January 2, 2024

Zanchettin joins Xray

Xray has announced that multiple Italian National Champion Alex Zanchettin is joining its team and will race their XB8 platform.  Zanchettin had previously raced for the Mayako team signing for them at the beginning of 2022 but in 2023 made an appearance as part of the ongoing Infinity Offroad project when he joined lead driver Riccardo Berton for The Italian Race during the Summer.  Commenting on the Xray announcement Zanchettin said, “I’m so proud to join such prestigious and ambitious brand like Xray.  I always looked up to Xray for dedication to work and for their winning attitude and I’m sure that hard work and their top quality products will be the key to achieve our common goals. Can’t wait to see you all at the track again”.

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]


January 2, 2024

RUDDOG RR36X Touring Car Asphalt Tyres

RUDDOG Racing has added to its 1:10 Touring Car tyre range with the introduction of RR36X asphalt tyres.  Developed in close collaboration with the RUDDOG Racing Team, these premium performance tyres are specially designed for asphalt tracks and guarantee impressive performance that remains consistent over multiple runs. With superior grip and durability, they are sold as a pack of four pre-glued tyres.

Source: Ruddog [ruddog.eu]


January 2, 2024

Sparko Racing announces Cavalieri for 2024

1:8 Offroad newcomer Sparko Racing has announced that Ryan Cavalieri is to run their buggies in 2024.  After a brief 12-month stint with the Italian brand WIRC Racing for his 1:8 programme, the multiple Electric Offroad World Champion joins the Taiwanese brand who look to expand internationally and in particular in the US, a key market for 1:8 Offroad.  On social media Sparko Racing said, ‘We are proud to announce World Champion, Ryan Cavalieri has joined Sparko racing team! Ryan will be racing the Sparko F8 and F8e buggy at USA national races and international events as well.  With his wealth of experience and achievements, it will be help in product evolution and brand expansion in USA and across the world!’  Just before Christmas, Cavalieri confirmed he would be continuing with Schumacher for another year as his main 1:10 Offroad programme.

Source: Sparko Racing [Facebook] 


January 2, 2024

2024 EFRA Homologated Motor Lists

EFRA, the governing body for RC racing in Europe, has just published updated Homologated Motor lists for 2024 for all electric racing categories.  Competitors looking to compete at Europrean Championship and EFRA GP events in 1:12, 1:10 Touring Cars and 1:10 Offroad classes can only use Brushless Motors that are included on the 2024 EFRA Homologation Lists, a procedure that began in 2016.  When a motor (or rotor) has been approved and included on the relative list, the manufacturer must not change the technical specification, visual appearance or description.  Any changes require a new part number and the motor (or rotor) will have to be resubmitted for approval.  Drivers are also not allowed to make any changes to the motor, something that happened in Pro Stock at the 2022 European Championships when two driver’s motors were ‘found not to comply with the submitted samples to the EFRA Spec Homologation Lists’ promoting Olivier Bultynck to Champion.  Homologation has caused a number of manufacturers issues recently with team drivers having to switch motors or batteries at recent World Championships as their sponsors’ where not IFMAR approved.  ROAR, the North American governing body, has had a number of high profile cases where motors where randomly purchased and tested and found to not meet the specification of the original submitted motor that was approved for its sanctioned events.  A standard many independent races run by, the offending motors had their motors removed from the approved list.  View the full EFRA Motor Homologation lists here.

Source: EFRA [efra.ws]


January 2, 2024

Ielasi Tuned cylinder extractor

After its hugely successful World Championship winning season last year, Ielasi Tuned kicks off 2024 with the release of its new cylinder extractor.  Presenting a CAD image of the product concept last May, the Italian company have spent the time since getting the product perfected with Daniele Ielasi knowing a thing or two about rebuilding engines and having extracted one or two liners in his time as an engine tuner!  Since 2022 Ielasi Tuned have by technical choice started using a ‘tight fit’ cylinder for their engines which has proven to be a very important step for reliability.  A side effect of this is unfortunately that not all customers find it easy to be able to carry out the classic maintenance on their engine as it was very difficult to be able to remove the cylinder from the crankcase.  This is precisely the reason they came up with the idea for creating this extractor.  It is made entirely of steel with a ‘spring steel collet which makes it reliable and long-lasting and is sold in its own dedicated carry case.  Available from the 15th of January, you can watch a presentation video here.

Source: Ielasi Tuned [ielasituned.com]


January 2, 2024

Gruber to run Power HD servos

Power HD has announced that 1:8 GT World Champion Toni Gruber is to run their servos as part of his 2024 race packages.  The German enjoyed a hugely successful 2023 season winning the World Championship in Australia with Hong Nor and then finishing runner-up in the 1:8 Onroad World Championship in Japan with Capricorn.  For the new season, Gruber will use Power HD’s lighter and faster S15 as part of his 1:8 and 1:10 nitro onroad race programmes with this year being a World Championship year for 1:10 Nitro Touring Car.  On the news of him joining the Power HD team line-up Gruber said, ‘2024 starts for me with a big announcement.  I am really looking forward to work together with Power HD for the next 2 years.  I will be using there servos in my 1/8 & 1/10 nitro on-road car for all coming races.  Can’t wait to hit the track with them!’

Source: PowerHD [chd.hk]


January 2, 2024

AGFRC Waterproof Alu Case Micro Digital Servo

Servo manufacturer AGFRC has released a new full aluminium waterproof standard metal 25T spline sub micro servo, the A19DLM.  After repeated testing and modifications, this tiny servo gets upgraded materials and workmanship to created a high end digital micro servo.  With robust metal structure and gear set, this servo can deliver 4KG.CM (55.6oz-in) super high torque and 0.088sec/60°speed at 8.4V even in this compact size.  Easy to install in limit space for lock dig shift usage in different scale model such as 1:18 , 1:10, 1:8 etc.  Programmable feature also allow for different users to find the suitable data for their applications.  The A19DLM servo is the perfect upgrade for your Traxxas TRX-4 or TRX-6 Crawler, Axial SCX10 III, Capra, or 1:18 TRX4M and Absima 1:10 or 1:8 EP Crawlers.

View Features & Specs here


January 2, 2024

Tessman calls time on career after 20-years of racing

2014 1:8 Buggy World Champion Ty Tessman has called time on an impressive career that puts him up there among the greats of offroad racing.  The Canadian announced the decision to retire from the sport after 20-years of racing as he is set to become a father in 2024.  Never an easy decision for any sports professional who has dedicate their live to achieving success, the decision by Xray to drop him at the end of 2023 after a 7-year partnership would certainly have played a factor in his departure from the sport.  A driver who only represented two manufacturers during his extensive career, Tessman paid tribute to Hot Bodies for giving him the opportunity to turn professional in the sport with his father Gord and mother Leann a pivotal part of the ‘Team Tessman’ journey, the highlight of which was his World title win in Italy 10-years ago.  Having witnessed and reported on many of Ty greatest wins over the years, Red RC would like to thank the Tessmans for the memories (late cold nights at the Dirt Nitro Challenge pitting in the Pro-Line tent particular stand outs!!) of some epic race battles and wish Ty all the best in his new family life.  Who knows maybe the story will repeat itself in years to come.

Read Ty’s full announcement here