Red RC

October 1, 2024

Berton announces departure from Infinity

Having given their newly released IFB8 1:8 Buggy its biggest win to-date and once again represented the multiple Onroad World Champion manufacturer in the 1:8 Offroad Worlds Final at Redovan in Spain last month, Riccardo Berton has announced his departure from Infinity. Kicking off the 2024 season proper with a victory at the famous Montepellier GP just before the Japanese company’s debut buggy kit was released to the market, the talented Italian driver has been part of the project since joining the team at the beginning of 2020. Posting news of his departure on his Facebook page, Berton said, ‘As I finished my 2024 outdoor season, I would like to communicate that I will be no longer an Infinity driver for the next year. Has been a long trip full of emotions, fun, racing and learning. I am thankful to Kenji-San for the unstoppable support in these years and to my mates Artu and Matteo for all the help. Let’s see what the future brings! See you soon.’

Source: Riccardo Berton [Facebook]

October 1, 2024

FEMCA Clarification on 1:12 World Championships

Following the release of the 2025 World Championship dates which we reported on yesterday and some resulting conversations about 1:12 not appearing on the list, our friends at FEMCA (Far East Model Car Association) have been in touch to clarify their position on the subject. The governing body of RC racing that represents 15 nations in Asia and Australasia, the bloc has been tasked with bringing together the next 1:12 and next ISTC World Championship for IFMAR. While the next 1:12 Worlds are due to take place in 2025, and the next ISTC in 2026, FEMCA after discussing internally & with IFMAR, that the prospect of jointly hosting the two World Championships together in China 2026. While keeping Red RC updated on its progress, they would now like to publicly share these details with the wider RC community and avoid confusion especially within the 1:12 racing community. Personally knowing all the people involved in putting together FEMCA’s exciting plan, Red RC is already looking forward their hosting of the championships .

Read FEMCA’s update here

September 30, 2024

Kimihiko Yano 1:12 Polycarbonate Driver

Japanese 1:12 specialist brand Kimihiko Yano has introduced 1:12 drivers made from high quality polycarbonate. You can paint it with your colour scheme with two different types of driver available. The main difference is the shape of the helmet. It can be used for a long time because it does not wear out in a crash like the body. They recommend that you install this product on your 12GT body for increased realism. It can also be used for product restoration as it is compatible with classic bodies such as TOJ.

View more images here

September 30, 2024

Schumacher Azami 1:10 Offroad Tyre

Schumacher has added another new tyre to it’s 1:10 Offroad line-up, this time with the release of the Azami. With the demands of carpet racing pushing tyres to the limit the British manufacturer is happy to give an alternative to the popular Cactus tyre by bringing out the Azami. Their R&D team have developed a high density centre pin formation for durability and grip on CRC/EOS type carpets. The outer pin formations give the car good side bite but without a compromise to the car’s steering. The Azami can also work well on used carpet for an improved club driving experience.

Source: Schumacher [racing-cars.com]

September 30, 2024

IFMAR announces 2025 World Championship dates

IFMAR has published the dates for the 2025 World Championships with the latest calendar seeing one change of host country and 1:12 no longer listed. The World governing body of RC racing, whose sole remit is the administration of each category’s bi-annual World Champion crowning, will have two new inaugural World Champions to add to their list as 1:8 Offroad gets it first World Championship race for Electric Buggy while 1:8 GT will now also get an official Electric GT World Champion, the 2023 Worlds hosting Electric GT as a ‘World Cup’ status race. It will be 1:8 eBuggy that kicks off the 2025 calendar at the end of August followed by 1:8 GT in September, 1:10 Offroad in October, and 1:8 Onroad in December. With 1:8 GT originally awarded to Peru, Chile is now set to double its efforts as it is listed to host 1:8 Onroad and now the 1:8 GT Worlds. Club de Aeromodelos de Chile (CACH) will host the 3rd running of the GT Nitro Worlds with 2-months then to get ready for the race that decides IFMAR original World Championship category. Having previously run with the ISTC World Championship, which is just over five weeks away in California, 1:12 became a stand alone championship after Covid but it looks likely they may come back together again for 2026 at least. More news on this and the host track are expected from IFMAR shortly.

View dates here

September 30, 2024

VP-Pro IFB8 Carbon Fibre Arm inserts

VP-Pro has released new Carbon Fibre Front and Rear Arm Inserts for the IFB8 1:8 Buggy from Infinity. Produced from high-quality carbon fibre material, the inserts can be used to increase the stiffness of the arms. Available as 1.0mm or 1.5mm thickness inserts, this provides extra options to influence the set-up of the buggy. Sold as a pair of front or rear inserts and easy to install, they can help increase front or rear traction and also how the buggy handles jumps.

Source: VP Pro [vp-racing.com]

September 30, 2024

Sobue wins ISTC Worlds Warm-up Race

Akio Sobue took the win at the official ISTC World Championship Warm-up race over the weekend, the Axon driver coming out on top of the small international entry to win ahead Xray’s Alexander Hagberg and Serpent’s Dominic Greiner. With Finishline RC Raceway in Bakersfield, California, set to host the 12th running of the IFMAR World Championship for Electric Touring Car from Nov 5-10th, the official Warm-up race attracted 23 modified entries. With reigning back to back World Champion Bruno Coelho and hotly tipped title favourite Michal Orlowski competing at 1:10 Offroad European Championships in Sweden, where they claimed a title each, it was 2022 Worlds podium finisher Sobue who set the pace throughout the event. Topping all three qualifiers he secured the TQ ahead of Hagberg and former Nitro Touring Car World Champion Greiner and that’s how they ran & finished in the opening two A-Mains. Hagberg took A3 from Greiner with multiple 1:10 Offroad World Champion Ryan Cavalieri getting a third that gave him fourth overall. In Pro Stock it was Schumacher’s Ollie Payne who took the win. Former World Champions Marc Rheinard and Atsushi Hara opted to not race and instead will begin testing at the track today. Red RC will be travelling to Finishline RC Raceway in 5-weeks time to cover the main event.

Image: Serpent [Facebook]

September 29, 2024

Kato executes perfect 1-hour main to win ABC Indonesia

Infinity driver Kouki Kato executed a perfect race to win the season finale of the Asian Buggy Championships in Indonesia, the Japanese driver winning the fourth round in Jakarta from the Sworkz of newly crowned overall Champion Christian Wolhuter. Lining up on pole position for the 1-hour final at West Side Raceway ahead of team-mate Naoto Matsukura and Wolhuter, Kato quickly gapped the field and grew that advantage over the rest of the 15 car grid as his rivals made errors and later hit problems. While Kato ran his own race out front, the focus turned to the battle for 2nd between Wolhunter, Matsukura and Jason Nugroho. Unfortunately leading local challenger Nugroho and Matsukura, who had just set the fastest lap of the race, would both suffer the same faith within 5-laps of one another as they needed lengthy pit stops to fixed rear suspension links on their cars. With Kato winning by over a lap from Wolhuter, it would be the Team Associated of track owner Adrian Wicaksono who completed the podium, a just reward for both his driving in the final and his efforts in staging the Asian Buggy Championships first race in Indonesia. Finishing on the same lap as Wicaksono having held the final podium position for a time, Mayako’s Joseph Quagraine finished fourth.

Continue reading here