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December 30, 2024

Phend’s move to Xray confirmed

Xray has confirmed that US Offroad force Dakotah Phend has joined its factory team, the Slovakian manufacturer confirming the American shortly after it announced the departure of its star driver Bruno Coelho. Xray has been without a top driver in the US since the departure of Ty Tessman at the start of the 2024 when the Canadian former World Champion announced time on his career. With the demise of the TLR Factory Team and Phend announcing the end of a 19-year stint with iconic US brand, his confirmation at Xray ends one of the most discussed and talked about silly seasons in RC in years. On the announcement Phend said, ‘The time in my career has come to make a change, reset, and rejuvenate for the upcoming years. Change is hard but sometimes necessary. I feel like I still have a lot left to give to the RC community and I’m not ready to be done yet. I’ve done a lot of thinking and reflecting these past few months and with that in mind I’m beyond excited to be working with XRAY/RC America for the 2025 season and beyond. There dedication and drive to building race vehicles and competing at the highest level in RC is 2nd to none and I can’t wait to get to the races and show how they can elevate my program. A special thanks goes to everyone behind the scenes at XRAY & RC America that made this opportunity possible. I will be competing at all the major 1/10th and 1/8th events this year including the National and World Championships! I can’t wait to hit the track and I’ll see everyone there!’

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]

December 30, 2024

Xray announces Coelho departure

One of the most anticipated driver market changes for 2025, Xray has officially announced the departure of star driver Bruno Coelho with the current Electric Touring Car World Champion following it up with his own video announcement. In the decade the Portuguese driver has raced professionally for the Slovakian manufacturer, his signing the result of his ultra impressive showing at the 2014 ISTC World Championship in Florida with one of their cars, the combination went on to win 5 World Championship titles both in onroad and offroad. With speculation of Coelho moving to start a new project, he gave them the ultimate departing gift last month when he won his and Xray’s 3 consecutive IFMAR Touring Car World title in the United States. With his current contract due for renewal at the end of 2024 and a new 6-year term on the table it is understood that Coelho’s decision to not re-sign was influenced by the departure of his long time touring car mechanic & close friend Francesco Martini who left the Xray project back in February. Martini is also the owner of Coelho’s long time sponsor Monaco RC and Coelho has openly talked about how influential he has been on his career. Coelho’s own desire for a new challenge is also thought to be a key reason behind the departure from Xray with news of the new manufacturer he will work with expected in the coming days. You can view Coelho nicely produced video here.

Read Xray announcement here

December 27, 2024

Phend officially announces the end of an era with TLR

After months of speculation and being the centre of endless social media posts on the subject, Dakotah Phend has just officially announced that his time with TLR has come to an end. With TLR making the decision to discontinue their ‘Factory Team’, the official news from Phend sees the end of an era that lasted 19-years, the American having represented the brand his entire professional career. Having first hinted at the widely expected news just before the Nitro Buggy Main at the recent U.S. Open Fuel Championships, Phend went into more detail in his latest post which was accompanied by the video that ends with the statement, ‘After 19-years of dedication to the brand my time with TLR has come to an end. My new journey of dedication and commitment will be announced soon’.

View Phends full announcement here

December 27, 2024

Australian Offroad Champion Lachlan joins Power HD

Servo manufacturer Power HD has announced that top Australian Offroad racer Lachlan Donnelly has joined their team line-up for 2025. The 20-year-old from Sydney who has raced with Team Associated for a decade took one of the biggest wins of his career recently when he won the Australian 4WD 1:10 Buggy National title ahead of a visiting Spencer Rivkin – the 2-time World Champion attending the race as preparations for the Hills Off Road RC track hosting the 2025 World Championships. Donnelly will equip his 1:10 buugies with the GTS-3 servo while using the GTS-6 for 1:8 offroad program.

Source: PowerHD [chd.hk]

December 27, 2024

Krapp to use Cayote electronics for 2025

Electronics newcomer Team Cayote has announced the addition of Christopher Krapp to its team for the 2025 season. The 2022 World Championship podium finishers joins Marc Rheinard, Atsushi Hara and Jilles Groskamp at the ambitious new brand and the deal will restart a long term working relationship Krapp previous enjoyed with Cayote frontman Oscar Jansen. At Team Orion, the pair successfully worked together when the then up & coming German racer made his first World Championship final in 2010 as a Kyosho/Team Orion driver with further successes following. Recently announced as continuing with Team Yokomo as a factory driver and also filling the role of European Team Manager for the Japanese manufacturer, on the announcement Krapp said, ‘I’m excited to join Team Cayote! I’ve tested their products and I’m very happy with the results. Thank you to Cayote for this amazing opportunity – I’ll give my best in the upcoming season.’

Source: Team Cayote [cayote.com]

December 27, 2024

Tollard latest driver to confirm TLR exit

Cole Tollard is the latest driver to announce their exit from the TLR/Horizon Hobby race team. A long time Team Associated driver, the America racer joined TLR at the beginning of 2023 after an impressive 11-year stint with AE with whom he won a ROAR Mod Truck National title. Having topped a round of qualifying at the 2023 IFMAR 1:10 Offroad Worlds and made the 4WD final in his first season with TLR, on his departure Tollard posted on his Facebook page, ‘I hope everyone had a great Christmas! As 2024 is coming to a close I’ve decided to go in a different direction next year. I would like to thank everyone at TLR for the support the last two years. As this time was shorter than what I anticipated. I’ve gained a lot of friends and created many memories. I’m hoping to continue making memories with everyone in the future. I wish nothing but the best for TLR/Horizon as they create their new vision.’

Source: Cole Tollard [Facebook]

December 26, 2024

T-Works IFB8 Alu Rear Tension Rod Mount

T-Works has released this Aluminium Rear Tension Rod Mount for the Infinity IFB8 1:8 Buggy. Made from 7075-T6 Aluminium that has undergone a black hard coating process for the best strength and hardness possible, the mount enhance the rigidity of the rear of the buggy and improves cornering performance. Also for the IFB8 are Brass Front Upright Adjust Nut with Teflon Spacers to add weight and change the front end weight distribution. The Teflon Spacers can effectively reduce friction and improve the smoothness of steering enhance the handling performance of the buggy.

View more images here

December 26, 2024

Brunet joins RC Maker

After a host of Australian driver signings Australian Touring Car manufacturer newcomer RC Maker has announced top French racer Antoine Brunet has joined its team. Following a single season with Yokomo in 2024 after racing with Xray for a number of seasons before that with whom he achieved MIBO International and ETS podium finishes, Brunet will kick off his campaign with the SP1 at the GP3F race in Longwy followed ETS Daun and the legendary TITC in Bangkok, Thailand at the end of February where Ryan Maker debuted the SP1 prototype this year. Making the announcement RC Maker posted, ‘We are beyond excited to work with such an accomplished and professional driver, and are looking forward to developing the SP1 and moving forward together to achieve the best results possible! Welcome aboard Antoine!! ‘. On joining RC Maker’s exciting new touring car project Brunet, ‘A new adventure begins! I’m super excited to join the RC Maker team. Im looking forward to contributing to grow the brand in Europe and all around the world! I want to say a big thanks to Ryan for the opportunity and trust in me. I’m sure the best is yet to come!’

Source: RC Maker [rcmaker.com.au]