LRP have released their new S8 NXR 1/8th scale competition buggy. A completely new design, the main focus has been on improving the geometry of the car. A pretty standard affair it retains the angled engine seen in predecessors while the position of the receiver battery is adjustable between the rear and front of the car, allowing the weight distribution to be changed for different tracks.
View more images of the S8 NXR here
Novarossi have introduced their new engine line for 2014, headed by their new Vir-Tus .21 off road and .12 onroad engines, joining last year’s .21 onroad engine release. The key development of the Vir-Tus over their previous engines is the patented shifted carburetor which sees the carburetor opening mounted to the crankcase off centre to the crankshaft which helps create a better mixture flow inside the engine which in turn improves the fuel efficiency. Other updates seen on both motors are the new main bearing that reduces the inertia of the rotating masses and increase scavenging, new cooling head mounted with 6 screws for a better seal and new balanced crankshafts with the .12 sporting a larger diameter connecting pin. The .21 offroad has 7 ports while the .12 is a 3 port engine, both coming with ceramic main bearing and steel front bearing as standard.
View more images of the engines here
Hirosaka, the new brand of Masaki Hirosaka father of RC legend Masami, have released their new line of competition electronics. First up is the PRO Racing ESC which features a complete aluminum casing which provides maximum surface area for heat dissipation and can handle up to 3.5T motors with a continuous current of 140A with a burst current up to 960A. Weighing 40grams it can work with sensored and sensorless motors. Also new from Hirosaka is their line of PRO Racing Brushless Motors. Suitable for 1/10th & 1/12th onroad and 1/10th offroad they are hand wound and feature adjustable timing from 0 – 40 degrees. Available in 4.5T to 8.5T versions.
View more details and images here
Xenon Racing and JFT Tires have announced the signing of top European 1/12th scale drive Vesa Yli. The Finnish driver, who is the manufacturer of the well know V-Dezign chassis, has made the switch to the Japanese made JFT tires for the new season and will also continue to use other Xenon Racing parts on his cars as he has in the past. Vesa gave this statement:
I would like to thank Terutaka Hanaumi from Xenon and JFT Racing for this opportunity to race with their tires made with the highest quality standards! Been supported by Xenon Racing since 2007 already, I am very excited and looking forward to the future races and to help developing even better products! I would also like to thank Markus Mobers for his support for tires over the last 5 years.
Source: Xenon Racing [xenon.ne.jp]
Losi have introduced the 5ive WRC Mini. This officially licensed replica of the John Cooper Works (JCW) World Rally Championship (WRC) Mini Countryman personifies the essence of rallycross performance with an outstanding design and authoritative 4WD power. To better power through the off-road the it is equipped with a powerful 29cc gasoline engine, and an extremely capable shaft driven 4wd drive train with 3 viscous differentials for even power distribution. The patent-pending Spektrum AVC (Active Vehicle Control) technology system has been included so drivers can make the most of the high speed potential of the 5ive Mini WRC regardless of the driving environment.
View more details and images here
Spektrum have released their new DX4C transmitter and SRS4210 receiver combo. You get a Spektrum 2.4GHz computer radio with an array of features typically found in higher priced models as well as the new DSMR-equipped SRS4210 receiver with patent-pending AVC (Active Vehicle Control). The DX4C uses 4-channels to operate steering, throttle and AVC technology separately. The first two channels operate steering and throttle while the second two manage AVC steering and throttle augmentation. By having two channels dedicated to managing AVC technology, users can adjust the steering and throttle elements independently of the other for more refined tuning to meet demands of any surface.
View more details and images here
Bittydesign have announced the 2014 running of their Euro Contest, an event born in 2009 with a successful race format with the focus on fun. The Contest is different event, the atmosphere during the race is magic, a big party with music and hot girls. The Barco-Off racetrack continues to host the event, completely re-built in 2012 the layout of the circuit presents a huge amount of dirt that make the driving experience unique and never seen before in Italy in a permanent outdoor facility, a real American style available for drivers at all levels and only 1 hour from Bologna airport. The event will run from the 27th to the 29th of June 2014 and is limited to 192 drivers. A 3 day format, Friday sees free practice, Saturday qualification with Sunday used for the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) followed by Superpole and finals. Full details can be found here.
Lali Warehouse, being the one and only indoor off-road track in Hong Kong, held their first nitro buggy point race on the 26th of Jan for the year 2014 and new TLR signing Lin Le Lua sent us this report. ‘A month prior to the event, Lali had change the lay out of the track and it prove to be challenging and fun at the same time. I have heard great things about the new layout and I cannot wait to join this race as a driver for TLR. Although very close by from where I live in China, it still took us around 3 hours to get to the track, but when we first arrive and have our eyes on the track, everything’s worth it! We are welcome by a bunch of jumps and elevation change means the lay out are really exciting and not to mention a very warm welcome from the locals, we are so eager to lay down some laps before the race!
Continue reading the report here
