Red RC » R Off Road

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]

January 18, 2025

‘Rising Star Program’ reaches Oval Racing at Chili Bowl

The ‘Rising Star Program’ has reached out into Oval Racing with 12-year-old Jordyn Mann the first recipient of the prize at the 2025 RC Chili Bowl where no less than 19 RC brands supported the new initiative. Starting out in 2018 as an initiative at the Canadian National Championships and growing ever since, the latest presentation being made at the U.S Indoor Champs, its spin off into the world of dirt oval racing came about after Ryan Combden of Team Zombie Canada, who has been the main driving force behind the ‘Rising Star Program’, appeared on the RC Underground podcast. They loved the program so much they did a spin off which was present to Jordyn at the massive sell-out RC Chili Bowl which runs alongside the famous Chili Bowl Midget Nationals held annual in Tulsa. Taking up racing 4-years ago, Jordyn has been impressing with her talents and being awarded the ‘Rising Star Program’ is sure to help her rise up the ranks in the world of Dirt Oval RC Racing.

View Dirt Oval ‘Rising Star Program’ supporters here

January 16, 2025

1up Racing Lead Product Development role for Cavalieri

1up Racing has announced the promotion of multiple offroad World Champion Ryan Cavalieri to the role of Lead Product Development Driver and Brand Ambassador. A close friend of 1up Racing founder Randy Caster, ‘Cav’ has been a supporter of the growing California based company since it’s beginning in 2017 and was involved in testing what became their very first 1up product, 1up Gold AW Grease, on his cars way back in 2015. This new role will see Cavalieri play a key player in future product development for 1up in addition to his driving duties. Announcing his departure from chassis sponsor Schumacher at the end of 2024, his new 1:10 Buggies and Touring Cars will be equipped with every 1up Racing accessory possible and he will be working closer with Joe Pillars and Caster, a trio that has won multiple IFMAR Worlds and ROAR National Championships as Driver/Team Manager/Mechanic combinations. He will be attending major 1:10 offroad Races along with select onroad races including the full 1up Cup Series and ROAR Paved Nationals.

Source: 1up Racing [1upracing.com]

January 16, 2025

Kilic goes Nova Engines

Having announced last week he would longer be running Mugen Seiki’s own Ninja brand of engines, Italian engine manufacturer Nova Engines has announced they will power 1:8 Offroad World Finalist Burak Kilic in 2025/26. Entering into his 6th season with the Japanese car manufacturer Kilic has until now used Ninja engines taking the combo to 6th at last September’s World Championship in Redovan. One the announcement, the older of the Kilic brothers posted, ‘Lets Go! Nova Engines for 2025/26. Thank you very much for this Rossi Mirko and Andrea Rossi. Cant wait to hit the track here in France tomorrow with Zak Medjoubi and Andrea.’

Source: Nova Engines [nova-engines.com]

January 16, 2025

Ultimate Racing engines for Batlle

Having made the move to Sworkz, for whom he will not only race but also fill the role of team manager, Robert Batlle’s 1:8 Offroad program will be powered by engines from Ultimate Racing for 2025. The former World Champion has a longtime relationship with Ultimate Racing having been supported heavily by the Spanish brand’s owners Modelix Racing during his early European Championship reign. Having run Corsatec engines as part of his stint with Mayako, on his new engine deal Batlle posted, ‘We go back to the origins, the one of things that are to come, you will love them. Back to the beginning, so excited about all news coming soon.’ Already supported by Modelix’s fuel brand Nitrolux, Batlle will continue to use this with further collaboration to be announced.

Source: Robert Batlle [Facebook]

January 16, 2025

Ronnefalk goes Sanwa for 2025

Former 1:8 Offroad World Champion David Ronnefalk is switching to Sanwa for the 2025 season. The Xray driver will use the famed Japanese radio manufacturer’s flagship M17S having previously been one of the high profile team drivers for emerging Chinese brand FlySky in 2024. On the new deal, that came together with help from Xray team-mate Hupo Honigl whose company HOECO are a distributor for Sanwa products, Ronnefalk said, ‘I would like to thank Sanwa and Hupo Honigl for the help and support moving forward. Excited for the first race coming up this weekend in France!’ The Swede will make his first appear with the new radio this weekend driving a touring car when he takes on the GP3F race in France which has in recent year’s established itself as the official season opener of the international electric touring calendar.

Source: David Ronnefalk [Facebook]

January 15, 2025

Associated confirm Kaerup for MIBO International

Team Associated has confirmed they will be represented at the upcoming MIBO International Race in the Czech Republic with the news that their teenage offroad star Marcus Kaerup will make his debut at the third edition of the event on February 7-9th. The multiple European Champion and World Championship finalist is set to take the challenge to Sworkz’s defending 2WD Champion Joern Neumann and Schumacher pairing of Michal Orlowski and Daniel Kobbevik. Having been denied back to back European 2WD Buggy titles by Orlowski last September in Swedend when EFRA hosted the European Championship indoor on carpet, the 17-year-old Dane will be looking to prevent the reigning MIBO International Touring Car Champion from doing the double as the Polish ace races on both the onroad and offroad track this year. In 4WD he will take on the Xray of fellow teenager and reigning champion Bartek Zalewski. Red RC is looking forward to kicking off its 2025 World tour of race coverage by making the trip to Hrotovice once again to report on the action.

Source: MIBO [mibosport.com]