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.

Winning 3 X World titles with Tamiya makes me happy & proud and I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to everybody at Tamiya, especially to Mr.S Tamiya. Without his help and trust in me I wouldn’t have been in the position to enjoy these truly great moments. Special thanks goes out to TAKAYUKI KONO, KIYO SUZUKI and SATOSHI MAEZUMI for being my mechanics and for their help with everything not just on but also off the track.

Also the team-mates I had at TRF over the years (Surikarn, Viktor Wilck, Jilles Groskamp, Christopher Krapp, Akio Sobue, Naoto Matsukura, Lee Martin) made all this possible as we worked really well and hard together. Just a big thanks to all of you.

Last but not least I want to thank my wonderful family for all the support from the beginning until now. Without them, i wouldn’t be where I am now. It is sooooo important to have a good working family, who always stands behind you, in good and most important in bad times. THANKS!

Here some of the victories I could achieve proudly representing Tamiya over the years –

– 7 times Indoor and Outdoor German National Champion TC ( 2002, 2003, 2004, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2015 )
– 3 times European Champion TC
– 1 time European Champion 1/10 4wd Buggy ( 2009 )
– 3 times World Champion TC ( 2004, 2008, 2010 )
– 1 time ETS Champion ( 2010 )
– 5 times LRP Master Winner ( 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 )
– 1 time TITC Bangkok Winner ( 2005 )
– 2 times DHI Cup Winner ( 2006, 2009 )
– 5 times Reedy Race of Champions Winner ( 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015 )

I still can’t believe after such a long time with Tamiya I am faced with driving for a different company, but in 2017 I will go on with a new company where I hope on this new adventure I can add some more titles to my list.

I depart Tamiya with tears in my eyes as it wasn’t my decision to leave this iconic RC company. Unfortunately I had no choice and I hope a statement from Tamiya will follow soon.

An announcement on my 2017 plans will come early in the New Year but for now I want to take this opportunity to wish all of my friends and fans around the world a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!