September 23, 2024

Matsukura wins 2024 Singapore Open

Naoto Matsukura was the winner of the annual Singapore Open race which once again took place over the same weekend as Formula 1 took to the streets of the small country’s capital.  Attracting drivers from 12-countries, qualifying would see former winner Matsukura, fresh from the 1:8 Offroad World Championship, take his Infinity to the TQ at the Marine Parade Radio Control Modellers Club track.  Fastest in 3 of the 4 rounds, the multiple category World Champion secured the top spot from former Electric Touring Car World Champion Jilles Groskamp who set the pace in Q4.  Takaaki Shimo end qualifying 3rd ahead of reigning Nitro Touring Car & former 1:8 Onroad World Champion Tadahiko Sahashi but wining Super Pole Shimo joined Matsukura directly in to the 45-minute Main.  In the race, Groskamp would be an early retirement as Matsukura lead all the way to win by a lap from Shimo with Thailand’s Chavit Saligupta completing the podium.

Image: Infinity [Facebook]


September 23, 2024

Isaacs adds 2024 ROAR Paved Onroad title

Awesomatix’s Sam Isaacs added yet another ROAR National title to his CV successfully defending his Modified Touring Car crown at the Electric Paved Onroad Nationals which took place in Texas over the weekend.  Hosted by N-Control RC Raceway, Isaacs was in dominant form topping all four qualifiers to secure the overall TQ ahead of Xray’s Chris Adams with Aidan Ferrell completing the Top 3.  In the triple A-Mains, Isaacs would win the first encounter comfortably over Adams, repeating the result again in A2 to wrap up the title early.  With the other podium placings still to be decided in A3, Adams would DNF after 3-laps but getting ahead of Ferrell, Michael ‘Toastie’ Toth took the win to secure the final step on the podium behind Adams.  Also racing in 17.5 Touring Car at the event, Adams would TQ and win to claim a National title ahead of Ferrell and Craig Xavier, the Top 3 finishing as they qualified.

Image: ROAR [Facebook]


September 23, 2024

T-Works large-contact LP reverse thread M4 nuts

New from T-Works are these large-contact Low Profile serrated flanged reverse thread M4 nuts.  Made from 7075-T6 aluminium and finished with special black anodising process for durability, the stealing light design reduce the weight while the large diameter counter tooth threads can be more securely connected to prevent the nut loosen.  Specifically suitable for spindles with the same counter-thread design parts.

Source: T-Works [rc-tworks.com]


September 23, 2024

2025 FEMCA 1:8 Offroad C/ship returns to Vietnam

The FEMCA 1:8 Offroad Championship is to return to Vietnam in 2025 with March 13-16th scheduled as the dates for the crowning of the official Champion of Asia.  With the FEMCA Championship returning last following its forced break due to Covid, it was Kyosho’s up & coming offroad star Phi-Long Nguyen who added the most significant win yet of his promising career.  Having made the investment that lead to it successfully hosting the race in 2024, with over 110 drivers from across the largest continent in the World attending, FEMCA has awarded the L.A Track the championship for a second year so as the organisers Vi Nguyen Hobbies can further recoup that investment.  This decision by FEMCA has the potential to help with the development of tracks across the region if hosts know that their investment and a well executed event could lead to a second opportunity to host the prestigious race.  Counting Atsushi Hara, Kyle McBride and Shin Adachi among its past champions, the 2025 FEMCA 1:8 Offroad Championship will be limited to 150 drivers.

Source: FEMCA [Facebook]


September 23, 2024

Boots claims 3rd consecutive British National title

Fresh from his podium finish at the 1:8 Offroad World Championship in Spain, Sworkz’ Elliott Boots clinched his third consecutive British National RallyX Championship title at a rain effected season finale hosted by NEMO Raceway over the weekend.  Securing the TQ ahead of Xray’s Jonathan Skidmore, bad weather would see the finals cancelled and the Round 5 result declared on the best 2 from 4 qualifiers.  With 149 drivers scoring points over this year’s BRCA National Championship in the overall ranking it was Team Associated’s Neil Cragg, who qualified P4 at NEMO, who finished runner-up with 2021 Champion Skidmore completing the season’s podium.

Image: BRCA [Facebook]


September 22, 2024

1:12 WC Top Qualifier Anderson set for MonTech NYGP

2023 IFMAR 1:12 World Championship Top Qualifier Kemp Anderson is the latest title contender to be confirmed for the upcoming MonTech New York Grand Prix.  Taking place from October 10-13th at 360v2 RC in New Rochelle, 2024 marks the sixth edition of the high profile US indoor race.  Recently turning his attentions to becoming a full time RC racer having graduated college, Anderson was runner-up to last year’s double NYGP Champion Sam Isaacs in 1:12, also joining his Awesomatix team-mate on the Touring Car podium.  The 22-year-old returns to take the fight for victory in both Mod 1:12 and Mod Touring Car to Isaacs, Xray’s Keven Hebert and 1:12 Spec World Champion Max Mächler with more high profile driver announcements expected.  With 12 class titles up for grabs,  Touring Car is divided into Modified, 17.5T SuperStock, 21.5 Stock, and 25.5 LMH (LeMans Hypercar) while 1:12 is divided in Modified GTP, SuperStock GTP, Stock GTP, and  GT12R.  Additionally there will be racing for USGT, PRO10, USVTA, and FWD.  To book your entry for the 2024 MonTech New York Grand Prix click here.  Red RC are excited to traveling to the 360v2 RC track for the first time to cover this year’s NYGP.

Source: Fordham 360 Hobbies & Raceway [Facebook]


September 22, 2024

Balestri retains 1:8 Onroad European C/ship Title

Infinity’s Dario Balestri has retained his EFRA 1:8 Onroad European Championship title, the Italian claiming the title for a fourth time with victory at Miniautodromo Locorotondo in Italy.  Qualifying fifth and having to come through the Semi Finals, winning his encounter, the reigning World Champion would line 5th for the 45-minute decider behind the Top 4 direct qualifiers.  While the Mugen Seiki of Top Qualifier Simon Kurzbuch lead way the field, the Swiss driver’s quest to retake the title he last held in 2018 ended in the first round of fuel stops.  With his engine running lean, he suffered a glow plug failure dropping him to last from where he could only recover to eventually finish 6th.  A race that saw a number of contacts between drivers, leading to a post race protest against Balestri which EFRA would reject, despite being on a three tyre stop strategy Balestri would take the win by 2 seconds from his 2-stop team-mate Carmine Raiola.  Suffering a crash earlier in the race after contact with Serpent’s Andrea Catanzani in which he then got collected by Raiola, 1:8 GT World Champion Toni Gruber would take his damaged Capricorn to the final podium position only half a lap down.  Winner of the Last Chance Final to secure P11 on the grid, Lamberto Collari came through to take P4 followed by Xray’s Filippo Domanin.

Image: EFRA [Facebook]


September 22, 2024

Leadfinger F8 V2 Beretta Body

Following the revealing of the V2 version of its Beretta 1:8 Buggy body last month US offroad bodyshell manufacturer Leadfinger Racing has released its latest creation for the Sparko F8 and F8e platform.  The V2 Beretta body is a design concept that combines Leadfinger’s previous Assassin, A2.1 Tactic and Berretta body features.  The modern combination complements both hard and soft lines that provide perfect overall balance under multi surface track testing.

View more images here