Red RC » R On Road

May 14, 2026

Hudy Balkan RC Series – Summer Edition Announcement

Following a successful Winter Series, the organisers of the Hudy Balkan Series has announced details of its 2026 Summer Edition. With the Winter Edition attracting 175 entries, the four round Summer racing calendar will again visit both Bulgaria and Greece with racing categories for 10 electric and 3 nitro classes, which are open to all brands of cars. With Round 1 in Shumen in June, Round 2 travels to Sofia in August, before returning to Sumen in September for Round 3. The fourth round, the Grand Finals, will take racers to Dionisos in Greece at the end of October.

Source: Hudy Balkan Series [Facebook]

May 13, 2026

Xray announces surprise Rheinard signing

Just hours after he announced his depart from Awesomatix, Xray has revealed that they have acquired the services of Marc Rheinard. The reigning ISTC World Champions made the surprise announcement via a short video clip on social media with just the text ‘Legends & World Champions join forces’. With Xray’s loss of Bruno Coelho to Infinity having been reflected in recent Modified results, the new signing of the multiple World Champion by the Slovakian manufacturer is a major coup for the Hudys. He joins long time team driver Alexander Hagberg, who just recently took the European 1:12 title from the German. The signing should also allow their 1:8 World Champion David Ronnefalk to focus his attentions on offroad, his transition to touring car with Xray having proved challenging for the Swede. For Rheinard, whose career spans three decades, joining Xray marks only the fourth Touring Car manufacturer he has represented having raced for Awesomatix, Infinity and Tamiya, his TRF days one of the most iconic partnerships of our sport.

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]

May 12, 2026

Rheinard announces Awesomatix departure

Multiple World Champion Marc Rheinard has announced his departure from Awesomatix after six years with the manufacturer which only came into being at the height of the career of one RC racing’s true legends. The electric onroad star has been their lead driver since his departure from Infinity at the end of 2019, the initial deal to run Aersomatix done through his brother’s successful Tonisport business. While a fourth ISTC World title has eluded the German, achieving a podium in 2024 with the unique Oleg Babich designed touring car, they did enjoy plenty of successes including most recently the 2025 1:12 European title and the 2024 Electric Touring Car European title. In a post on his social media, Rheinard said, ‘Hey Friends, Today I would like to announce my departure from Awesomatix. A bit more than 6 years ago, Oleg gave me the chance to join his fantastic race team. At a time he backed me when I unfortunately did not have the best moments in my career and this will never be forgotten! I would like to specially thank Oleg as well as Max Mächler for great years with good success for all of us.’ With 2026 marking 22-years since he claimed his first World Championship, he added, ‘A true honour for me but now it is time to move on! I wish everyone in the team as well as the factory lots of success and I will always keep great memories in my mind! Last but most important, I’m happy that after talking to Max and Oleg we end our cooperation in a good way and keep the relationship positive. Thanks a lot for all and see you on track!’ With a huge following around the world, especially among Tamiya fans, it will be interesting to see what brand of car he will race next.

Source: Marc Rheinard [Facebook]

May 12, 2026

Power HD servos for Almonte

Leading servo manufacturer Power HD has announced that multiple ROAR Nitro Onroad Champion Jose R Almonte has officially joined its team. The factory Serpent driver, who took the 1:8 GT win at this year’s 50th anniversary Florida Winternats, will officially represent Power HD as part of his dual 1:10 and 1:8 GT racing program. On the announcement, the Dominican Republic racer, who other successes include the 2025 KO Propo Grand Prix, said, “I’m honoured to join Power HD. Their servos are known worldwide for their reliability, speed, and durability. I’m excited to represent Power HD on the track, fight for more championships!’

