November 26, 2024

JConcepts Arina 1:8 Buggy tire

A new design from JConcepts is the Arina 1:8 Buggy tire that features a unique elliptical pattern scattered throughout the tire surface.  Available as pre-mounted in sticky green compound on bright white or fluorescent yellow rims, it produces heavy forward bite.  The centre section, called the “marina” has parked back-to-back shaped pins that provide the difficult task of holding the grip during high-speed expansion.  In-between, the half-height, dog bone shaped pins create more contact patch after initial tire wear is complete.  A large and patterned arrangement of horizontal style pins complete the entire carcass giving it performance characteristics like JConcepts legacy tires like the Crossbow.  Each pin has a slight and divided recess which gives multiple edges of bite during fresh outings on the track.  The crisp nature of the pins is excellent in slightly fluffy conditions, fresh water, and outside loam is where the Arina excels above many others.

Source: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]


November 26, 2024

Team Losi Racing 2025 Racing Announcement

With much talk in racing circles about Team Losi Racing’s future commitment to competitive racing, the famed brand has just made an announcement on its ‘New Vision’ for 2025.  In the announcement the offroad manufacturer, which is part of the RC model industry giant Horizon Hobby, state that for 2025 they are committed to developing a new 2WD platform including a Stadium Truck while also ‘refreshing’ its 4WD, and ‘refining’ the 8X.  The announcement opens on the subject its race team stating that as the ‘racing landscape continues to evolve’ they are evolving their race team program ‘to ensure its sustainability, growth, and long-term success’.  While winners of a World Championship as recently as 2023, when Tater Sontag took the 2WD Buggy title at Hobby Action in Arizona, TLR has not been the force it once was in racing so lets hope this announcement results in TLR being back at the forefront of international offroad competition once again.

Read full announcement here


November 25, 2024

Fenix Mistral 3.5 1:10 Formula Kit

Italian manufacturer Fenix Racing have released a new version of its 1:10 Formula Chassis, the Mistral 3.5.  After 3 years of the Mistral 3.3, it was time for it to be given a ‘tech refresh’ using the immense experience of Dutch F1 racer Jitse Miedema.  The new car incorporates most of the evolution made on the 3.3 during the last year, plus a brand new main chassis.  From the “IDFM” front end, to the revised shock position that gives more room to the electronics, to a new system on the sub-frame chassis.  The car keeps the 3.3 trademark of the variable wheelbase.  The 3.5 is the same car that allowed Jitse Miedema to become Dutch Champ again.

View more images here


November 25, 2024

Nicholson defends Australian title on Schumacher debut

Less than two weeks after the announcement he had switched from Yokomo to Schumacher, Simon Nicholson has successfully defended his Australian Modified Touring Car National Champion title on his first race for the British manufacturer.  Hosted by the Templestowe Flat Track Racers club in Melbourne, the 2024 RCRA EP OnRoad Australian Championships attracted 170 entries including an interesting international competitor in Xray’s Alexander Hagberg, the Swede making the trip Down Under to complete in both Touring Car and 1:12.  In qualifying it would be ARC’s Brayden Stanley who TQ’d the first of the three rounds.  Q2 would see Nicholson hit the top before Serpent’s Jeff Hamon was fastest in Q3 ahead of RC Maker’s Ryan Maker.  After a DNF in the opening round, Hagberg’s best run would be in Q2 when he posted the second fastest which with his P6 in the final round left him 5th overall.  Unfortunately wet weather would put an end to the action with Sunday a complete wash out and the titles awarded on the results of qualifying giving Nicholson the title ahead of Stanley with Hamon completing the podium.  In 13.5 Stock Touring Car Lincoln Codd took the title while having TQ’d all three rounds Hagberg took the 1:12 title.

Image: RC Race Media [Facebook]


November 25, 2024

EcoPower Electron Dual Intelligent Charger

AMain Hobbies brand EcoPower has released a brand new Electron Dual Intelligent LiPo/LiHV/LiFe AC/DC Charger.  Designed with safety and convenience as a priority, the new ECP-1016 Electron Dual Intelligent Charger features advanced technology to cater to both intelligent and non-intelligent batteries.  Equipped with an advanced LCD display and automatic functionality, this charger simplifies the charging process by identifying ideal charging parameters and monitoring real-time charging performance, providing the optimal performance whether charging, discharging, or balancing battery cells.  The Electron dual port system allows the simultaneous charging of two batteries, supporting up to 6S LiPo/LiFe/LiHV batteries at 16 amps each.  For advanced needs, its SyncCharging feature combines both channels to deliver a maximum of 23 amps, ensuring users can power through demanding applications with ease and efficiency.  The EcoPower Dual Charger is also is available in bundles with a pair of EcoPower 2S Intelligent batteries , 3S Intelligent batteries, or 4S Intelligent batteries.

