November 10, 2025

Maifield wins Alabama Manufacturers Shootout

Ryan Maifield took the big win at this year’s Alabama Manufacturers Shootout, the Tekno driver beating 2024 winner Juan Carlos Canas to take Nitro Buggy at the 16th edition of the race.  With AMS 16.0 attracting a strong European entry, it was Maifield who secured the TQ honours ahead of his team-mate Seth Vandalen, Mugen Seiki’s Burak Kilic, Canas’ Sworkz, and the Xray of Dakotah Phend.  Winning the Super Pole race from Vandalen, Phend, Berkan Kilic, as Canas finished back in 12th behind Burak putting them towards the back of the starting grid, Maifield would lead away the 16-car 45-minute main.  From the front he led from start to finish as Spaniard Canas and Turk Burak worked their way up through the field, Canas setting the fastest to finish second with Burak completing the podium ahead of Vandalen.  Maifield would also TQ Nitro Truggy ahead of Kyosho’s Phi Long Nguyen before going on to win from Burak Kilic and Phend.  In eBuggy Phend would deny Canas a repeat of his win from last year with Brandon Rose completing the podium.

Image: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]


November 10, 2025

TRC signs suspension deal with Coelho

With them working with and advising a number of top drivers at both the Hongyu GDC opening race and the Sunpadow International Grand Prix in China the past two weekends, Belgian shock components specialist brand TRC has announced the signing of multiple World and European Champion Bruno Coelho to their team.  The Portuguese driver will be representing TRC on the international stage, using their shock pistons and suspension components along with calling on its founder’s suspension knowledge at upcoming races.  Known for his precision and versatility across both electric touring and nitro offroad classes, Coelho, who took the SIGP eBuggy win on the suspension critical 3 Circles track, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record to the brand. TRC stated that they are proud to support Coelho’s racing program and view the partnership as a step forward in their commitment to performance and reliability.  The collaboration marks a new chapter for TRC, aligning with their focus on innovation and precision to perform.

Source: TRC [trc-store.com]


November 10, 2025

Takahata takes MRX7 to JMRCA Japanese National title

With Mugen Seiki having only officially released their latest 1:8 Onroad Chassis at the end of last month, their factory driver Shouki Takahata gave the Robert Pietsch designed MRX7 its first major title by winning the 2025 JMRCA 1:8 Onroad Japanese National Championship.  With a field stacked with World Champions, it was the 2019 World Champion secured the TQ at the K2 International Circuit ahead of multiple World Champion Naoto Matsukura while Infinity team-mate & defending Champion Takaaki Shimo ended up 3rd.  While the Top 2 directly went to the 45-minute final, Shimo and 1:12 World Finalist Hayato Ishioka won the Semi finals to progress along with the other 6 drivers to make up the Main grid.  In the final Takahata would take back he last held in 2024 with his Max powered MRX7 setting the fastest lap on his way to the win with the rest of the podium a repeat of last year – Matsukura second and double Nitro Onroad World Champion Tadahiko Sahashi third from 5th on the grid.  Unfortunately Shimo would retire from the final just before the half way point.  For Takahata the result is a nice boost ahead of the upcoming IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championships in Santiago, Chile.

Image: Mugen Seiki [Facebook]


November 10, 2025

Asian Buggy Championships announce 2026 calendar

With their new 2025 Champion Kouki Kato taking a thrilling win at the Sunpadow International Grand Prix in China over the weekend, the organisers of the Team Cayote Asian Buggy Championships have announced the venues & dates for the 2026 Championship.  Set to enter into its fourth season, the 1:8 Offroad championship will again consist of 4-rounds that visit four countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including three returning tracks and one new destination.  Again the ‘ABC’ will kick off in New Zealand, the opening round set for the end of February/start of March.  With the championship growing out of Asia’s most famous annual offroad race, the Philippine Masters, after the hugely popular Circulo Verde track closed following the 2025 edition, the Philippines will opt out of the schedule for 2026 with racers instead travelling to new territories and the LAP Paradise RC Raceway in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, for Round 2.  Attracting its biggest international entry this year, Pine Hills Dirt Racing track in Brisbane, Australia, hosts Round 3 in the middle of July.  The championship, which has enjoyed growth each season, will then conclude at West Side RaceWay in Jakarta, Indonesia, which proved a massive hit with racers on its ABC debut.  With championship points accrued across all four races, the best three of four rounds will crown the 2026 champions.  Details on race entry, including classes for each round, will be announced shortly.

View 2026 Calendar here


November 10, 2025

Team Zombie 540 Brushless Rotor Gauss Meter

Team Zombie has this released this all-new 540 Rotor Gauss Meter.  Engineered to accurately measure the magnetic field strength of your brushless motor rotor it gives you the insight needed to achieve true consistency and peak power. Each reading helps you detect magnet degradation before it effects performance, build data-driven setups for repeatable speed and control and build faster, more reliable motors.  Made compact and durable for pit use, the 540 Rotor Gauss Meter is a must have in professional motor tuning.  Working on power input from 6.3v – 12v, it includes all necessary accessories for use.

