Red RC

November 20, 2024

Balestri just edges out Leino to take Q2 in Bangkok

Dario Balestri has taken the second round of qualifying at the 1:10 Nitro World Championship after just edging out Infinity team-mate Teemu Leino in the closing laps of the 7-minute encounter. After both himself and Leino DNF’d the opening qualifier, both drivers needed to get their first points on the board. With Toni Gruber, who took everyone by surprise with his TQ in Round 1, having a slower Q2, and second fastest man Jilles Groskamp unable to start after suffering an engine failure in the warm-up for his second quali run, it was Leino who lead out the top heat. However, hitting traffic at the end of the run as Balestri set his fastest lap on his penultimate lap it was the Italian who took it by 13/100ths of a second from the Finn. Behind the Europeans Australia’s Jessie Davis bettered his Q1 P6 with the third fastest time with Francesco Tironi again in the mix at the front after his opening P3 effort. While Gruber would set the 6th fastest time for Q2 the Capricorn driver would have his time deleted as his rear wing was deemed to be too high in post tech inspection.

Continue reading here

November 20, 2024

TZO 400 1:8 Buggy Tire

Another new release from California based tyre brand TZO is the new 400 tire designed for maximum forward bite and side bite on loose, loamy tracks. Featuring a distinctive outer row pin layout that enhances grip in challenging conditions, with pins moved further out to the tire’s edge and new 3-rib carcass design they have created and refined another high performing tire in their 1:8 offroad line up. The centre section uses 402-style pins for exceptional acceleration, while the 202-style outer pins, combined with the unique layout, deliver superior cornering traction and control. This tire is ideal for racers seeking improved handling and forward bite on softer, loose surfaces.

Source: TZO Tires [tzorires.com]

November 20, 2024

Gruber catches World by surprise with opening TQ run

Toni Gruber caught the world by surprise this morning after the Capricorn driver TQ’d the opening round of qualifying at the 1:10 Nitro World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. Having struggled in yesterday’s seeding, ending up only 18th and in the second fastest heat, a very deflated Gruber surprised even himself with his 7-minute effort in the first of the six scheduled rounds of qualifier. Having been so far off the pace in seeding, Gruber’s performance would also catch out Jilles Groskamp. Topping the fastest heat from Infinity team-mate Francesco Tironi, Groskamp admitted afterwards he thought he had TQ’s the round and it wasn’t until he looked up the times afterwards he realised Gruber’s impressive turn around in form. As the Top Seed for qualifying reigning World Champion Tadahiko Sahashi was running the Top 3 but his car came to a stop after running out of fuel. 1:8 World Champion Dario Balestri also had a rough start to Day 1 of qualifying traction rolling and then suffering a flame out. Topping the final seeding round yesterday, Teemu Leino also had a flame out.

Continue reading here

November 20, 2024

Matsukura confirmed for FEMCA Championship in China

Former Electric Touring Car, Nitro Touring Car and 1:12 World Champion Naoto Matsukura has been confirmed for the 2024 FEMCA ISTC Championship which takes place in China next month. The Infinity driver joins newly crowned triple Touring Car World Champion Bruno Coelho in leading the international entry for this year’s Foshan International Invitational RC Championship (FIRC), which after a successful debut last year, will now host ‘Asian Championship’ title race. Last December the GDC Indoor Race Club in Guangdong, China, hosted the inaugural FIRC where Mugen Seiki’s Ronald Volker took the win and announcing in July the 2nd edition would take place December 5-8 the race has since been award the FEMCA ISTC Championship status. One of the four blocs that make up IFMAR, FEMCA represents 15 nations in Asia and Australasia however the FEMCA Championship has been open to drivers from across the globe with entries from the likes of Coelho and Matsukura helping to put the spot light on the Asian racing scene.

Source: FEMCA [Facebook]

November 20, 2024

JConcepts JCI Tucked 1979 Ford F-150 body

JConcepts has added another body shape to its crawler line-up with a Tucked version of the classic 1970’s Ford body. The iconic body style shaped and revised by Ford, specifically for the 1979 model year, features rectangular headlights and a one-piece centre grille. JConcepts meticulously set their sights on the 1:1 vehicle replicating the finest details of 1979. The heavily chiseled, square body look with enlarged, flat-top wheel wells set this body off as a favourite. The recessed body line extends down the entire side of the standard cab body and the included decal sheet details this section to appear like the chrome trim of yesteryear. The wrap-around front windshield, recessed side windows are outlined to perfection while the body lines are all in place to show off that vintage look. For crawling enthusiasts, the team from Groveland, Florida adapted the Tucked style to the front and rear sections of the vehicle. The vision for the project is for those wanting to replicate an original, but also be ready for competition equipped vehicles. The recessed bed area allows plenty of space for a variety of mounting applications as well as storage or placement of other scale accessories (not included). Large wheel well openings allow an assortment of tires ranging from 4.19” to 4.75” overall diameter tires.

View more images here

November 19, 2024

Sahashi opens WC title defence as Top Seed in Thailand

Infinity’s Tadahiko Sahashi is the Top Seed at the IFMAR 1:10 Nitro World Championship in Thailand, the reigning World Champion topping the ranking after today’s four rounds of seeding practice at the Huge RC Circuit in Bangkok. With drivers counting the best two points from the four rounds, having posted the fastest time in SP1 Sahashi would top seeding from team-mate Teemu Leino, the Finn setting the fastest 3-consecutive laps of the fourth & final practice. While not topping a round and crashing out of SP4, it is reigning European Champion Dario Balestri who will carry the No.3 on his Infinity in the top qualifying heat tomorrow having posted the second fastest times in SP1 & 3. With a different driver topping each of the seeding rounds, the fastest time in the penultimate round would see Takaaki Shimo fourth ahead of Australian Jesse Davies with Jilles Groskamp completing the Top 6. The other driver to top the time sheets today when he went fastest in SP2, local Gamee Mongkolpan concluded seeding in 7th ahead of Swede Viktor Wilck.

Continue reading here

November 19, 2024

Defending Champion Sahashi leads way in early seeding

With seeding practice underway at the IFMAR 1:10 Nitro World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, it is defending Champion Tadahiko Sahashi who leads the way with 2 of the 4 rounds completed. The Infinity driver who secured his title 2-years ago on the opposite side of the capital city, set a fastest 3-consecutive laps of 45.540 as driver grapple the Huge RC Circuit’s challenging high grip levels that constantly change over the day. With Sahashi second attempt 3/10ths slower, it would be Thai driver Game L. Mongkolpan who would set the pace of SP2 6/100ths of a second up on Sashasi. With drivers best two points scores to determine the order of tomorrow’s qualifying heats, overall it is free practice pace setter Teemu Leino who holds P2 at the halfway mark ahead of fellow Scandinavian Wilck Viktor with Mongkolpan holding fourth having only managed the 13th fastest time in SP1. While Sahashi comes into the 10th running of these World Championships aiming to become the first driver to defend their title, current 1:8 Onroad World Champion Dario Balestri will chase the record of becoming the first driver to hold both title simultaneously with the Italian completing the Top 5 ranking going into the lunch break.

Continue reading here

November 19, 2024

SuperRad SR-31 Super2RS 1:10 Frontie Body

US competition body shell manufacturer SuperRad has released its first 1:10 Front Wheel Drive Touring Car Body, the SR-31 Super2FT. Silhouetting the shape of Renault Megan Trophy car, the body is available in both a regular 0.7mm and Lite 0.5mm polycarbonate option and is BRCA approved. The clear unpainted body shell comes complete with a lights & grilles decal sheet , wing, and window masks.

View more images here