion” logo.

View Specs and more images here


November 30, 2024

Martin ends 1:10 program with Schumacher

Multiple 1:10 Offroad European Champion & World Championship podium finisher Lee Martin has announced his time at Schumacher Racing has come to an end.  Joining the British manufacturer at the beginning of 2013 for a 1:10 Offroad program alongside his Agama 1:8 commitments with Nemo Racing, his departure from Schumacher is expected to clear the way for the British driver to race Agama’s new 1:10 offering.  In May of this year the manufacturer announced its entry into the 1:0 market with the release of the N110 1:10 2WD Buggy. Announcing he was leaving Schumacher on his social media Martin posted, ‘As November comes to an end, so does my time with Schumacher Racing. I would like to thank everyone at Schumacher for the last 2 years together where we achieved a few National wins to go with many other fantastic results. Thanks to Robin, Muz, Tris and everyone in the factory and my fellow racers from Team Martin. 2025 is loading….’

Source: Lee Martin [Facebook]


November 30, 2024

Battle confirms Mayako departure

A little over a year after David Ronnefalk’s departure, Mayako’s other former World Champion Robert Battle has official confirmed his departure from the manufacturer via his social media.  Joining the team for the 2023 season from Mugen Seiki, the 2012 World Champion put his Mayako in the final at this year’s IFMAR World Championship in Redovan.  Confirming his departure, the Spaniard expected to be headed to Sworkz, he posted, ‘Thank you Mayako Community for that amazing two years, I learnt so much about RC and life.  Experience that I will never forget.  Now it is time to take another chapter, I hope you can understand the decision, I’m sure you will. Thank you again for everything you did for me, you will have my help at tracks forever!’

Source: Robert Battle [Facebook]


November 29, 2024

Schimmel & Sutherland announce TLR departure

Just days after Team Losi Racing made an announcement on its ‘New Vision’ for 2025 and the introduction of their all-new 2025 Ambassador program, IFMAR World Championship Finalist Brennan Schimmel and leading US Stock Offroad racer Nate Sutherland have each separately announced via their social media their departure from the iconic offroad chassis brand.  Both drivers highlighted the manufacturer loosing its ‘team dynamic’ in particular over the last year, no doubt the departure of the popular figure Thomas Tran a contributing factor.  Joining TLR five years ago, Sutherland, a winner at the recent Florida Carpet Championship, stated he ‘wasn’t planning on leaving’, the Iowa driver also confirming his departure from one time RC racing powerhouse Pro-Line tyres which was bought by TLR owners Horizon Hobby four years ago.  22-year-old Schimmel, took direct aim at the TLR’s owners, saying that the ‘company let the team down and dumped its core people like they had no value, like they didn’t exist.’  With TLR’s very low profile presence at this year’s IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship in Spain fuelling much talk in racing circles about their future commitment to competitive racing, lets hope we are not witnessing the demise of a brand that was created by one of the great pioneers of RC racing, Gil Losi Snr, and which has played such a major part in the history and great rivalries of offroad racing.

Read each driver’s announcement here


November 29, 2024

T-Works MBX8 | 7 Steel 97mm CVD Set

Aftermarket parts and accessory manufacturer T-Works has added these Steel 97mm CVD Set for the Mugen Seiki MBX7 and MBX8 1:8 Buggy platforms.  The drive shaft is lengthened by 3mm helping prevent them from coming out of the diff cups during extended suspension travel.  T-Works claim the longer shafts make for safer and smoother power transmission system while also improving the transmission efficiency.  The CVDs are sold as a pair.

Source: T-Works [rc-tworks.com]


November 28, 2024

Yokomo SO3.0 2WD Buggy

Yokomo has announced the upcoming release of their latest 1:10 2WD Buggy offering the SO3.0.  Coming 15-months after the launch of its predecessor the SO2.0, the Japanese manufacturer claim their newest competition buggy offers even better performance on high-grip surfaces and is capable of cornering at higher speeds.  Key changes to the new car are a longer main chassis which provides a sense of stability, while the front weight loading and other features improve ground contact and bring out the vectors that propel the machine forward in the corners.  The motor mount has a lower centre of gravity, and the front and rear shock towers have been modified with aerodynamics in mind to establish a sharper ride.  The suspension arms, front/rear hub carriers, gearbox, bulkheads, and other parts are all graphite molded parts for a higher response when driving.

View more images & kit features


November 28, 2024

Team Associated RC10 Team Car Gold Edition Kit

Continuing its series of re-releases of RC10 kits, Team Associated has announced the Team Car Gold Edition Kit of its iconic 1:10 2WD Buggy.  Originally released back in 1990, the RC10 Team Car was an upgraded version of the base model RC10 Championship Edition (6011), which was also released that same year.  The RC10 Team Car was the latest state-of-the-art, 2WD off-road racing buggy in the world and was the first RC10 to feature the Stealth ATC Transmission, hard anodised shocks with PTFE coating, and updated suspension geometry.  At the 1990 Off-Road ROAR Nationals, Team Associated finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd using these new parts. Cliff Lett took first place at the Nationals, which didn’t surprise anyone, but the big surprise was Brent Wallace and J.D. Beckwith, both who finished 2nd and 3rd at the very first race using the new Stealth transmission.  There were many similar reports of equal success from racers all around the world after using the Stealth transmission in their older RC10’s.  Later, some of these parts would eventually be included in the RC10 Team Car kit.

View Kit features & more images here