Red RC » R Off Road

January 5, 2025

Polito takes ‘OneRace OneMan’ win

Having wrapped up the 2024 season with a very impressive performance at the SIGP in Xiamen, China, Sworkz’s Mattia Polito has opened 2025 with the 1:8 Nitro Buggy victory at the annual ‘OneRace OneMan’ race at the IBR Padova indoor facility in Italy. In qualifying it was Marco Baruffolo who was the Top Qualifier, in his first race for Kyosho the Italian topped 2 of the 4 rounds of qualifying. Fastest in Q3, his new team-mate Riccardo Berton would end qualifying P2 with Polito securing P3 after a TQ run in round 2. In the 45-minute Main, Berton’s challenge would end after just 18-minutes as he retired with a technical issue. With Baruffolo leading he would also run into issues but finish, a problem with his receiver battery 20-minutes in costing him time. Setting the fastest lap of the final, this all played into the favour of Polito who would take the victory from Baruffolo with the Xray of former ‘OneRace OneMan’ race winner Alex Zanchettin completing the podium. In eBuggy, Polito secured the TQ but it was second place qualifier Berton who took the win.

Image: Red RC File

January 4, 2025

Phend opens new era with ‘Clash of Champions’ TQ

Dakotah Phend has opened the new era in his racing career by securing the TQ double at the JConcepts Clash of Champions with his new Xray buggies. Just days after the Slovakian manufacturer officially confirmed they had signed the star American racer, the new package is making its race debut at Hoosier RC HobbyPlex where Phend is chasing a third consecutive win at the annual Indiana event, In 2WD qualifying, 2 from three rounds to count, Phend wrapped up an early overall TQ by taking the opening two rounds, the first ahead of Team Associated’s Spencer Rivkin and the second ahead of Schumacher’s Broc Champlin. In 4WD, it was Xray’s Chase Lemieux who took the first round ahead of his new team-mate before Phend went to the top in Q2 & 3 setting the fastest times ahead of Rivkin to secure the overall TQ.

Image: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

January 3, 2025

Tollard & Rinderknecht join Schumacher

Wrapping up a busy first week of 2025 driver announcements by various manufacturers, Schumacher has confirmed US Offroad racers Cole Tollard and Tom Rinderknecht as joining their race team for 2025. World Championship finalist Cole joins the British manufacturer after the demise of the TLR Factory team while Rinderknecht joins after a stint at Xray having also previously race for TLR. Commenting on the news Cole said, ‘I look forward to working with the new team and starting fresh on a new platform. It’s great to see the cars growing in popularity as they are proven on many levels. I would like to thank Mike Winders for the introduction, Muz and Robin Schumacher for giving me this opportunity. Looking forward to 2025!’. Rinderknecht said, ‘I am super excited to be joining Schumacher Racing for 2025 season and beyond! I can’t wait to be a part of this awesome team and I am excited to help Schumacher grow in the USA market. I would like to thank Muz and Robin for the great opportunity to run for this team!’

Source: Schumacher [racing-cars.com]

January 3, 2025

Figueiredo & Monteiro join Hobbywing

As the roll out of new driver sponsorships for the 2025 season continues, Hobbywing has announced the signing of leading Portuguese 1:8 Offroad racers João Figueiredo and Ricardo Monteiro to bolster its offroad program in this inaugural eBuggy World Championship year. Tekno driver Figueiredo had an impressive season in 2024 making the IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship final in Redovan and will be looking to build on that performance when the the inaugural 1:8 Electric Offroad World Championship is hosted by his home track in Barcelos, Portugal in August. European Championship finalist Monteiro brings extensive offroad experience to Hobbywing and has also worked as mechanic for Hobbywing’s star driver Bruno Coelho and highly regarded by the World Champion for his technical input will also join the XR8 PRO testing plans for Hobbywing.

Source: Hobbywing [hobbywing.com]

January 3, 2025

Orlowski to run Elceram ESC

1:12 World Champion Michal Orlowski is to run Elceram ESCs as part of his Schumacher race program with the Czech manufacturer announcing the Polish star as part of its team line-up for 2025. While Orlowski was announced as joining electronic newcomer Team Cayote yesterday, that deal will see him using just batteries. One of the busiest drivers in RC, due to his onroad and offroad program with British manufacturer Schumacher, his profile is sure to benefit Elceram on the international stage. Commenting on the announcement, Orlowski said, ‘Elceram first of all because of the professionalism and passion, for how nice people are in Elceram, the connection I immediately had with Jan and the rest of the team and the product itself – it is unbelievable product with extremely innovative technology. You can set up the speedo on the screen without the program – card, you have all the data driver needs before and after the run, and how easy it is to set up. There are so many benefits to use Elceram, and that´s why I decided to join for 2025.’

Source: Elceram [Facebook]

January 3, 2025

Phend joins FlySky team

While the eagle eyed among you would have noticed the branding on his new Xray buggies at the start of the JConcepts Clash of Champions race yesterday, FlySky has officially announced that top US offroad racer Dakotah Phend has joined the Chinese brands impressive team line-up for 2025. Phend, who was already a user of the FlySky radio, but will now officially represent the brand in using their flagship NB4 Pro+ transmitter, said, ‘Thanks to FlySky for their support coming into 2025! The NB4 Pro+ radio is extremely easy to use and I was able to feel comfortable with it right away out on the track. It will be a great addition to my program moving forward!.

Source: Flysky [flysky-cn.com]

January 2, 2025

Berton joins Hobbywing

With 2025 set to mark the inaugural crowning of an IFMAR 1:8 Electric Buggy World Champion, potential title contender Riccardo Berton has been announced as joining electronics manufacturer Hobbywing. Returning to Kyosho at the end of 2024 after a four year stint leading the Infinity 1:8 Buggy program, the Italian is no stranger to Hobbywing products but now officially becomes a team driver. On the news, the Italian World Championship finalist said, ‘I am really happy to join Hobbywing for the new season, in the last 2-years I have used their products, I have been impressed by the HW products feeling and confidence. Thank you to Salton and the whole HW team for this opportunity and I look forward to join big drivers in the team.’ The IFMAR 1:8 Electric Offroad World Championship will take place in Barcelos, Portugal, from August 27-31.

Source: Hobbywing [hobbywing.com]

January 2, 2025

Phend gets Gen ace power for 2025

On a day that has been fully charged with driver announcements, US Offroad star Dakotah Phend’s new line-up of Xray buggies will be powered by Gen ace, the Chinese battery manufacturer officially announcing him as a team driver for 2025. The former TLR driver has a completely new line up of hardware sponsors this year following Horizon Hobby’s decision to crease it full time factory race team and he is making his Xray debut this weekend at the JConcepts Clash of Champions at Hoosier RC HobbyPlex. Chasing a third consecutive win at the Indiana event, while his tyre sponsor JConcepts remains unchanged from 2024, his buggies hint at some of his other new 2025 sponsors with the bodyshells carrying branding from electronic newcomer Team Cayote and FlySky radios.

Source: Gens Ace [Facebook]