Coming from Factory Pro RC and made for the Xpress XM1 and XM1S M-class 4WD touring cars are low-friction drivetrain belts. The white belts are designed to reduce natural drivetrain drag for improved overall efficiency and thus increased acceleration, top speed and run time. The belts are available separately as 144T/432mm front and 57T/171mm rear variant.
Source: Factory Pro RC [facebook.com]
In 2019, Scotty Ernst Productions are aiming to bring the most extreme R/C classes in existence to both racers and fans in a whole new way with the inaugural running of the Asian Nitro Championship (ANC). Three exotic locations. Three world-class facilities. One Championship series. All under the spotlight like you’ve never seen before. Round 1 will take racers to Hong Kong where TRC Raceway will be the home March 7-10. TRC Raceway is very familiar with hosting big events as they recently hosted the FEMCA Championships, Asia On Road Championships as well as other international races. Round 2 will be held April 25-28 and will take the trek to the land down under to England Park Raceway in Brisbane, Australia, only a 50 minute drive to the World famous Gold Coast. Known for hosting two IFMAR World Championship events, the track went through a complete renovation, layout change and resurfacing to give racers and spectators an amazing experience. Round 3 will see the series conclude its opening year at the soon to be constructed Infinity Raceway in Suzuka, Japan in the summer of 2019. The plans for Infinity Raceway will be nothing short of amazing and will make for the perfect location to round out the opening season of the ANC. For more information and the full press release, visit the official event website here or the series’ social media page here.
Protoform have announced the signing of top German young gun Thimo Weissbauer to their racing team. One of the fastest teenagers on the planet, Thimo has shot through the ranks to challenge the best touring car racers in Europe. After multiple Youth Championship wins, he broke through to make his first Euro Touring Series A-Final in late 2018. He will be representing Protoform in major electric touring races across Europe in 2019, and Thimo had this to say about joining the team:
When I drove my first club race many years ago, I already have used a Protoform body shell. A lot has changed over the time, I am in the Awesomatix team now, but I have been driving Protoform body shells since the beginning. And now I am super happy to be a new part of the famous Protoform team. Many thanks to Eric Epp for this great opportunity!
Source: Protoform [racepf.com]
Sunpadow have announced the signing of Germany’s Max Mächler to their international team. The 2018 EFRA European Touring Stock Champion and multi-time ETS Pro Stock winner will be a great addition to the team, bringing with him valuable knowledge of the very competitive stock class racing. Max, who also just inked a deal with Hobbywing to use their speed controllers and motors, had the following to say:
With the start of 2019 I will join the international Sunpadow Race Team. Pleased to work with their technical consultant Salton Dong and the whole team. I will use the full range of Sunpadow batteries for all my racing activities in the upcoming time.
Source: Sunpadow [sunpadow.com]
Protoform have announced that IFMAR Worlds finalist, 11-times and reigning British Radio Car Association National Champion, Olly Jefferies has signed to their factory team for 2019. Olly will be showcasing PF’s bodies and accessories throughout the UK and other major European and international events. Protoform look forward to working with him at the races and testing grounds in 2019 and Olly had the following to say:
I would like to thank Protoform for supporting me in 2019. I look forward to working with this world famous brand and help test and develop new products.
Source: Protoform [racepf.com]
To kick off the 2019 season, a World Championship year for 1/8th Nitro on-road, reigning champions Infinity have released new optional universal swing shafts for their IF18. The new front and rear shafts have had the 3×11.8mm pin position moved 90 degrees allowing for a more free drive transmission at high RPM and smoother suspension movement under high load. In the front, use of the optional shaft gives an increased steering feel while in the rear use of the new shaft increases traction and stability.
View the rear swing shafts here
Xpress have introduced their new Execute XM1 M-class 1/10th scale 4WD competition touring car kit. Based off of the XM1S entry/club-level kit, the XM1 features some competition-grade updates such as a carbon fibre double deck chassis for improved handling in high-bite track conditions as well as slotted shock towers for perfect alignment and titanium turnbuckles for a low weight. Other features include single-piece aluminium bulkheads, aluminium suspension mounts, an aluminium front spool, a rear gear differential as well as front and rear anti-roll bars, double joint CV-style front driveshafts and a ball-raced steering rack. The kit is rounded out by big bore aluminium shock absorbers.
View a list of the features and more images here
Coming from Arrowmax is their new 2-in-1 tool base and parts tray specially designed for the use with 1/10th scale specific tools and wrenches. Machined from high-quality aluminium and coming in the company’s signature black and golden anodising, the tool holder features a centre parts tray surrounded by twelve machined pockets that can hold two 22mm handle, six 18mm handle and four 14mm handle wrenches. On the left side 4mm and 5mm holes can hold bullet-type connectors during soldering and the tool base also incorporates openings to hold two turnbuckle wrenches. The right side features spaces for Arrowmax’s multi shock clamp and other tools. The tool base comes in the company’s signature black and golden colours, without tools, and it is available now.
