February 4, 2025

LHo Racing PIP Aero APEX carbon body mount

LHo Racing, the brand founded by leading German onroad racer & Shepherd team driver Lars Hoppe, has expanded its line-up of high-performance carbon fibre body mounts.  In addition to the already popular and widely used mounts for Blitz and Matrix bodies, LHo now introduces a new range designed specifically for the new unique shape of the PIP Aero APEX body shell.  These ultra-lightweight mounts provide a perfect fit, reducing body flex and increasing downforce for improved stability on the track.  Available for Shepherd, Capricorn, and ARC chassis, they offer racers a competitive edge with enhanced aerodynamics.

Source: LHo Racing [lho-racing.de]


February 3, 2025

Reds Racing 721 Superveloce PRO-X Factory Team

As a follow-up to the release of the Limited Edition Gold version last September, Italian engine tuner Reds Racing has announced the addition of the 721 Superveloce PRO-X Factory Team to its competition engine line-up for 2025.  This latest evolution builds upon the success of their Limited Edition Gold version and stands as a testament to their team’s success throughout 2024.  Just like its limited edition precursor, the engine features an Ultra Tuned Crankshaft and sleeve by Mario Rossi.  This special tuning to the crankshaft increases engine power noticeably while maintaining excellent fuel mileage.  The crankshaft is hand-rebalanced to minimise vibration at high speeds.  Reds Racing’s RTX Rotating Backplate reduces friction between the connecting rod and backplate, improving stability at idle, boosting engine power, and optimising fuel efficiency for extended runtime.  A new Cooling Head Design features a lower centre of gravity for enhanced car handling, superior aerodynamics for reduced drag, and improved cooling efficiency.  High-Protection Bearings include a double-seal front bearing for durability and stability, along with a 9-ball rear ceramic bearing for reliability under extreme conditions.

Source: Reds Racing [reds-racing.com]


February 3, 2025

2025 IFMAR 1:8 Elec. Offroad Worlds – Stage 1 Report

IFMAR has published the Stage 1 Report for the inaugural 1:8 Electric Offroad World Championship confirming the first World title of 2025 will be decided in Portugal from August 26-30th.  With Spain hosting the 19th running of the 1:8 Nitro Buggy Worlds last September, their Southern European neighbours will open this new chapter in offroad racing as Associação Clube Moto Galos Barcelos host the first eBuggy Worlds at their 310m track in Barcelos, which is located in the north of the country.  While the World Cup Race hosted last April, a precursor to establishing a World Championship for a class, struggled to attract entries, given the growing significance of the 1:8 eBuggy market and the lure of a World title, all the leading manufacturers and their star drivers are expected to travel to Barcelos one month before making the trip to Sydney, Australia for the 1:10 Offroad Worlds.  Having previously hosted the 2022 EFRA 1:8 Nitro Buggy European Championship, won by former World Champion David Ronnefalk, and home to the annual International Buggy Challenge (IBC), won in 2023 by World Championship Top Qualifier Juan Carlos Canas, the home track of World Championship finalist Joao Figueiredo is sure to put on an event that reflects the significance of this new World Championship.  Red RC is looking forward to making the trip to Portugal in August for this new WC which is the first of four stops on our 2025 IFMAR World Championship coverage tour.

View Stage 1 Report here


February 3, 2025

Castellanos & Bruneau win at FORGASS Rd3

On the week before the prestige annual Florida Winternats event, the third round of the long running Florida Onroad Gas State Series (FORGASS) was held at the Nuggets Ranch Raceway in Arcadia, Florida.  With many racers using it as practice for the upcoming 49th running of the Winternats, there was a good attendance and in 1:10 Sedan it was the Infinity of Junior Castellanos that dominant all weekend.  Topping every qualifier to start the half hour final as Top Qualifier, Castellanos pulled clear of his rivals in the race having a 2-lap advantage over Will Carrera, debuting his new Capricorn LAB C04, at the finish.  Despite suffering multiple setbacks in the race, Infinity driver Jerry Guerra was able to recover and steal third place to complete the podium.  In 1:8 Open, it was Shepherd driver Alex Esser who set the early qualifying pace but setting the fastest 4-minute time in the 3rd of the four qualifiers Capricorn driver Joachim Bruneau took the TQ ahead of Esser.  While Esser would get to the front and lead for the majority of the final, he retired with 5-minutes to go handing the lead and win to Bruneau with the Mugen Seiki of Steve Hernandez finishing second as nitro onroad stalwart Greg Esser’s Shepherd filled the final step on the podium.

