Red RC » R On Road

December 5, 2023

FIRC announces FEMCA VP Kee as Race Director

The organisers of the Foshan International Invitational RC Championship, which takes place on December 15-17 at the new GDC Indoor track in China’s central Guangdong Province, has announced FEMCA Vice President Leonard Kee as Race Director and race commentator of the inaugural running of the event. The race which aims to promote high level racing to local racers, has attracted a number of high profile international entries including former World Champion Ronald Volker from Mugen Seiki, Xpress team driver & 1:12 World Finalist Yugo Nagashima, and Team Yokomo’s Australian National Champion Simon Nicholson. FEMCA, the governing body of radio-controlled car racing in Asia and Australasia that represents 15 nations, is looking to boost racing in the region following Covid, with Kee’s attendance a big boost for both FEMCA and the event which hopes to become an annual international electric touring car fixture. On the announcement Kee, who was the Race Announcer for the 1:8 GT World Championship in Australia said, “Hi All, I’m Leonard you can call me Leo. I’m the Vice President of FEMCA. Am absolutely thrilled to be heading to one of the premier carpet tracks in Asia for their inaugural race, The 2023 Foshan International Invitational RC Championship as their Race Director as well as race commentator. One of my tasks for this race is to evaluate the feasibility of the Foshan venue for upcoming regional and world events. It’s going to be a blast. I look forward to seeing my friends from the RC world there.”

Source: Foshan International Invitational RC Championship [Facebook]

December 4, 2023

Greiner announces retirement from nitro racing

One of the outright fastest nitro onroad drivers of the last decade, 2016 1:10 Onroad World Champion Dominic Greiner has announced his retirement from nitro racing. In an interview with the German last year ahead of the 1:10 Nitro Onroad World Championship in Thailand, the Capricorn driver highlighted the growing difficulty of trying to remain competitive while also holding down a full time job. Having made a very emotional 6th World Championship Final appearance at the 1:8 Worlds in Japan which was won by his long time sparring partner Dario Balestri, Greiner made the announcement on social media that after 15-years in nitro racing he was calling time on it. A driver who always wore his emotions on his sleeve, his retirement will leave a big void in the nitro onroad racing scene. Having witnessed first hand the highlight of his World title win in Gubbio which came after a flawless performance in the final, we also had the opportunity to experience his raw emotion of making the final in Japan last month where he hinted at it being his final race. Red RC would like to thank Dominic for the great memories, emotions and laughs shared together around the world over the years.

Read Greiner’s full post here

December 4, 2023

D’Angelo crowned Italian 1:8 GT Nitro Champion

Genius Racing’s Alex D’angelo is the 2023 AMSCI Italian 1:8 GT Nitro National Champion. Top Qualifier at the 1:8 GT World Championship in Australia in October, he secured the title with a second place finish behind Schepis Model driver Rosario Giaimo at the third & final round of the championship at Miniautodromo Vallelunga RC. Going into the season finale, a number of drivers remained in contention for the title including Round 2 winner & Raptor driver Loris Luise, Xray’s Natanaele Senesi and Capricorn’s Alessio Mazzeo. In qualifying it was Mazzeo who took the TQ from Senesi and D’angelo but in the 45-minute final it was Giaimo from p9 on the grid who came through for the race win ahead of D’angelo and Mazzeo, second being enough for the Gimar engine GT8.23 of D’angelo to secure the title. In 1:8 GTe, it was also Mazzeo who also took the TQ honours again from Senesi and he duly converted it into the win after taking both A1 and A2 to secure the overall 2023 title for Capricorn.

Image: Alex D’angelo [Facebook]

December 1, 2023

Matsukura takes on Velodrome with 120kph lap

Multiple World Champion Naoto Matsukura took on something a bit different recently when he ran a 120kph average lap of the Komatsushima Velodrome in Shikoku, Japan, with his Infinity IF14 Electric Touring Car thanks to his electrics sponsor ORCA. Pro-Spec owner Kenji Hosoda arranged the event with the banked cycling track owners as a test event with a view running regular RC events in the future. With the country having more than 40 tracks, which are normally used for Keirin cycling races, there is big potential for RC speed events. A 400-metre track, and using a 3.5 turn motor with a 200A ORCA ESC for power, Matsukura completed his single flying lap of the heavily banked track in 12.1 seconds. Like Keirin racing, he was led out on his first lap by a Toyota Supra bodied pace car complete with flashing roof lights before making his speed attempt on lap 2. Matsukura will be sharing the experience shortly on his YouTube channel.

