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August 16, 2026

2026 IFMAR ISTC World C/ships Stage 2 Report

IFMAR has published the Stage 2 report for the 2026 ISTC World Championships which take place at Huge RC in Bangkok, Thailand, from November 8-14th. Since the the Stage 1 report, the main updates are the details of the recently announced official tyres from Hudy. Using the A2-40 tyre, a maximum of 20 sets of tyres can be bought of which 12 sets must be marked for the actual race event covering from controlled practice until the finals. Stage 2 also confirms Mighty Gripper V3 Yellow as the controlled tyre additive with Ichinen brake cleaner the controlled tyre cleaner for the event. Both items will be supplied in tyre preparation area. Another small change is that IFMAR President Eric Anderson will now fill the role Technical Director. A unique track for the 13th running of the ISTC World Championships, the track owned by 2002 ISTC World Champion Surikarn Chaidajsuriya a roof covered asphalt circuit, the official Worlds Warm Up Race, which runs as part of the Hudy Series Thailand event, takes place August 29-30. The first cars will hit the track at the Worlds on November 8 with two days of IPD after which the track layout will be changes for the official open practice on November 11th. View the full Stage 2 report here.

Source: IFMAR [ifmar.org]

August 16, 2026

Groskamp takes ENS title with third win in a row

Over a decade after winning his first Euro Nitro Series Championship title, Infinity’s Jilles Groskamp has claimed the 2026 Nitro Touring Car title with his third consecutive win of the season today in Austria. With Round 3 of the championship’s 4-race calendar taking place at the MAV Aigen-Schlägl track, the reigning World Champion secured the TQ as his took his Ielasi Tuned powered IF15 to the fastest time in 3 of the 4 qualifiers, a perfect start to his new engine sponsorship deal with Daniele Ielasi’s engine brand. Topping the fourth & final qualifier, 2025 Champion Jakub Rozycki would line up second for Capricorn with 2024 Champion Melvin Diekmann securing P3 ahead of reigning 1:8 ENS Champion Toni Gruber. In the 12 car 45-minute A-Main, from the front the veteran Dutch racer dominated the final taking an emotional win by a lap over Diekmann. A strong race from Carmine Raiola, who qualified his infinity in P8, would see the Italian complete the podium just ahead of Rozycki, the Polish driver setting the fastest lap of the race. In 1:8 it was Dario Balestri who took the win ahead of Top Qualifier Simon Kurzbuch. Kurzbuch put his Mugen Seki on pole for the final ahead of the Infinity driver but 7-laps into the race the Swiss racer flipped his car over the curbing handing the lead to the 2-time World Champion who would stay there for the remaining 43-minutes for his second win of the season – the Italian the winner of the season opener in Germany. Winner of the Dutch round of the Championship, Kurzbuch would finish second half a lap down while 3rd place qualifier Marco Weigerding completed the podium for Serpent.

Image: Infinity [Facebook]

August 14, 2026

Singapore International Nitro GP – Announcement

This year the Singapore International Nitro Grand Prix will celebrate the race’s 20th anniversary in style with the action taking place on the newly resurfaced RCMC track. Scheduled for October 10-11, the same weekend as the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, hosts Radio Control Modellers’ Club has announced that registration is now open for the race which is once again proudly supported by World Champion manufacturer Infinity. The country’s only permanent track, the event will see racing for 1:8 Onroad, 1:8 Nitro GT, and 1:10 Nitro Touring Car. Over the two decades of hosting the race, the Singapore International Nitro Grand Prix has welcomed numerous World Champions including reigning 1:10 Nitro Touring World Champion Jilles Groskamp, two time 1:8 Onroad World Champion Dario Balestri, multiple World Champion Naoto Matsukura, reigning 3-time ISTC World Champion Bruno Coelho and nitro onroad legend Lamberto Collari.

Source: RCMC Singapore [Facebook]

August 12, 2026

Volker confirmed as new high profile RC Maker signing

Fresh from launching its new SP2 1:10 Electric Touring Car to a very positive reaction, RC Maker will now be represented on the international stage by Ronald Volker with the news the 2016 World Champion has signed for the Australian manufacturer. After almost 6-years with Mugen Seiki, Volker now joins the category’s relative newcomer which was created by one of Australia’s most accomplished touring car racers Ryan Maker. Only entering the touring car kit market in 2024 with the SP1, securing the services of this highly experienced racer is a major boost for the Maker and his ambitions for the brand as it rolls out its new SP2 around the world. While RC Maker has worked with Atsushi Hara previously in a deal that saw the RC Legend race their car at the 2025 TITC, and which was followed up by an SP1 ‘Hara Edition’ kit, Volker joins the team as a full time team driver. Announcing the deal on his social media, Volker posted, ‘RC Maker it is! I first met Ryan at the 2008 Worlds. We became good friends right away, stayed in touch ever since and little did I know back then that we will end up working together! Many of you know how enthusiastic Ryan is about RC. To start up your own RC brand is one thing, but to be where he is now and create a touring car platform is something very special. I know he and his family couldn’t be more proud of what he has achieved, and I am very happy to play my part in the future of RC Maker too! I want to thanks everyone from the past and present for the support, and especially the nice comments and messages I’ve had since my announcement yesterday. I now want to thank everyone involved around the RC Maker brand, along with all my other sponsors for their continuing trust in my racing program and myself! I can’t wait to build up my new SP2 cars and hit the track in Arena33 next week! I can’t wait to meet up with my team and grow something big!’

