Red RC

February 9, 2025

Volker dominates in Czech to retake MIBO title

Ronald Volker has dominated the third edition of MIBO International, the Mugen Seiki driver sending his rivals a clear signal that the former World Champion and his new MTC3 are going to be a serious force to be reckoned with in 2025. With Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski calling the German’s performance in Czech ‘a wake up for us’, after topping all five rounds of qualifying it looked like the finals were just going to be a Sunday formality to Volker picking up his second MIBO International winners trophy. Even contact with a lapped car couldn’t help his rivals get anywhere near challenging him for the lead let alone the win. A2 however would be the first time we wouldn’t see the MTC3 top the result sheets, a pile up on another section of the track sending Adam Iszay’s Xray into Volker’s path and with a body tuck he feel down the order before pulling off. Orlowski took the leg win as a result of the chaos ahead of Patrick Gollner, the new Mugen signing further highlighting the potential of the Robert Pietsch designed car. With outside trouble managing to avoid him in A3, Volker sealed the deal with half a lap advantage over Orlowski – widely recognised as the current benchmark in touring car especially on carpet. Giving Mugen double reason to celebrate, Gollner secured the final step on the podium ahead of Yokomo’s Christopher Krapp and Xray’s Adam Iszay, the latter, like Volker, retaking the Pro Stock title he won at the inaugural MIBO International in 2023.

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February 9, 2025

Kaerup & Kobbeik Top Qualifiers at MIBO International

Kicking off Mains day at MIBO International with the fifth & final qualifier, it would not net any changes in terms of who will be starting on pole in the Czech Republic, Marcus Kaerup keeping the overall TQ in 4WD while Daniel Kobbevik repeated his 2024 TQ of 2WD. With 3 from 5 to count, drivers first battle of the day was to decide 2WD with Kaerup needing a TQ run and the fastest time of the weekend to deny Kobbevik, the scenario reversed for 4WD. While Kaerup started well, his Team Associated running at the top of the timing screens he touched a pipe and rolled ending his change as Bartosz Zaleswski took the round ahead of Martin Bayer to secure P3 on the grid. In 4WD, with Kaerup on 3rd run tyres, Kobbevik moved quickly to the front on track but it defending Champion Zaleswski who had the fastest buggy. The only one dipping into 16-second lap times, he kicked off his day with a second TQ run finishing almost 6-seconds clear of Kobbevik who got a P2 for the round. Again the 18-year-old will be the leading Xray challenger also lining up P3 in 4WD.

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February 9, 2025

Dong joins Team EAM in Battery Application role

Best known as the face of Hobbywing around the world, Salton Dong is to compliment that role by joining US battery brand Team EAM as a Battery Application Expert and Asian Team Manager. This further strengthens Team EAM’s presence in the Asian market and enhancing its battery technology expertise. Additionally, the company he manages, XCRC, has been appointed as the official distributor for the Asia-Pacific region. With years of experience in battery applications, Salton brings a wealth of knowledge in optimising battery performance for RC racing. His deep industry expertise will be instrumental in expanding Team EAM’s reach and driving new product development. In making the announcement Team EAM stated, ‘We are excited to welcome Salton to Team EAM. His expertise in battery applications, market strategy, and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to expand and push the boundaries of battery performance in the industry.’

Source: Team EAM [teameamotorsports.com]

February 8, 2025

Kobbevik & Kaerup hold overnight TQ at MIBO

Daniel Kobbevik and Marcus Kaerup hold the overnight Offroad TQs at MIBO International with one round of qualifying to go but it was very contrasting finishes to the day’s action for the pair. For Kobbevik the penultimate round of qualifying saw the Schumacher driver do the double topping the time for both 2WD and 4WD. For Kaerup however his day ended with a bang as he clipped a track marker resulted in what he described himself as a ‘major break’ on his Team Associated. Having TQ’d the second 2WD qualifying the time of fastest time of the day Q4 TQ run means the Norwegian holds the top on the rankings having finished the day equal on points with Kaerup who took the other two rounds. Now a two way shot out for the pole position, Kaerup needs to take Q5 and better Kobbevik’s time. In 4WD Kaerup was the only driver to manage to double his TQ tally taking Q3 after opening qualifying with the fastest run. While Czech Sworkz driver Dominik Vlášek surprised with a TQ run in Q2, it is also going to be a battle of Scandinavians for the 4WD pole position, Kobbevik needing a TQ that is quicker that than set by Kaerup in Q3. Behind them, top seed for both categories and the defending 4WD Champion Bartek Zalewski completes the overnight Top 3 in 2WD with his Xray with the Polish driver still not happy with the performance of his buggies since qualifying started. In 4WD it is the Sworkz of Micha Widmaier in third, the Austrian looking very competitive as he ended the day with a P2 despite a late mistake.

