January 1, 2025

Orlowski leaves Hobbywing and Sunpadow

While social media has been filled with news of driver departures from various sponsors, one of the hottest properties in electric racing in recent years, Michal Orlowski, has just announced the end of his very successful relationship with Hobbywing and Sunpadow.  The 23-year-old Polish driver joined Hobbywing for the 2022 season, also announcing at the end of 2021 he had joined Sunpadow batteries, and in that time took his first World title winning the 2023 IFMAR 1:12 World Championship.  He also finished runner-up at the ISTC Worlds in November to fellow Hobbywing driver Bruno Coelho.   In offroad he also achieved a 1:10 Offroad Worlds podium finish with both manufacturers and he is the reigning European 2WD 1:10 Offroad Champion.  Making the announcement, Orlowski posted, ‘As of 31st December 2024 I am no longer a Hobbywing and Sunpadow team driver.  I would like to thank both of these companies for the tremendous support over the past 3 years that we have worked together and their belief and trust in me.  These have been the most successful years of my life thus far, however I am extremely excited for what the future holds for me.  Look out for my new electronics and battery sponsors in the next few days!

Source: Michal Orlowski [Facebook]


December 31, 2024

Lemieux joins Hotrace Tyres

Italian tyre manufacturer Hotrace is wrapping up 2024 with the announcement that promising young US Offroad racer Chase Lemieux will represent the brand for the 2025 season and beyond.  The 18-year-old Xray driver, who took the 4WD Mod Buggy win at the U.S. Carpet Offroad Championships earlier this month and finished on the podium at this year’s ROAR Electric Carpet Offroad Nationals, will use Hotrace’s tyres, accessories and bodies from their LensBodies brand as part of both his 1:10 and 1:8 Offroad programs.

Source: Hotrace Tyres [hotracetyres.com]


December 31, 2024

Kobbevik promoted to Hobbywing Global team

Hobbywing has announced top international Norwegian offroad racer Daniel Kobbevik has been promoted to their international racing team.  The IFMAR World Championship finalist, who just before Christmas re-signed to continue with chassis sponsor Schumacher as team-mate to Michal Orlowski who is also a Hobbywing team driver, has in the past few years faced health issues that temporarily halted his RC racing career.  However, never giving up and with support from Hobbywing, he returned to the track over the past year and has regained his position as a top level driver.  Commenting on the announcement of his promotion to Hobbywing’s international race team, Kobbevik said, ‘I am really happy and proud to be a member of the Hobbywing Global team.  The guys behind the scenes are doing a great job and the performance of their products are amazing.  I am ready to work even harder to test and develop new stuff and get top results in the coming years.’

Source: Hobbywing [hobbywing.com]


December 31, 2024

PowerStar HV Low Profile Digital Servo

PowerStar, a brand of Vapon which also owns VP Pro and Team Saxo, has updated its PM-1805 Brushless Motor HV Low Profile Digital Servo.  The new version has inherited the high precision and high torque output characteristics of the PowerStar actuator, and can respond quickly and accurately to various control signals to provide accurate and reliable steering control.  The servo features a high efficiency brushless motor, double ball bearings and stainless steel teeth all housed in a high strength CNC all aluminium case with heat sink.   A high precision potentiometer is adopted to allow the use under wet or rainy conditions.   Suitable for 1:12 and 1:10th use, there will also be an aluminium steering arm for the servo made of high quality aluminium alloy material for excellent strength and lightweight characteristics.

Source: PowerStar [powerstar-racing.com]


December 31, 2024

MOD 5T Race Armor Front Arm Set

With owner Matt Olson’s own racing background in 1:5 Offroad racing, MOD has released this Race Armor Front Arm Set for the Losi 5T with both the racer and basher in mind.  This will complete the arm needs for the Losi 5T when coupled with MOD’s previously released Race Armor Rear Arm Set.  Teaming up with Turtle Racing to produce the 100% made in the USA proven durability arms, a new feature of the MOD version is they have a machined in limit strap support at leverage point adjacent to shock angle.  These will be a must for the Enduro Truck for the Fear Farm Enduro Cross at the MOD Championship Series opener at Fear Farm at the end of January!

Source: MOD [modspeedshop.com]


December 30, 2024

Atomic MRX ‘Master Edition’ 1:28 pan car

1:28 specialist manufacturer RC Atomic is kicking of 2025 with the release of the MRX ‘Master Edition’ chassis kit.  Based on the double PNWC 2024 title winning chassis MRX, the Hong Kong manufacturer has further refined the design of the car and made the centre of gravity extremely low.  This kit allows users to choose between from the traditional horizontal battery and the straight battery configurations.  In horizontal configuration, battery and equipment’s mass are more centralised and car handling will be more aggressive, and it is suitable for small tight tracks.  In Straight battery configuration, mass will be slightly moved away from the centre line and the centre damper is at its lowest position.  This configuration makes the car more difficult to flip over from traction roll and more stable in high-speed flow tracks.

View Features & more images here


December 30, 2024

ONG D3 Carbon Fibre 1:8 Diff Stand

Offroad World Champion Davide Ongaro’s ONG brand has added this new carbon fibre 1:8 differential stand to its line-up of accessories.  Easy to flatpack for storage & transportation, the stand consists of carbon base and diff holder plate that are assembled using two machined aluminium pillars.  As a finishing touch the top plate is engraved with the ONG logo.

Source: ONG [davideongaro.it]


December 30, 2024

Phend’s move to Xray confirmed

Xray has confirmed that US Offroad force Dakotah Phend has joined its factory team, the Slovakian manufacturer confirming the American shortly after it announced the departure of its star driver Bruno Coelho.   Xray has been without a top driver in the US since the departure of Ty Tessman at the start of the 2024 when the Canadian former World Champion announced time on his career.  With the demise of the TLR Factory Team and Phend announcing the end of a 19-year stint with iconic US brand, his confirmation at Xray ends one of the most discussed and talked about silly seasons in RC in years.   On the announcement Phend said, ‘The time in my career has come to make a change, reset, and rejuvenate for the upcoming years.  Change is hard but sometimes necessary.  I feel like I still have a lot left to give to the RC community and I’m not ready to be done yet.  I’ve done a lot of thinking and reflecting these past few months and with that in mind I’m beyond excited to be working with XRAY/RC America for the 2025 season and beyond.  There dedication and drive to building race vehicles and competing at the highest level in RC is 2nd to none and I can’t wait to get to the races and show how they can elevate my program.  A special thanks goes to everyone behind the scenes at XRAY & RC America that made this opportunity possible.  I will be competing at all the major 1/10th and 1/8th events this year including the National and World Championships!  I can’t wait to hit the track and I’ll see everyone there!’

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]