Source: A-Main Hobbies [amainhobbies.com]


November 23, 2024

Groskamp back on top of the World

Jilles Groskamp is back on top of the World, the Infinity driver becoming the new IFMAR 1:10 Onroad World Champion at the Huge RC Circuit in Bangkok 12-years after winning the Electric Touring Car World Title.  Having booked his way directly into the 1-hour Main by winning Super Pole, Groskamp would in the end cruise to victory to become Nitro Touring Car’s 10th different Champion as outgoing Champion Tadahiko Sahashi struggled in his quest to be the first driver to successful defend the title.  Starting as the Top Qualifier, this being his second time to secure pole at the Worlds, Teemu Leino’s race lasted less than 10-minutes as the Finn flipped his Infinity after his second fuel stop and the impact with the boards broke a front shock.  With 2018 Champion Naoto Matsukura looking like he was on to repeat his earlier dominant Semi final performance, as the race reached halfway and he had a clear lead over the field, a touch of the curbing ended his challenge.  The subsequent impact after the roll would break a rear shock shaft but with the car still running on the spring he would limp home in P6, 7-laps down on his winning team-mate.  For 1:8 World Champion Dario Balestri a dead receiver battery would cause him to crash out of a podium finish and DNF with just over 2-minutes to go.  Behind Jilles, having managed to un-lap himself towards the end of the race, Capricorn’s Toni Gruber would claim second with tenth place starter Charlee Phutiyothin making it two Capricorns on the podium.

Continue reading here


November 23, 2024

Sahashi title defence back on track in Thailand

Tadahiko Sahashi’s 1:10 Nitro World Championship title defence is back on with the Infinity driver booking his place in final at Huge RC Circuit after finishing second to team-mate Dario Balestri in the second of the two Semi Finals.  Having topped seeding, Sahashi then struggled throughout qualifying and found himself scrapping his way onto the back of a direct spot in the Semis.  In the early stages of the final it looked like the Japanese driver’s quest to become the first back to back Champion of the class was over, however by the 10-minute he was up to third, helped in part by 2012 Champion Meen Vejrak and Takaaki Shimo both running out of fuel.  Up front a flip by pole sitter Balestri allowed Chavit Saligupta to lead but shortly after third way distance his car came to a permanent stop ending his hopes of repeating his 2022 final appearance.  Looking like he was safely into the final as he lapped in 3rd position there was a heartbreak for Australian Jessie Davis.  With three minutes to go and having just exited pit lane his car came to a stop and with his engine refusing to restart his Worlds was done.  Capricorn’s Thilo Diekman would finish 3rd to book the German’s first World Final start.  In the other Semi, Naoto Matsukura looked like he was out for a Sunday drive, the 2018 World Champion lapping the entire field with a flawless drive that has the Infinity driver highly motivated for the final.  Having started on pole, Capricorn’s Toni Gruber came home 2nd as he continues to challenge the might of Infinity here in Bangkok but the 1:8 GT World Champion admitted himself that his Semi performance was not a Title contending performance and they need to improve for the final.  On the road it would be Viktor Wilck that would complete the Top 3 but his car would be deemed to be too wide in post race technical inspection and Charlee Phutiyothin was promoted to the final.  The final two places on the grid would be decided on fastest times which went to Milan Holthuis and Sinnosuke Yokoyama.

Continue reading here


November 22, 2024

Sworkz to defend MIBO International title

Having made their debut at MIBO International last year and claimed the 2WD Buggy title with Joern Neumann, Sworkz is the first team to confirm its participation in the third edition of the annual Czech Republic based event.  Taking place on February 07-09, with practice starting on the Friday evening, multiple European Champion Neumann and Micha Widmaier will travel to Hrotovice to represent the manufacturer at the indoor event once again.  MIBO International brings together both electric offroad and onroad racing on two tracks build side by side in the Sport V Hotel by the team from Mibosport.  With entries for the event having opened this week, the Offroad track will cater for 2WD and 4WD Buggy and ‘Offroad Kids’, while on the onroad track the racing action will cater for Modified, Stock & FWD Touring car with a 1:12 GT 13.5T class as well as ‘Onroad Kids’ being introduced for 2025.  With a capped entry limit the relaxed schedule means plenty of time in the evening to wind down and socialise over dinner after each day’s racing.

Source: MIBO [mibosport.com]