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February 8, 2025

Volker Top Qualifier at MIBO International

After a perfect day of driving in the Czech Republic, Mugen Seiki’s Ronald Volker is the Top Qualifier at MIBO International with one round still to go tomorrow morning. The unique event’s inaugural Champion in 2023, the German and his new MTC3 have been the class of the field with defending champion Michal Orlowski having to throw everything and sometimes more at it to try and get ahead of his rival. Having topped the seeding this morning, Volker secured the overall TQ in Q3 before going on to make it four from four in the final run of the second day’s action. With Volker leading home the Schumacher in 3 of the 4 rounds, Orlowski himself admitting after Q2 that he crashed because he was having to push so hard to try and keep up with the on form Volker. While the race for the title at the third edition of the event put on by Volker’s former Yokomo team-mate Michal Bok is very much a two horse race, this year’s event is proving a happy hunting ground for Mugen’s upcoming touring car release with Volker’s new for 2025 team-mate Patrick Gollner third in the overnight standings. Behind him the Yokomo of Christopher Krapp is holding P4 while the leading Xray challenge comes from Adam Izsay, who after being best of the rest in the morning dropped to fifth in the second half of the day.

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February 8, 2025

Kobbevik & Kaerup on top after Q2 at MIBO International

It is the Scandinavian’s who lead the way after two rounds of qualifying at MIBO International with Norway’s Daniel Kobbevik (2WD) and Denmark’s Marcus Kaerup (4WD) topping the points table. In 2WD, qualifying opened with Kaerup’s Team Associated setting the fastest time from the Schumacher of Kobbevik but in the second of the 5 rounds a mistake from Kaerup handed Kobbevik a TQ that puts him top of the early ranking. Behind him a consistent Martin Bayer, 3rd fastest on both occasions holds the No.2 spot ahead of Kaerup. After a DNF in Q1 and P4 in Q2 Sworkz’s defending Champion Joern Neumann will be hoping for a better second half of the day. In 4WD, Kaerup also claimed the first TQ but a close finish to the second round saw the Sworkz of Czech driver Dominik Vlášek deny him a repeat while a strong finish from the top Sworkz in seeding netted Micha Widmaier a P3. Having topped seeding in both categories, that pace hasn’t transferred to qualifying for defending 4WD Champion Bartek Zalewski, the 18-year-old Xray driver not happy with his driving saying he is just making too many mistakes.

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February 8, 2025

Volker takes charge in early MIBO qualifying

Having topped seeding at the third edition of MIBO International, Ronald Volker’s Mugen Seiki MTC3 continues to be the benchmark in the Czech Republic with the German taking the opening two rounds of qualifying. In the first of the 5 scheduled qualifiers, Volker was fastest from the Schumacher of defending champion Michal Orlowski by 8/10ths of a second with Xray’s Adam Iszay maintaining status as the third fastest driver. In a slower Q2, a mistake from Orlowski would give Volker an easier repeat TQ run, Yokomo’s Christopher Krapp his closest challenger over 3-seconds down on the 2016 World Champion. Again Iszay completed the Top 3 ahead Patrick Gollner and the recovering Orlowski.

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February 8, 2025

LRP 1S Competition Battery range

LRP has announced a new range of 1S Competition Batteries, the German brand now offering three specialised designs tailored for specific applications. The Modified 8600mAh Graphene-4.2 offers maximum capacity for Open Modified (IFMAR / ROAR) with extended runtime for ultimate performance. Modified 8200mAh Graphene-4.2 is the perfect balance of low IR and high capacity and is ideal for Non-Boost (Blinky) and Modified (EFRA). The Stock Spec 7400mAh Graphene-4.2 features ultra-low internal resistance for maximum power output for Stock class racing.

Source: LRP [lrp.cc]