Red RC » R Off Road

December 30, 2016

World Champ Ronnefalk also takes Virtual Worlds title

The recent VRC World Championship saw 2016 IFMAR 1/8th Gas Buggy World Champion, David Ronnefalk, walking away with the win in the 15-minute long 1/8th E-Buggy final. The race was held at RC Tracks of Las Vegas, the very same track the Swede took his real life Worlds title about three month ago. 2014 VRC World Champion, Marcin Maliński from Poland, took second some 9 seconds back on Ronnefalk, while pole-sitter Warren Jones from the US snatched the final podium spot from Swede Robert Hillman in the last corner of the final lap.

Continue reading here

December 29, 2016

Tamiya announces future plans for TRF brand

The recent shock departure of 4-time World Champion Marc Rheinard from chassis sponsors Tamiya and TRF left many doubts about the future of Tamiya’s racing brand as the iconic company looked to clarify their future plans. Now Tamiya have issued a rather vague statement regarding their plans for the 2017 season and beyond that, from what we understand, will see the TRF brand used only to provide support at Tamiya-branded events rather than as a brand with its own competition products and race team which it was up until recently.

TRF has long contributed to Tamiya’s successful R/C product designs via the valuable race data gained through its racing activities in elite races such as world championships. In 2017 TRF will look to provide Tamiya R/C fans of all abilities across the world with even more comprehensive support. We will be present at official Tamiya-sanctioned events around the globe, ready to forge a closer bond with local racers and R/C fans, our goal being to provide a truly all-encompassing experience for the hobby. We look forward to your support and participation in 2017 and beyond.

Source: Tamiya [tamiya.com]

December 27, 2016

Rheinard statement confirms demise of TRF race team

The opening round of the 2016/17 ETS marked the end of an era with Marc Rheinard unofficially announcing his departure from long-term sponsors Tamiya during the event. Having won three IFMAR Electric Touring Car World Championship titles, an ETS title and countless major event wins for the Japanese manufacturer, Marc has released an official statement regarding his time with Tamiya, the stopping of their TRF team as well as what the future holds for the super quick German:

I have often heard the saying ‘all good things must come to an end’ but now that I am faced with such a situation I really don’t know what to say. After 22 great years with Tamiya, it is time for it come to an end. It is really hard for me as Tamiya is and will always be in my heart. I started in 1994 with the Tamiya Euro Cup and since then I have used only Tamiya cars. We had many ups and luckily not so many downs and overall achieved lots of titles and had always a good friendship with all the great people who make up the Tamiya Company.

Continue reading Marc’s statement here

December 27, 2016

The Fabulous Barry Baker joins Serpent

Serpent have announced the signing of veteran racer and living RC legend, Barry Baker to their team. “The Fabulous” will be representing Serpent at national events and races around the West-Coast of the USA. Barry will focus on 1/8th and 1/10th off-road racing and also select on-road events, campaigning Serpent’s Project 4X touring car. The multi-time national and Reedy Race champion has the following to say about the deal:

I am so proud to represent such a legendary brand. Serpent produces some of the best quality products on the market. I will do my best to promote and build the brand throughout. Thank you to everyone at Serpent for this opportunity. Looking forward to the 2017 racing season. See you all at the track.

Source: Serpent [serpent.com]

December 23, 2016

Guan Kou Sunpadow Off-road GP – Announcement

The ARC International Raceway in Xiamen, China, home of the 2017 IMFAR 1/10th Electric Buggy Worlds, will play host to the 2017 Guan Kou Sunpadow Off-road Grand Prix from the 28th of February to the 5th of March. The event will be held in 1/8th Nitro and E-Buggy classes, limited to 120 and 90 entries respectively, and it will see Scotty Ernst on the microphone to make for a true international feeling. More information can be found on the track’s website here.

December 22, 2016

Lu Yi Heng TQs & wins at SMP Buggy Race

The recent SMP Buggy Race in China saw Lu Yi Heng taking the TQ in the 2WD buggy class. In the opening A-main, Lu tried to open a gap to the field but the second and third placed drivers were hot on his heels until they both crashed, allowing Lu to bring home the win in A1. For the second A-main the track started to loose traction but a fresh set of tyres allowed the pole position holder to bring home another win to grab the overall win with one leg to spare. A3 then held some difficulties for Lu who suffered several collisions with other drivers but putting his head down he was able to move up to the second place again while up front Lu Yi Heng’s teammate Jimmy Qian scored the win to secure himself the overall runner-up spot.

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]

December 22, 2016

Micha Widmaier wins at Bike Park GP

The recent inaugural Indoor Bike Park GP in Pfäffikon, Switzerland not only saw the running of an 1/8th E-Buggy class but also 1/10th scale racing. In the 4WD Buggy category it was SWorkz’s Micha Widmaier who took the win thanks to coming out fastest in all three A-mains. In second and third the TLR duo of Markus Streuli and Felix Koegler completed the podium result.

Source: MW RC Cars [mwrccars.at]

December 21, 2016

Robin Frischkopf wins inaugural Indoor Bike Park GP

The newly established Indoor Bike Park off-road clay track in Pfäffikon, Switzerland played host to the inaugural GP Race. The event was held in 1/8th E-Buggy, 1/10th 2WD and 4WD classes and attracted about 50 drivers from Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland. The well prepared track offered a smooth surface, technical jumps and a nice layout all of which made for some close racing. In the 10-minute 1/8th E-Buggy A-mains Robin Frischkopf, Micha Widmaier and Romeo Grass all battled for the win and in the end it was Robin who came out on top in the opening two mains to grab the overall win from Micha in second and Romeo in third.

View the final results here