January 23, 2025

Polito back with Gimar Engines

After a season away from the brand, Gimar Engines has announce that top Italian 1:8 Offroad racer Mattia Polito has returned to the Italian engine tuner to power his program with Sworkz.  Having used O.S. Engines in 2024, securing the TQ and an impressive 2nd place at the SIGP in Xiamen, China, in December after a great battle with World Champion Davide Ongaro.  Opening his 2025 season with the 1:8 Nitro Buggy victory at the annual ‘OneRace OneMan’ race at the IBR Padova indoor facility in Italy, Polito now returns to working with Giovanni Crea for his engine needs with the Gimar owner stating, ‘After a year of stop, here we are together again stronger than before, ready to face new experiences and new races together. Welcome back Mattia.’

Source: Gimar [rcgimar.com]


January 22, 2025

Teghesi joins Gimar Engines

Former Italian 1:8 Buggy National Champion Fabrizio Teghesi’s 2025 racing season will be powered by Italian engine tuner Gimar.  In a deal that came about through featuring one of the engines from the Giovanni Crea owned brand on his YouTube channel, on the announcement of the new partnership the HB Racing driver from Florence said, ‘I am really excited to join the Gimar Factory team! I had the opportunity to test their engine last year on various occasions thanks to the project “a different engine for every race” that I featured on my channel in 2024, and I was really impressed, so much so that I decided to run my international season with these engines!  I do not deny that the choice of the brand was also made with the perspective of the content I will be able to create thanks to this company, which has been nothing short of volcanic lately… They have many exciting new developments in the pipeline that I can’t wait to present in my YouTube videos!’

Source: Gimar [rcgimar.com]


January 21, 2025

Reds Racing engines for Neumann

Italian engine brand Reds Racing has announced that former 1:8 GT World Champion Joern Neumann has joined its team line-up and will use their engines to power his Sworkz cars in both Nitro Buggy and GT.  On the announced the German driver said, ‘I am looking forward to join Reds Racing and use their nitro engines for the 2025/26 season.  After testing them, I was impressed by the performance and power.  Thank you to Federica, Marco and Mario for making it possible to join their team.’

Source: Reds Racing [reds-racing.com]


January 21, 2025

RUDDOG Astro Ripper 1:10 Buggy Tyres

German brand RUDDOG has entered the 1:10 buggy competition tyre market with the release of the Astro Ripper and Front Ripper tyres.  The Astro Ripper tread pattern, specially developed for Astroturf, ensures high traction and consistent performance on a wide variety of artificial turf tracks.  It also impresses with good durability and even wear.  The tyres are offered in two durable compounds, a medium ‘Yellow’ variant for dry conditions and a special ‘Green’ compound for wet and damp tracks.

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January 21, 2025

Sparko 1:8 Offroad program for Ben Mohamed

Up & coming French teenage offroad talent Noha Ben Mohamed has joined 1:8 Offroad chassis manufacturer Sparko complimenting his previously announced new 1:10 Offroad program with Schumacher.  On the announcement the Tawianese manufacturer said, ‘At Sparko, we believe in nurturing young talent and pushing boundaries—values that perfectly align with Noha’s vision.  Together, we’re ready to accelerate into the upcoming season, aiming for new milestones on and off the track.  Follow us as we embark on this exciting journey with Noha and Sparko Racing.  The future starts now!’  On his new 1:8 deal announcement, the former Xray driver added, ‘This is an exciting moment for me.  Joining a young and developing team like Sparko Racing 1/8 was a wish, and it’s come true.  I’m looking forward to working with such an innovative team and taking on new challenges together.’

Source: Sparko Racing [Facebook] 


January 21, 2025

Philippine Masters ’25 track revealed

The organisers of the Philippine Masters has revealed the Circulo Verde Race Track which will host Asia’s most high profile 1:8 Offroad event of the year from April 30-May 4.  The 13th running of the Philippine Masters, track designer and accomplished offroad racer Edward Sio has overseen the work which includes the track being newly re-surfaced and oiled.  Tweaking the layout in some sections and they have also added some additional jumps for more actions on this always popular track.  Last year the Manila event was once again won by World Champion Davide Ongaro in a final that saw the legendary Atsushi Hara lead for almost half the final.  With the Philippines famed as a holiday destination, the event has a truly unique vibe living up to the nations tourism tagline ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’.  Holding the same status as the TITC in Thailand does among onroad racers, once again Philippine Masters ’25 will form part of Scotty Ernst’s Asian Buggy Championships as the second stop of four races that make up the championship’s third season.

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January 20, 2025

Ogden joins Sparko

1:8 Offroad chassis manufacturer Sparko has announced that World Championship Finalist Cole Ogden has joined its team for 2025.  The American, who was a long time HB Racing team driver but ran 2024 without a chassis sponsor, will now help lead the US efforts of the category’s relative newcomer who after launching their first buggy in 2023 started the 2024 season by signing Ryan Cavalieri and Ryan Pavidis.  On the announcement Ogden said, ‘I’m extremely excited to be a part of the Sparko family.  Taking a much needed break throughout the entirety of 2024, has made me realize that my time here isn’t complete.  I still have the passion and drive to compete and spread knowledge about racing.  Traveling the world, racing and helping others has always brought me extreme satisfaction.  Forming relationships with other racers at all levels drives me, and is an important part of what us drivers do.  Racing, and development is my duty moving forward, as well as what I previously stated.  I’m looking forward to a busy year ahead, and I’m ready to go to work!’

Source: Sparko Racing [Facebook] 


January 19, 2025

RC Chili Bowl crowns Dean as Oval World Champion

This past week the pinnacle of the RC Dirt Oval World, the RC Chili Bowl, gathered the best racers from across the United States to find out who was the best and would be crowned World Champion with Nathan Dean claiming that honour.  Running alongside the famous Chili Bowl Midget Nationals held annually in Tulsa, the sold-out RC Chili Bowl’s Invitational Class was decided over sixteen rounds of heads up Reedy Race format racing.  In the 8 rounds of Late Model, Dean managed two wins before adding another three in Sprint with his best 14 from 16 results giving him a total of 32 points.  With 3 wins and a total of 34 points Robert Chapman finished runner-up.  Claiming the most wins with 6 to his credit, JConcepts’ Tyler Hooks also had to count two P6 results and he completed the podium.

Image: RC Chili Bowl [rcchilibowl.com]