Red RC

February 10, 2025

Hara joins RC Maker for TITC

As it comes up to a year since Ryan Maker gave a prototype of his first ever RC Maker car its international debut at the 2024 TITC, the Australian manufacturer has announced that legend of the sport Atsushi Hara will race the now production SP-1 1:10 electric touring car at the famous Bangkok race. A deal put together by RC Maker’s Japanese distributor Zero Tribe, who are also a personal sponsor of Hara, the Japanese driver shares the honour of being the most winning TITC driver along with reigning Champion Bruno Coelho. The 21st edition of the TITC will see both drivers debut with new manufacturers as Coelho takes on his first race with Infinity and their all new car. Maker has opted to not race himself this year and instead wil focus on supporting his team drivers who will now also benefit from Hara’s vast experience. While some drivers are already making their way to the Thai capital to beginning their preparations for the most coveted title in touring car outside of the World Championship, the event officially runs from February 20-23rd.

Source: RC Maker [rcmaker.com.au]

February 10, 2025

Team Titan 1:10 lightweight body stiffener

New from Team Titan is this stiffener set for lightweight 1:10 bodyshells. Made using PLA and carbon fibre rod, it can mounted inside the bodyshell your double sided tape or body glue. Making the lightweight bodyshell more stable at top speed and in high-speed sweep corners, each stiffener weighs 1-gram meaning a total installation weight of just 2-grams.

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February 10, 2025

Serpent Viper 990e EVO 1:8 EP

Serpent has updated its 1:8 Electric Onroad platform with the release of the Viper 990E Evo. As with the 990 Evo Nitro car, they have updated the front and rear arms and added their flex shock mounts which have proven to work extremely well in the nitro car. These new shock mounts offer the possibility to add more flex by removing the connecting carbon brackets. It is also now possible to change the shock angle on the inner mounting position in small 1mm steps. The new front arms feature a carbon downstop lever which gives a much more accurate and consistent downstop setting. Another addition is a new bumper which is an aerodynamic improvement while also giving more support to the bodyshell. It also is a lot more resistant to bending and reduces weight by almost 10-grams.

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February 9, 2025

Kaerup wins on MIBO debut, Zaleswski adds 2WD title

Travelling to MIBO International for the first this weekend Team Associated Danish talent Marcus Kaerup returns home from the Czech Republic with an updated CV and additional silverware after securing the win in 4WD and runner-up spot in 2WD, that title going to the Xray of last year’s 4WD Champion Bartek Zaleswski. While Michal Orlowski’s plans to race both onroad and offroad at Michal Bok’s unique event didn’t materialise, the competition on the offroad track was still fierce between Kaerup, Zaleswski and Schumacher’s Daniel Kobbevik the end result seeing the trio play music chairs in terms of the podium other between categories. In 4WD, Kearup secured the TQ honours while Kobbevik secure the 2WD pole but Zaleswski sent of message of intent with his double TQ run in Sunday morning’s fifth & final qualifier ahead of the triple finals. In 4WD a gamble on new tyres gave Kaerup the A1 win ahead of Zaleswski. While his rivals brought out their new rubber for A2, a calculated performance on his one run older tyres saw Kaerup stretch an early lead which he then worked on maintaining to the end to wrap up an early overall win. While Sworkz’s Micha Widmaier won A3, leaving three drivers equal of 5-points, the tie breaker gave Kobbevik 2nd and Zaleswki third ahead of the Austrian.