View track images here

November 30, 2023

1:12 Worlds coverage presented by Radbody

For the fourth & final IFMAR World Championship of 2023, Red RC is excited to announced that our coverage of the 1:12 World Championship at Beachline Raceway in Cocoa, Florida, next week will be presented by Radbody. The new 1:24 and 1:12 body shell producer is making it possible for us to attend our first 1:12 Worlds since China 2016 when Marc Rheinard won the first of his 2 World titles in the category. Winning his second title in the UK in 2020, Rheinard will try to defend that title at what will be the 21st running of the championship. Attracting a total of 80 entries, 22 drivers will battle it our for the Modified honours with Rheinard’s title set to be challenged by both 2020 podium finishers Michal Orlowski and Yoshiyasu Yanagisawa, 2018 World Champion & reigning European Champion Alexander Hagberg, top North American drivers Sam Isaacs, Keven Hebert and ROAR Champion Kemp Anderson, Britain’s Ollie Payne and Japan’s Hayato Ishioka just to name a few. With inaugural 1:12 Spec World Champion Andy Murray absent from the entry list there will be a new Champion crowned for the category in Florida. Our coverage from the United States will begin on Wednesday, December 6th, with news from practice and continuing with the unfolding of the championship over the following 3 days.

November 27, 2023

1:12 Worlds Broadcast team announcement

With just over a week to go until the start of the IFMAR 1:12 World Championship in the United States, Elite Productions has announced the team that it will use to bring its livestream broadcast of the 21st running of the title that will be decided at Beachline Raceway in Cocoa, Florida. Elite Productions became a reality through the efforts of Lance MacDonald who skilfully assembled individuals from diverse areas of RC Racing, uniting their talents to produce top-tier events. Heading the Worlds broadcast will be Keenan White who is better known as Lefty the Great and the person behind ‘The No Name RC Podcast’. With over 30 years in the sport, commenting on the announcement Lefty said, ‘It is an honor for me to be apart of the upcoming IFMAR 1/12 World Championship coming up in December. It has been a pleasure to be a part of the Elite RC Production crew as we strive to bring RC Raving enthusiasts the best possible coverage we can. I am excited to see some of the best racers in the onroad genre of RC battle each other in the carpet coliseum that is Beachline RC Raceway! Good luck to all the competitors and let’s get ready for some epic racing! Red RC is also excited to be making the trip to Florida next week to cover our fourth & final World Championship event of 2023.

Meet the rest of the team here

November 27, 2023

Harris is ’23 RCRA Australian LS National Champion

Australia’s Large Scale touring car young gun Cooper Harris has won the 2023 RCRA Australian National Championship. This year’s RCRA National title was decided at the Radio Racing Cars S.A. Inc. track in Littlehampton, South Australia and in qualifying it was reigning Champion Andy Bishop who secured the TQ ahead of Harris and Craig Hawkins in 3rd. With a clean and competitive half hour final, the battle for the win lasted the entire race with 17-year-old Harris posting the fastest lap on his way to securing 1st place with his Mecatech Fwo1 SWB powered by Abbate engine and PMT Tires. Joining Harris on the podium was MCD driver Andy Bishop in 2nd with third place going to George Tsakanias driving a Genius chassis. Next year Australia will host the IFMAR Large Scale World Championship from October 20th to 27th in Sydney.

Source: Cooper Harris [Facebook]

November 27, 2023

Branson wins Rug Racers Round 2

Round 2 of the Rug Racers indoor series in the UK took place over the weekend where it was Xray team driver Kyle Branson who took the win from Yokomo’s Alex Thurston. Organised by Hertford Radio Car Club, qualifying for the second of the five races that make up the long running series latest season saw Branson secure the TQ ahead of Thurston and the Xray of Round 1 winner Harley Eldridge. With a double final format, Branson took A1 by 3-seconds from Thurston but that order was reversed in A2 with Thurston getting the win by 1/10th of second. With thanks to his faster A1 winning time it was Branson who took the overall win. Eldridge would complete the podium on tie breaker with the Schumacher of Chris Grainger. With a field of 40 cars, in 17.5 Blinky it Zak Finlay who took his Xray to victory ahead of Ricky Copsey and Billy Fletcher. In FWD, which had 37 entries the win went to Jamie Hickin.

Image: Kyle Branson [Facebook]