New from Team Associated’s optional parts brand Factory Team are these updated aluminium rear hubs for the RC8B4.1 1:8 Offroad platforms. Giving your buggy or truggy maximum durability, they are CNC machined from 7075 aluminium and their updated design utilises the kit compatible carbon fibre FT rear hub towers, as well as incorporating the molded factory team adjustable axle and bearing inserts.
Source: Associated [associatedelectrics.com]
Once again making the trip state side for the 15 edition of the Alabama Manufacturers Shootout, Sworkz’s European Champion & World Championship Top Qualifier Juan Carlos Canas came away the big winner with victory in both Nitro and Electric Buggy. In qualifying for the RaceTime Entertainment organised event, it would be TLR’s Dakotah Phend who kicked things off with a Round 1 TQ but taking the remaining two rounds it was Canas who topped the ranking from the American. The final grid however would be sorted in Superpole which Phend took reversing the order meaning Canas started the 45-minute final P2. Qualifying P4 behind Mason Fuller, the Tekno of 2023 AMS Champion Ryan Maifield would get P3 in Superpole. While Phend had a number of stints at the front, it was Canas who came away with the win 6-seconds clear after 104 laps of the indoor dirt track. Fuller’s Sworkz completed the podium. As the defending eBuggy Champion, starting from pole Canas retained his title after winning the first 2 of the triple mains. The podium was completed by Mugen Seiki’s Burak Kilic and Team Associated’s Spencer Rivkin. In Nitro Truggy, Maifield secured the win from Phend and Rivkin.
Image: JConcepts [Facebook]
1:8 GT Specialist IGT8, the brand of nitro onroad racing stalwart Paolo Morganti, has released details and renders of their new SYM chassis. Highlights of the new 1:8 GT contender include an innovative 4mm super narrow and sleek flat chassis. IGT8 is the first company to design a GT chassis that works with both Nitro and Electric versions. The symmetrical layout of the openings is engineered to maximise handling, chassis rigidity, torsional flex, and cooling. At the same time, attention to detail and aesthetics confers an aggressive look. Continuing their innovation is the Chassis kick-up with it possible to assembled the car with both the kick-up or the flat hinge pin configuration. An all-in-one solution included in the kit that offers versatility and compliance with the rules. The final piece of the chassis is the transmission plate. Included in the kit, it complements the solid core structure of the chassis, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the transmission. The SYM Brake system is another novelty for the GT class. Designed as a stand-alone component, the new design avoids the stress on the 2-speed mounts that extreme braking forces create on the assembly.
After the release if its Shock & Differential Fluid Bag, Ruddog introduces this Universal Track Bag as a solution for racers and RC enthusiasts seeking a versatile and durable storage bag for their gear. With generous dimensions of 58x29x22 cm, it offers ample space to fit up to 10 sets of 1:8 buggy tyres or a complete crawler with a remote control. An integrated tool holder and a zippered compartment provide convenient organisation for tools and accessories, ensuring everything is within easy reach. Featuring a sleek Ruddog design, this track bag is crafted from high-quality materials and equipped with robust zippers for lasting durability. Compact enough to fit in your car trunk, it’s the ideal companion for trips to the track.
South Carolina based Offroad bodyshell manufacturer Leadfinger Racing has released its latest creation, the V2 version of its Beretta 1:8 Buggy body for the SWorkz S35-4 EVO nitro and electric buggies. The V2 Beretta body is a design concept that combines Leadfinger’s previous Assassin, A2.1 Tactic and Berretta body features. The modern combination complements both hard and soft lines that provide perfect overall balance under multi surface track testing.
10-years and 1-month after his father took the gamble on bringing him to the 2014 IFMAR ISTC World Championships in Florida, Bruno Coelho has today become one of RC racing’s greatest drivers of all time after pulling off a hat trick of consecutive electric touring car World titles. Travelling to Finishline RC Raceway in Bakersfield, California, for the 12th running of the Championships two years after dominating the last World Championship in Italy, this time round the Xray driver faced a fierce competitor in Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski. With the duo the class of the field from the getgo, they would battle it out right through the week and into a title deciding A3 showdown. After they clashed in A1, handing touring car legend Marc Rheinard the win, A2 would see Top Qualifier Orlowski lead home the defending Champion and the stage was set for four days of action to come down to the very last 5-minutes of a very well executed Worlds. Leading away A3, Orlowski looked in control but after the first minute the Polish ace was struggling and making a small mistake on his 10th lap, Coelho didn’t need a second invitation to take advantage and go to the front. Still it was game on, the next lap however, Orlowski had another moment which dropped him back to 5th, Coelho now with a clear lead he was never going to relinquish. While Orlowski fought back, contact with Alexander Hagberg on the penultimate lap as they battled over second sealed the deal for Coelho as he also ran the fastest time of the three A-Mains meaning his 29th lap was a victory lap for his latest World title. Having both had an outside chance of the title going in the closing race former Champions Marc Rheinard and Ronald Volker would come together in A3 resulting in P7 and P8 finishes respectively. Overall however Rheinard would complete the podium ahead of his fellow countryman, itself an impressive result for a driver who won his first World title 20-years ago also on US soil.
Awesomatix’s Simon Lauter is the new ISTC ‘Spec’ World Champion, the German putting on a dominant display of driving at Finishline RC Raceway in California to secured the title in A2. Only the second running of the World Championship for the 17.5 Spec class, having finished runner-up to Alexandre Duchet 2-year ago at the inaugural event in Italy, Lauter made the trip to the US with just one goal in mind and executed a near perfectly campaign. Securing the TQ and winning A1 with ease, the back to back European Champion once again pulled clear of the field in A2 with one onlooker commenting that his race was the definition of the ‘perfect driving’. The only driver to top Lauter over the 6 qualifiers, Max Mächler would win A3 to make it a 1-2 for Awesomatix, the latter having given the manufacturer their first World title when he won the 1:12 Spec title in Florida last year. As the outgoing ‘Spec’ Champions Xray would complete the podium in Bakersfield with Jan Ratheisky, the German driver chasing home Mächler in A3 having taken P3 in the second A-Main after his body tuck in A1.
After the drama of A1 at the ISTC Worlds in California, A2 was to be a very straight forward affair with Top Qualifier Michal Orlowski taking the win ahead of defending World Champion Bruno Coelho. The biggest moment of the race would be the bad start by the Awesomatix of A1 winner Marc Rheinard, the multiple World Champion getting off line and dropping down the order to 6th before eventually recovering to his P4 starting position. As Orlowski was again shadowed by Coelho, the Portuguese however not looking as racy this time round, Mugen Seiki’s Ronald Volker joined the mix at the front. Looking very competitive, unfortunately the 2016 World Champion would go wide coming off the end of the main straight drop off the lead battle. While Orlowski would have 1 or 2 bobbles he maintained station to win and set a showdown for the third & final A-Main here at Finishline RC Raceway in Bakersfield.