Source: Team Zombie [team-zombie.com]


November 9, 2025

Kato takes thrilling last lap SIGP victory in China

Infinity’s Kouki Kato has just taken one of the most exciting wins of his career, the Japanese driver winning the Sunpadow International Grand Prix after a thrilling last lap duel with Top Qualifier & majority race leader David Ronnefalk following 45-minutes of racing around the very challenging 3 Circles track in Xiamen.  With Chinese host track of the 2017 1:10 Offroad World Championships famed for its challenging bumpy conditions, it looked like Ronnefalk had taken control of the race with the main battle being for second place between Kato and his team-mate Bruno Coelho.  However a track that even the world’s best respect as being one of the most challenge there is, it didn’t take much for Ronnefalk’s lead to be eroded.  Passed by Kato on lap 56 of 80, the 19-year-old with hold the former World Champion at bay for 9-laps until a mistake with 7-minutes remaining, the local crowd invested in the racing and providing exciting audio as the leading drivers fell foul of track conditions.  Back in front and with the clock ticking down, Ronnefalk would again get tripped up by the track on the penultimate lap.  Coming of the main straight side by side to start the final lap, just as the computer signalled the finish of the 45-minutes, the pair took the jump on to the back straight and touched in the air both buggies tumbling but Kato having the better luck landing on his wheels.  While Ronnefalk tried to get back in touch over the remainder of the 34-seconds lap it wasn’t to happen and Kato took the win, the crowd appreciative of the thrilling finish.  Behind, by over 8-seconds, it was once again Coelho, winner of the eBuggy finals, who completed the nitro podium while Pekko Iivonen and Jung Hyunkyu were best of the rest in fourth & fifth.

Continue reading here


November 9, 2025

Coelho takes eBuggy win at SIGP

Bruno Coelho has taken the eBuggy win at the annual Sunpadow International Grand Prix, the Infinity driver pocketing himself almost $2,800 for his efforts around the challenging 3 Circles track in Xiamen, China.  Lining up as the Top Qualifier, the Portuguese driver taking pole position counting 2 TQ runs & a P2 from the 5-rounds of qualifying, it would be the Xray of 2024 winner David Ronnefalk who would be his biggest challenger in the finals.  Starting from P2 on the grid having topped 2 qualifiers together with a P3, Ronnefalk would have the fastest car in A1 and while the Swede piled the pressure on Coelho he couldn’t find a way to the front, a number of mistake meaning he had to catch back up for repeated attempts.  In A2 again Coelho wasn’t the outright fastest on the bumpy track but he had the consistency and after some early challenges from Ronnefalk he would take win to wrap up the overall victory.  Ronnefalk’s challenge ultimately ended when he tangled with third place qualifier Kouki Kato, waiting on the Japanese driver who needed to be marshalled after the contact.  With Kato’s Infinity recording the fastest lap he would finish 2nd ahead of Ronnefalk as they both retook the Mayako of Pekko Iivonen who buckled under the pressure while holding second going into the final stages of the race.  With Coelho using A3 as a test session and not taking up pole position, the race would see Ronnefalk take the win ahead of Iivonen and Kouki, the latter have a costly off while holding second and having to work his way back up in to the Top 3.  This result meant Ronnefalk (2nd) and Kato (3rd) would join Coelho on the eBuggy podium while Iivonen claimed fourth ahead of Team Associated’s Jung Hyunkyu and SIGP regular Joseph Quagraine.

Continue reading here


November 8, 2025

Ronnefalk is Top Qualifier at SIGP as Coelho takes Q5

David Ronnefalk is the Top Qualifier at the 2025 Sunpadow International Grand Prix, the Xray driver securing his direct stop in tomorrow’s 45-minute Main in Xiamen, China, thanks to his outright fastest TQ run in the penultimate qualifier.  With it all to play for going into the fifth & final qualifier, Ronnefalk and Infinity’s Kouki Kato both having two TQ runs each and a second, neither would be able to deliver a third TQ run.  Instead that would come from Bruno Coelho, the Infinity driver appearing to have finally found his way just in time for finals.  After a trouble start to the day, with Q2 & 3 becoming throw outs, Pekko Iivonen was another to conclude qualifying on a positive as he set the second fastest time in Q5 with his Mayako.  Overall while Ronnefalk doesn’t have the worry of Semi finals, the TQ secured on the tiebreak, in the final qualifying order it was Kato who ended up second to give the Japanese driver pole in the second of the 25-minute Semis, while Coelho’s 3rd overall means he lines up on pole for the first Semi.  Iivonen’s strong finish to the day bumped him up to 4th ahead of leading Team Associated contender Jung Hyunkyu while Jason Nugroho made it three Infinity IFB8s in the final Top 6 qualification ranking.

Continue reading here


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