Source: PowerHD [chd.hk]

May 11, 2026

Balestri & Groskamp win ENS season opener

The latest season of the Euro Nitro Series kicked off at Minidrom Ettlingen in Germany over the weekend where it was double success for Infinity with Dario Balestri winning 1:8 and Jilles Groskamp winning 1:10. In 1:8 qualifying it was the Mugen Seiki of Simon Kurzbuch that set the pace, the Swiss driver topping all four qualifiers to secure TQ honours ahead of Balestri. Counting two P2 runs it was the Capricorn of reigning champion Toni Gruber who completed the Top 3 on the grid ahead of Serpent pairing Marco Weigerding and Mirko Salemi. In the 45-minute final, Kurzbuch would lead away but with 8-minutes done as the former World Champion exited pit lap after his second stop attempting to keep his lead he and Balestri made contact with the Italian land on his roof. While Kurzbach waited this allowed Gruber to the lead. The German would lead until the 25-minute to go mark when Balestri squeezed passed as the leader exited pit lane after refuelling. Unfortunately just after stopping for new tyres Gruber would suffer a problem retire in pit lane. This left Balestri to lead the race home for the final 20-minutes chased by Kurzbuch. Starting from 11th on the grid, Dutch Infinity driver Robbin Hertong completed the podium ahead Weigerding, Rick Vrielijnck, and ARC’s Silvio Hächler.

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May 9, 2026

Serpent legend Salven joins Ielasi Tuned

Ielasi Tuned engines has welcomed veteran 1:8 Onroad racer & Serpent legend Michael Salven to its team. The announcement was made at this weekend’s opening round of the 2026 Euro Nitro Series at Minidrom Ettlingen in Germany. A World Championship Top Qualifier, a European Champion, and multiple German Champion, Salven has been both successful as a racer, since joining Serpent in 1980, and as chief designer of their cars over the last three decades. In joining Daniele Ielasi’s engine brand, a racer with whom he enjoyed many on track battles, Salven joins Serpent’s star driver Andrea Catanzani in representing the Italian company and running their Pista Team Edition engine.

Source: Ielasi Tuned [ielasituned.com]

May 6, 2026

Branson returms to Nitro Onroad with Ielasi Tuned

Nitro Touring Car World Championship podium finisher Kyle Branson is to make a return to nitro racing with Ielasi Tuned engines. The British racer, who has been running competively in Electric Touring Car in recent years is making a come back to nitro in preparations for this year’s IFMAR Nitro Touring Car World Championship in Gubbio, Italy, this September. Branson who opened his 2026 season with a win at the opening round of this year’s British Electric Touring Car National Championship, achieved 2nd place at the 2018 Nitro Worlds in Miami behind Naoto Matsukura. On his deal with Ielasi Tuned, Branson said, ‘Huge thanks to Daniele and Sabrina for the trust in having me join their great team. From the first time I ran the engines I was super happy with the performance and Daniele’s track support is second to none. I’m looking forward to getting back in to nitro racing and can’t wait to hit the track soon.’

Source: Ielasi Tuned [ielasituned.com]

May 4, 2026

Nicholson wins NSW State Title

The New South Wales State Titles for 1:10 Electric Touring Car took place over the weekend with Schumacher’s Simon Nicholson taking the Modified title. Racing at the Australia’s most famous onroad track as host of two World Championships, 68 drivers made the trip to the John Grant International Raceway just outside Sydney. With 3 from 5 rounds of qualifying to count, it was 2024 National Champion Nicholson who secured the TQ topping two rounds. Behind him it was RC Maker’s Jeff Hamon who secured P2, the previous NSW Champion fastest in Q5. Also racing for RC Maker, young Lincoln Codd took the opening qualifier on his step up to Modified to completed the Top 3 on the grid. In the finals, Nicholson would win A1 & A2 to lock in the title. Qualifying P4, RC Maker’s Jeffrey Mackie would win A3 to finish runner up with team-mate Hamon completing the podium from Codd on tie break. In 13.5 Touring Car, ARC driver Marcus Askell took the title ahead of the Xray of Top Qualifier & National Champion Michael Stone. Awesomatix driver Tim Hilyear completed the podium.

Image: Simon Nicholson [Facebook]