View 1:8 podium here


February 3, 2025

O.S. MAX-R21 VER.2 1:8 Onroad engine

Japanese engine manufacturer O.S. Engines has released its latest .21 1:8 Onroad engine, the MAX-R21 VER.2.  The blue head Max series, with new laser design, is developed for 1:8 onroad racing to offer excellent cost performance that can be easily used in races for entry level to sports users.  The crankshaft and carburettor have been revised from the previous model for more ease of use.  Coming complete with an RP7 plug, exhaust seal ring, dust cap set (3mm/16mm/18mm), flywheel collet and 8.5mm reducer (purple), the engine is also offered as a combo with an EFRA2165 pipe set.

View Specs & more images here


February 2, 2025

Hagberg doubles at Snowbird Nationals

Xray’s Alexander Hagberg has doubled at the world famous Snowbird Nationals in Orlando, Florida, the Swede becoming the new Modified 1:12 and Touring Car Champion at the 31st edition of the race.  With 2024 1:12 Champion Donny Lia not attending this year’s event, the battle in 1:12 would be between former World Champion Hagberg, World Championship Top Qualifier Kemp Anderson and ROAR Champion Keven Herbert.  Over the 4 rounds of qualifying Hagberg set the fastest time in Q3 to secure the TQ ahead of Anderson’s Awesomatix which also had its best run in the penultimate round.  Over the single 8-minute A-Main Hagberg led from tone to tone and while Anderson and Hebert swapped position early on, it was the former who finished runner-up almost 1- lap down.  In Touring Car, defending Champion Hebert would line up third as Hagberg secured the TQ from MonTech New York Grand Prix Anderson.  Over the 5-minute race decider, setting the fastest lap of the race Hagberg would extend his advantage over Anderson by 3.4-seconds, the Top 5 positions on the grid remaining unchanged at the finish.

Image: Alexander Hagberg [Facebook]


February 2, 2025

Kilic wins 4WD at EOS

Mugen Seiki/LRP team driver Burak Kilic has taken the 4WD Buggy win at the EOS Race in Daun, German, the Turkish racer denying the former multiple race series’ reigning Champion Michal Orlowski from winning the now single stand alone race event.  In qualifying it was the Schumacher of Orlowski who secured the overall TQ from the Xrays of David Ronnefalk and Bartosz Zalewski with Kilic lining up P4 on the grid.  In the opening A-Main, Orlowski made the race look like just a formality while Kilic got through to finish second almost 5-seconds back.  A2 however would see a dramatic start as Orlowski and Ronnefalk’s buggies ended up tangled together allowing Polish talent Zalewski to go to the front.  Despite pressure from Orlowski in the closing stages, the 18-year-old stayed out front to win by 8/10ths with 2WD EOS Winner Marcus Kaerup, who qualified P8, finishing in third.  A3 would again see first lap drama as Orlowski and Ronnefalk touched with Kilic coming out in front after further contact in the next corner.  From there Kilic led from Zalewski, Orlowski and Ronnefalk before a mistake from Zalewski ended his chances of the title.  Next it was the turn of Orlowski to pile the pressure on Kilic until he ran wide allowing Ronnefalk passed and despite the Swede best efforts over the last minute of the race Kilic held on for the A3 win and overall victory.  Orlowski would finish runner-up with Zalewski completing the podium.

Image: Berkan Kilic [Facebook]


January 31, 2025

Kaerup wins 2WD at EOS

Team Associated’s Marcus Kaerup has opened his 2025 season with victory at the EOS race in Daun, Germany.  Previously a multiple round series, Kaerup a previous Euro Offroad Series round winner, for 2025 the EOS is a one off event which opened with 2WD action on the temporary Racestars built indoor carpet track.  In qualifying it was reiging Euro Offroad Series Champion Michal Orlowski, with 3 TQs from the 4 rounds, who was the Top Qualifier from Kaerup, who topped Q3, with his returning for 2025 AE team-mate Clement Boda completing the Top 3.  In the triple finals, A1 saw a great battle between the Top 2 as Kaerup put the Schumacher driver under pressure until Orlowski clipped a board on landing which was enough for the 17-year-old Dane to get through for the win from team-mate Tommy Hall as the pole sitter dropped down the order.  In A2 reigning European Champion Orlowski led from start to finish winning by 2.6-seconds from Kaerup meaning it would all come down to A3.  Locked in another super close battle at the front, Kaerup would make contact with the leader which would result in the Pole’s buggy ending up on its roof.  While Kaerup waited from Orlowski to retake his lead, this bunched back up the field before a mistake from Orlowski dropped him down order as Kaerup took the A3 win from Daniel Kobbevik to claim the overall 2WD win.  Despite having to count his A1 P5, Orlowski would finish runner-up with Kobbevik completing the podium ahead of new 2025 Schumacher recruit Noha Ben Mohamed.  Drivers will now turn their attention to 4WD for the next two days.

Image: Ruddog [Facebook]