Red RC » R Off Road

January 14, 2026

Haatanen completes ’26 program with Matrix tyres

Having switched electronics for 2026 from Reedy to Ruddog Racing, long time Team Associated team driver Joona Haatanen has been announced as part of the Matrix Tires offroad team. The 2025 European 2WD Buggy podium finisher and German National Champion makes the switch between Italian tyre manufacturers finalising his 2026 race package with the move to Matrix from Hotrace. On the announcement, the popular Finn, who now lives in Germany, posted, ‘Last announcement for program of 2026! Joining Matrix Racing Tires/Xtreme Aerodynamics and will be using their products on my Team Associated 1/8 and 1/10 buggies! Thanks to Christian and rest of the team for this opportunity, let’s see what we can achieve together.’

Source: Joona Haatanen [Facebook]

January 13, 2026

2026 Desert Classic – Announcement

2023 IFMAR 1:10 Offroad World Championship host venue Hobby Action has opened registration for the 10th Annual Desert Classic which takes place at the Arizona indoor track from March 5-8th. Under track owner Larry Tom, the Desert Classic has established itself as an early season fixture on the 1:10 Offroad calendar filling the void left after the iconic Cactus Classic lost its outdoor track location after the 2014 edition. Attracting 32o entries, last year’s edition saw wins for Xray’s Chase Lemieux (2WD) and Team Associated’s Aydin Horne (4WD). Continuing to be supported by long time sponsor Stickit1 Racing, the race schedule will consist of 4 rounds of qualifying with the best three to count with triple finals for all 2WD and 4WD classes and 10-minute Mains for Truck classes.

View race poster here

January 13, 2026

Back to back Silver State wins for Fuller

Sworkz’s Mason Fuller has claimed back to back Nitro Buggy victories at Silver State Indoor Championships. With the young American talent taking a break through win at the high profile annual Las Vegas based race last April, he would back it up with victory at this year’s earlier running of the Joey Christensen event. In qualifying it was Kyosho’s Phi-Long Nguyen, who was on the podium last year, who took the TQ ahead of the Tekno pairing Seth VanDalen & Ryan Maifield, Sworkz’s Camden Lime, and Kyosho’s Ryan Lutz, the latter topping the first of the 3 qualifiers. In the 45-minute final it was looking set to be a super close battle between Nguyen and Fuller but a flame out as the race reached 3/4 distant would deny the talented teenager a chance at his first big win. With his main challenger gone, Fuller was able to claim the win with a 24-seconds advantage over Team Associated’s Spencer Rivkin while VanDalen completed the podium. In eBuggy, Nguyen also took the TQ and after an incident packed final lap claimed the win ahead of Fuller and Tekno’s Jared Wiggins. Lutz had looked on target to win the 10-minute encounter but landed funny on the last lap handing Fuller the lead but he got hit by Maifield who in turn received contact from eventual winner Nguyen. In Truggy it was Maifield who took both the Nitro and Electric wins.

Image: JConcepts [Facebook]

January 7, 2026

Alpha Plus to power Cavalieri’s Nitro Program

Taiwanese engine manufacturer Alpha Plus has announced that it has signed multiple 1:10 Electric Offroad World Champion Ryan Cavalieri to its factory team. A brand that is best known for powering factory Kyosho driver Ryan Lutz, who has represent them well for a number of years now, Alpha Plus will supply engines for Cavalieri’s Mayako buggies which he races as part of his deal with Joseph Quagraine’s Invisible Speed brand. Cavalieri had previously run for Italian engine manufacturer Nova Engines. On making the announcement, Alpha Plus posted they were ‘excited to announce that World Champion Ryan Cavalieri has officially joined the Alpha Plus factory team as a driver for the 2026 season and beyond. With Ryan’s experience, talent, and championship pedigree, we’re proud to welcome him to the Alpha Plus family and look forward to pushing the limits together on tracks around the world. Be sure to look out for Ryan at this week’s Silverstate race in Las Vegas, where he will be running the Alpha Falcon Spec-B engine paired with the Alpha 2159 exhaust pipe system. Welcome to the team, Ryan.’ In addition to his engine change for 2026, Cavalieri has also switched from TZO tyres to Hotrace for the new season.

Source: Alpha Plus [alpha-rc.com]

January 6, 2026

Sturdy moves to Schumacher for 2026

After 9-years with Team Associated, multiple Australian National Offroad Champion Chris Sturdy has been confirmed as joining Schumacher for 2026. Schumacher described the signing of Sturdy as ‘a great addition to our high level Off Road team.’ Announcing his departure from Team Associated back in November, giving his reaction to joining the British manufacturer & newly crowned 1:10 2WD World Champions Sturdy said, ‘I am beyond thrilled to be joining Schumacher for the 2026 season! Schumacher is where my story began and this feels like a homecoming for me. I look forward to joining the Schumacher Family and representing the Historic name and brand, as well as working with the team, both locally and abroad. A thank you to Harvey, Robin and all those at Schumacher for welcoming me on board for 2026.’

Source: Schumacher [racing-cars.com]

January 6, 2026

Batta joins Hobbywing

Hobbywing has officially announced the addition of IFMAR 1:10 2WD Offroad World Championship podium finisher Davey Batta to their team for 2026 and beyond. The 20-year-old, who previously represented R1 Wurks, returns to Hobbywing and will use their electronics as part of his package as a Team Associated driver. Winning 2WD over the weekend at the Clash of Champions, on the announcement the American said, ‘Really Excited to be back with Hobbywing for the 2026 Season and Beyond! Huge thank you to Charlie, Matty G, and Spencer Rivkin for helping me hit the ground running with the equipment. Hobbywing has proven to set and raise the bar for power. I’m excited to be a part of the amazing team!’

Source: Hobbywing [hobbywing.com]

January 5, 2026

Schumacher announces Schimmel signing

While he was busy helping them claim a 1-2 behind new team-mate Broc Champlin at the Clash of Champions in the US over the weekend, 2WD World Champions Schumacher has officially announced their signing of Brennan Schimmel to its offroad team. After a 1-year stint with Xray, the reigning ROAR 1:10 2WD Modified Buggy Champion unveiled his move to the British manufacturer when he posted photos of his two new Schumacher buggies ahead of flying to the Hoosier RC Hobbyplex in Indiana for the first race of 2026. In the official announcement from Schumacher today, Schummel said, ‘As the Clash of Champions event has just concluded it was my first outing with the new rides and working with the team, I couldn’t be happier! Bringing home a solid P2 overall finish in 4wd also. I’m looking forward to getting back to the track to learn even more on the cars. A huge thank you to Muz, Robin and the Schumacher team for making this happen.’

Source: Schumacher [racing-cars.com]

January 5, 2026

Savox welcome Kaerup as team driver

Savox servos has announced 4WD World Champion Marcus Kærup as an official team driver for 2026. The highly talented Dane, who also won the 1:8 eBuggy World title in 2025, used Savox servos in his 1:10 World title winning Team Associated RC1084D and Top Qualifying 2WD RC10B7D buggies in Australia last October but now becomes an official sponsored team driver of the Taiwanese manufacturer. Welcoming Kaerup as a new team driver, Savox said that he will continue to run Savox servos across his Team Associated 1:10 buggies as well as in 1:8 Nitro and Electric buggies, and his TC8 Touring Car!, adding ‘We’re excited for what’s ahead.’

Source: Savox [teamsavox.com]