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February 9, 2025

Volker dominates in Czech to retake MIBO title

Ronald Volker has dominated the third edition of MIBO International, the Mugen Seiki driver sending his rivals a clear signal that the former World Champion and his new MTC3 are going to be a serious force to be reckoned with in 2025. With Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski calling the German’s performance in Czech ‘a wake up for us’, after topping all five rounds of qualifying it looked like the finals were just going to be a Sunday formality to Volker picking up his second MIBO International winners trophy. Even contact with a lapped car couldn’t help his rivals get anywhere near challenging him for the lead let alone the win. A2 however would be the first time we wouldn’t see the MTC3 top the result sheets, a pile up on another section of the track sending Adam Iszay’s Xray into Volker’s path and with a body tuck he feel down the order before pulling off. Orlowski took the leg win as a result of the chaos ahead of Patrick Gollner, the new Mugen signing further highlighting the potential of the Robert Pietsch designed car. With outside trouble managing to avoid him in A3, Volker sealed the deal with half a lap advantage over Orlowski – widely recognised as the current benchmark in touring car especially on carpet. Giving Mugen double reason to celebrate, Gollner secured the final step on the podium ahead of Yokomo’s Christopher Krapp and Xray’s Adam Iszay, the latter, like Volker, retaking the Pro Stock title he won at the inaugural MIBO International in 2023.

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February 9, 2025

Kaerup & Kobbeik Top Qualifiers at MIBO International

Kicking off Mains day at MIBO International with the fifth & final qualifier, it would not net any changes in terms of who will be starting on pole in the Czech Republic, Marcus Kaerup keeping the overall TQ in 4WD while Daniel Kobbevik repeated his 2024 TQ of 2WD. With 3 from 5 to count, drivers first battle of the day was to decide 2WD with Kaerup needing a TQ run and the fastest time of the weekend to deny Kobbevik, the scenario reversed for 4WD. While Kaerup started well, his Team Associated running at the top of the timing screens he touched a pipe and rolled ending his change as Bartosz Zaleswski took the round ahead of Martin Bayer to secure P3 on the grid. In 4WD, with Kaerup on 3rd run tyres, Kobbevik moved quickly to the front on track but it defending Champion Zaleswski who had the fastest buggy. The only one dipping into 16-second lap times, he kicked off his day with a second TQ run finishing almost 6-seconds clear of Kobbevik who got a P2 for the round. Again the 18-year-old will be the leading Xray challenger also lining up P3 in 4WD.

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February 9, 2025

Dong joins Team EAM in Battery Application role

Best known as the face of Hobbywing around the world, Salton Dong is to compliment that role by joining US battery brand Team EAM as a Battery Application Expert and Asian Team Manager. This further strengthens Team EAM’s presence in the Asian market and enhancing its battery technology expertise. Additionally, the company he manages, XCRC, has been appointed as the official distributor for the Asia-Pacific region. With years of experience in battery applications, Salton brings a wealth of knowledge in optimising battery performance for RC racing. His deep industry expertise will be instrumental in expanding Team EAM’s reach and driving new product development. In making the announcement Team EAM stated, ‘We are excited to welcome Salton to Team EAM. His expertise in battery applications, market strategy, and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to expand and push the boundaries of battery performance in the industry.’

Source: Team EAM [teameamotorsports.com]

February 8, 2025

Kobbevik & Kaerup hold overnight TQ at MIBO

Daniel Kobbevik and Marcus Kaerup hold the overnight Offroad TQs at MIBO International with one round of qualifying to go but it was very contrasting finishes to the day’s action for the pair. For Kobbevik the penultimate round of qualifying saw the Schumacher driver do the double topping the time for both 2WD and 4WD. For Kaerup however his day ended with a bang as he clipped a track marker resulted in what he described himself as a ‘major break’ on his Team Associated. Having TQ’d the second 2WD qualifying the time of fastest time of the day Q4 TQ run means the Norwegian holds the top on the rankings having finished the day equal on points with Kaerup who took the other two rounds. Now a two way shot out for the pole position, Kaerup needs to take Q5 and better Kobbevik’s time. In 4WD Kaerup was the only driver to manage to double his TQ tally taking Q3 after opening qualifying with the fastest run. While Czech Sworkz driver Dominik Vlášek surprised with a TQ run in Q2, it is also going to be a battle of Scandinavians for the 4WD pole position, Kobbevik needing a TQ that is quicker that than set by Kaerup in Q3. Behind them, top seed for both categories and the defending 4WD Champion Bartek Zalewski completes the overnight Top 3 in 2WD with his Xray with the Polish driver still not happy with the performance of his buggies since qualifying started. In 4WD it is the Sworkz of Micha Widmaier in third, the Austrian looking very competitive as he ended the day with a P2 despite a late mistake.

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