Continue reading here

August 12, 2026

New Onroad track nearing completion in New Zealand

New Zealand is close to getting a new international spec onroad track with works on the new Taranaki Radio Control Car Club facility in New Plymouth nearing completion. A club that has been in existence since 1978, that uses an existing parking lot style onroad track and also has a dedicated offroad track in the area, have already invested over NZ$300,000 into the brand new purpose built facility. A significant community-driven project that will benefit RC racing in New Zealand and the wider region, their goal has been to create one of the premier RC onroad circuits in the Asia-Pacific region, the facility being designed with major national and international events in mind, including the potential to host future FEMCA-level competitions. Now entering the final stage of the project, TRCCC recently launched their “Road to Opening Day” campaign to help raise the final funds needed to complete the track & its facilities. As part of the campaign, supporters can become one of our Founding 300 Members, receiving a personalised commemorative plaque and permanent recognition on our Legacy Wall at the circuit. This campaign will help to the club raise the final NZ$150,000 to complete the project ahead of its official 2027 opening.

View construction work images here

August 11, 2026

Volker departs Mugen Seiki

Ronald Volker has announced his departure from Mugen Seiki, the 2016 World Champion having represented the Japanese manufacturer for almost 6-years and brought their Touring Car program to the fore on the international stage. Joining them in October 2020 after a long stint with Yokomo, Volker had worked very closely with fellow German Robert Pietsch on the project, Pietsch announcing his departure from Mugen Seiki at the end of 2025 after 16-years desiging their onroad cars including the MTC platform. He subsequently joined the Infinity design team for the 2026 season. Volker, who earlier this year took his 100th ETS win with the MTC3, announced the news of his departure on Facebook ending the post by stating, ‘it is time to take on a new adventure ahead.’ With the World Championships, which should have been staged earlier this year in China, now 3-months away it will be interesting to see which brand the popular and hugely experienced touring car veteran will represent at Huge RC in Thailand.

Read Ronald’s departure announcement here

August 10, 2026

2026 IFMAR 1:10 IC Track WC Stage 2 Report

IFMAR has published the Stage 2 Report for the upcoming 1:10 Nitro Touring Car World Championship in Italy, the 11th running of Worlds attracting a bumper 129 entries from 21 countries. Cars will hit the track for the first on September 4th with the first of two days of IPD practice which will be followed by two more days of Free Practice. The event gets underway proper on Tuesday, September 8th, with 4 rounds of Timed Practice which is when Red RC will begin its coverage from Gubbio. In addition to a detailed time schedule, the other key points in the Stage 2 Report are details of the handout tyres which are being supplied by Italian manufacturer Hotrace. The tyre specs are 35 shore/62mm fronts and 37 shore 64mm rears. In relation to fuel, drivers will have the option to choose one of 3 different suppliers. Italy’s Pepe Group brand Energy will offer their Thunder 16% EU fuel, with Runner Time, also produced in Italy offering its FAST 16EU. Thailand’s Maxima will supply its Core 16% EU. Fuel for IPD and Free Practice sessions is the driver ‘s responsibility with fuel subject to Parc Fermé regulations from Timed Practice. View the full Stage 2 report here.

Source: IFMAR [ifmar.org]

August 9, 2026

Coelho gives Infinity first European Touring Car title

Bruno Coelho has secured Infinity’s first European 1:10 Electric Touring Car Championship, the Portuguese driver securing the title for a fourth time at the 25th running of the EFRA Championships today in Luxembourg. Last holding the title in 2023, starting on pole position at Mini Circuit “Ville de Luxembourg” the reigning World Champion would controlled A1 from start to finish ahead of the Awesomatix of second place qualifier Simon Lauter with his team-mate Lucas Urbain completing the Top 3. As the drivers lined-up for A2, Coelho would walk off the drivers stand, an over voltage battery in pre-tech ruling him out of the race. Leading away the field, Lauter would look to have taken control of the race ahead of defending Champion Michal Orlowski but starting to close the gap the Schumacher driver executed an impressive pass coming onto the main straight as the race approached the final minute and a half mark. The finishing order Orlowski, Lauter, and Urbain. With all on the line in A3, with numerous drivers still able to claim the title, Coelho and Lauter made an early break. Running in formation for most of the race, Lauter would put in an impressive final lap getting right on the rear bumper of Coelho’s Speciale IF14. Launching it at the line, contact ensuing, Coelho would take it by 3/1000ths of a second to claim the overall title ahead of Lauter with Orlowski completing the podium. In the Spec class the event would also see a former champion retake the title as Awesomatix’s Max Mächler claimed the win 8-years after his previous title. It was to be an all Awesomatix podium with Olivier Bultynck and Louis Kretschmer 2nd and 3rd while outgoing Champion Adam Izsay finished 4th for Xray. In FWD, Xray’s Stefan Schulz took the title from the TQ after winning the opening two A-Main encounters.

Image: EFRA/Trackside RC Media [Facebook]