Red RC » R Off Road

December 30, 2025

Phend leaves JConcepts

Top American Offroad racer Dakotah Phend has announced that his 6-year sponsorship with Florida based tyre & body manufacturer JConcepts has come to an end. Joining Xray for 2025 after a career long drive at TLR ended, Phend achieved a triple at this year’s US Nationals winning the Nitro Buggy, eBuggy, and Truggy titles with JConcepts providing the traction for each of his wins. Joining JConcepts in 2020, on making the announcement of his departure, Phend posted, ‘After 6 successful years my time with JConcepts is officially coming to an end. We have had a lot of National and other major race wins over the years and I can’t thank everyone there enough for all of the support over the years. Jason has been great to me and I appreciate the amount of time and effort that he has put into my race program. He does a lot for his drivers and the industry and I have a lot of respect for what he has created and accomplished. When I signed back in 2020 it was absolutely the right decision for my program and I wish them nothing but the best moving forward.

Source: Dakotah Phend [Facebook]

December 29, 2025

Ongaro switches to Team EAM Batteries

Reigning 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Champion and 2023 1:10 4WD World Champion Davide Ongaro has switched battery sponsor for 2026, the former Sunpadow team driver making the move to US brand Team EAM. The Italian joins Team Associated team-mate Marcus Kaerup at Team EAM, the young Dane becoming the new 1:10 4WD Buggy and inaugural 1:8 eBuggy World Champion in 2025. On the announcement, Ongaro said, ‘After some years with Sunpadow I’m happy to announce that I will join Team EAM. I want to thank everyone that believes in me and will support me. I know it’s a great team full of people with a lot of knowledge, so for me it’s amazing. Thank you.’

Source: Davide Ongaro [Facebook]

December 24, 2025

Wolhuter joins Team Kyosho International

Kyosho has announced that Australian 1:8 Buggy racer Christian Wolhuter has been signed to their International race team. The 2024 Asian Buggy Championships Champion from Australian previously represented Sworkz and now joins the iconic Japanese manufacturer where he will team up with drivers line Ryan Lutz, Riccardo Berton, Marco Baruffolo, FEMCA Champion Phi-Long Nguyen, and of course the MP11 designer Yuichi Kanai. Runner-up at this year’s Australian National Championships behind Caleb Noble, the deal with Team Kyosho International represents a massive opportunity for the 19-year-old from Perth with 2026 a World Championship year for 1:8 Nitro Buggy.

Source: Kyosho [kyosho.com]

December 23, 2025

Toia joins Mayako

Newly crowned New Zealand 1:8 Buggy National Champion Logan Toia has announced he has switched to Mayako for the 2026 season. The 18-year-old had successfully campaigned HB Racing buggies in 2025 but now the Asian Buggy Championships regular moves to the Joseph Quagraine fronted manufacturer. In addition to his racing role, Toia will also be involved in Mayako’s New Zealand Service Centre role through Frankton Model Shop which was recently appointed a Premium Service Centre for the brand.

Source: Logan Toia [Facebook]

December 17, 2025

2026 MIBO International Race – Registration Open

Now on its fourth edition, registration for the 2026 MIBO International Race on Feb 27th – Mar 1st is open. Created in 2023 off the back of the very successful Mibo Cup Race Series, MIBO International is a unique event that brings together both 1:10 electric onroad and offroad racing with the building of two tracks side by side inside the Sport V Hotel in Hrotovice, Czech Republic. Under the guidance of former international touring car racer Michal Bok, the race has attracted numerous World Champions and counts Bruno Coelho, Ronald Volker, Michal Orlowski, Joern Nuemann and Bartek Zaleswki among its winners over the previous 3 editions. One of the attractions of MIBO International is its condensed timetable of just two and a half days, the Mibosport promoted race getting underway on the Friday afternoon with practice allowing for travel Friday morning. Another popular aspect of the race is the venue, everything from the track, restaurant, bowling alley, and hotel rooms all under the one roof of the Sport V Hotel. You can find full details for the 2026 MIBO International Race and register to be on the grid via the Mibosport website by clicking here.

Source: MIBO [mibosport.com]

December 15, 2025

US Champion Schimmel departs Xray

Reigning ROAR 1:10 2WD Modified Buggy Champion Brennan Schimmel has announced that his short stint with Xray has ended. One of a number of drivers left without a drive at the end of 2024 after Team Losi Racing cut its race team, the Virgina driver would end the 2024 season winning at the U.S. Carpet Offroad Championships with a borrowed car before being announced as part of Xray’s US Distributor RC America’s alongside new star signing Dakotah Phend, the pair going on to win both titles at the Dirt Nationals at at Hoosier RC Hobbyplex in May. The 23-year-old announced the end of his run with Xray posting on his social media, ‘A year goes by fast. 2025 was filled with lifelong memories. I came into this season with no real idea of what was ahead, and it turned into the best year I’ve had in Modified in the few years I’ve been running it. Becoming a National Modified Champion, along with a few wins and countless podiums, made this season unforgettable. More importantly, my goal going into 2025 was to come out a better person—not just on the track, but off it as well—and I truly believe I did just that. With that being said, my short time with XRAY has come to a close. I want to thank Drew Ellis, Brian, John and the rest of RCAmerica/Xray. Stay tuned for what’s ahead into 2026 and beyond!!’

Source: Brennan Schimmel [Facebook]

December 12, 2025

Neoland 2026 – Announcement

In an age when 1:8 Offroad had just a select number of high profile races that every driver & manufacturer wanted to win, the Neo Race being one of those, the race’s spiritual home Harper Adams in the UK is set to echo to the sound of nitro engines once again with Neoland. Well known track builder and Buggyland race promoter Miguelo Izquierdo Rodriguez is bringing the race back after a decade, with the agricultural indoor hall hosting the race on Neo’s traditional Easter date, which in 2026 is April 3-6. In announcing the race, the original Neo Race the brainchild of Philip Mortstedt and earning itself the unofficial title of the ‘Indoor World Championships’, Izquierdo Rodriguez said, ‘After almost a decade, we have decided to revive one of the most incredible races in the world. With great enthusiasm, we are thrilled to announce the return of Neoland.’

Source: Neoland

December 12, 2025

Sugiura crowned Japanese 1:8 Buggy Champion

Last weekend saw the running of the 2025 JMRCA Japanese National Championship for 1:8 Nitro Buggy where it was the Mugen Seiki of Yusuke Sugiura who took the win ahead of the defending champion Kouki Kato. Held once again at Futaba Buggy Track located in Ichihara, Chiba, with three rounds of qualifying it was Sugiura topping two rounds, who took the TQ ahead of Kato’s Infinity which was fastest in Q2. With the Top 2 progressing directly to main, with the rest of the 10 car grid having to come through the Semi Finals, after the 1-hour Main Sugiura, setting the fastest lap of the race, would take the win by half a lap over 2025 Asian Buggy Championships Champion Kato. In third Semi final winner Juriya Kajiwara would completed the podium for Kyosho just ahead of Ayashi Tsuruta and Youwei Huiye, the 3-waty battle covered by just 1.5-seconds.

Source: O.S. Engine [Facebook]