Red RC » P Off Road

February 25, 2026

O.S. Engines announces Kaerup signing

Iconic Japanese engine manufacturer O.S. Engines has announced that electric offroad World Champion Marcus Kaerup has joined its official factory team. With 2026 a World Championship year for Nitro Buggy, the reigning 1:8 eBuggy and 1:10 4WD World Champion joins defending Nitro Buggy World Champion & Team Associated team-mate Davide Ongaro in using O.S. engines to power his nitro programme. The Danish teenager had been running Ruddog Racing branded engines and his new deal with O.S. is a significant one ahead of the 20th running of the IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championships which will be hosted by Thornhill Racing Circuit in Texas and run from September 26th to October 3rd.

Source: O.S. Engines [oos-engines.co.jp]

February 25, 2026

Power HD adds young British Offroad racer Grindley

Leading servo manufacturer Power HD has announced the addition of young British 1:8 Buggy racer Billy Grindley to their team for 2026. The European B Championship finalist, who represents WIRC/Reds Racing, enjoyed a strong 2025 season with results including being a British Nationals finalist, finishing runner-up in the Junior Nationals, and winning both the HNMC GP and the Slough GP. The teenager, whose 2026 season will include racing at the Neoland, a revival of the Neo Race over the Easter weekend, will use Power HD upgraded servo S35V2 for the coming season, which are more energy-efficient and less prone to overheating, make it perfectly suited for 1:8 Buggy. On the announcement, Grindley said, ‘I am Excited for my new adventure with PowerHD for the following season. I can’t wait to try them out for the first time on track, thank you to everyone at PowerHD for the opportunity.’

Source: PowerHD [chd.hk]

February 24, 2026

Avid Guardian & Sweeper Carpet Tyres

American upgrade parts producer Avid Racing Concepts has released two new 1:10 Buggy Carpet Tyres, the Guardian front and the Sweeper rear. The Guardian was designed to give predictable steering that stays consistent. After a single break-in run, Avid claim the tyre settles into its true performance window and holds it. Instead of chasing balance from run to run, you get a front end that stays planted, confident, and repeatable. For the rear, the Sweeper is designed around an aggressive arched chevron pin layout, it delivers strong forward drive and exceptional side bite without feeling edgy or unpredictable. Whether you’re carrying speed through long sweepers or getting on power out of the corner, they say the Sweeper keeps the rear planted so you can push with confidence lap after lap. Both tyres are offered in two compounds. A3 Medium Green is best suited for high-bite surfaces such as office carpet, tracks that allow traction compound, or extended practice sessions where longevity is important. The A4 Soft Red is designed for lower-bite surfaces (CRC, Beach, and EOS) style carpets and where traction compound is not allowed. It delivers maximum forward and steering grip when you are willing to trade a bit of wear for performance.

View more images here

February 24, 2026

Sester wins Buggy & Truggy at Motorama

Running as part of Motorama’s Custom Car, Truck and Bike Show and attracting just shy of 300 entries it was Sparko driver Lee Setser who was the big winner at the now all electric class event. The long running annual event which takes place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and with 2025 winner Chase Lemieux not returning to defend his win, it was Setser who ruled proceedings taking all four rounds of 1:8 eBuggy qualifying and three of the four eTruggy rounds. Xray driver Ethan MacKanick setting the fastest time in the opening Truggy qualifier. From the TQ, Setser would win the first of the double A-Mains in Buggy but had to settle for second behind MacKanick in A2. Overall however it was Setser for the win ahead of MacKanick who had a bad A1. The Xray of Jacob Hardison completed the podium. In Truggy, Setser won both A-Mains with 5th place qualifier Ben Decker finishing run up ahead of Hardison. In the Buggy Masters class it was Xray’s Paul Ciccarello who took the TQ and win.

Image: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

February 23, 2026

Sturdy & McMillan win South Australian State Titles

Schumacher’s Christopher Sturdy and Team Associated’s Jack McMillan are the RCRA 1:10 Buggy South Australian State Title Champions for 2026. Racing at Adelaide Radio Controlled Raceway, it was Sturdy who took the TQ honours in both 2WD and 4WD, the race having to be condensed down to 3 qualifiers and a hectic single day of race action due to rain forecast for Sunday. In 2WD, starting on pole ahead of McMillan, Sturdy took his first title for new for 2026 chassis sponsor Schumacher by winning A1 and A3 with A2 winner & team-mate Jayden Edmunds making it 1-2 for the British manufacturer. McMillan would complete the podium. In 4WD, starting on pole ahead of Phoenix Eggleton and McMillen, while Sturdy won A1, errors in A2 & 3 denied him a shot at the double. Winning A2 and finishing second to Edmunds in A3, McMillan took the overall title. With Edmunds again runner-up it was Sworkz driver Eggleton who completed the podium having won the SA State title in Stadium Truck.

Image: Christopher Sturdy [Facebook]

February 23, 2026

Ongaro opens Italian National Champs with double win

The four round 2026 1:8 Buggy AMSCI Italian National Championship kicked off over the weekend with 10-time consecutive Champion Davide Ongaro doing the double with wins in Nitro & eBuggy. Racing at the Nitro Plaza Off Road Marigllanella track near Naples, qualifying would see Ongaro’s Team Associated top the ranking with 3 TQ runs ahead of the Sworkz of Mattia Polito, who took the opening round, and Xray’s Alex Zanchettin. After Semi finals however it was Polito who would start on pole for the 45-minute main from Ongaro and Serpent’s Giuseppe Tescione. Despite laying down the fastest lap of the race, Polito wouldn’t be able to deny Ongaro the win. They would be joined on the podium by Mugen Seiki’s Burak Kilic, the Turkish racer winning the Last Chance Fnal to come from 13th in the grid to deny the WIRC of Andrea Trevisan a Top 3 finish. In eBuggy Onagro also took the TQ and win ahead of Polito with Trevisan completing the podium.

Image: Mauro Ongaro [Facebook]

February 21, 2026

Xray XB8’26 1:8 Nitro Buggy

Having presented their latest Electric Buggy last week, Xray has now released details their 2026 1:8 Nitro Buggy kit, the XB8’26. Among the features are a new chassis plate with revised rear C-holder position & increased clearance for the clutch bell. New C-suspension holder with lower positions & updated geometry help increase traction while a new rear wing mount with larger contact surface for the new included Hudy rear wing delivers increased downforce & stability. The first car from the Slovakian manufacturer with having had a year of feedback from top US racer Dakotah Phend, the kit gets a new 4-shoe clutch system and 4-shoe 14T clutch bell. Other revisions include new graphite ball joints for suspension links reduce friction & maintain free movement in all conditions with new graphite anti-roll bar ball joints also guving the same benefits. New side guard screws with integrated washer for easier installation.

View the full XB8’26 presentation here

February 20, 2026

Team Associated RC10B6 Builder’s Support Kit 2

Team Associated has announced the release of this RC10B6 Builder’s Support Kit 2 which brings their race-winning technology to Builder’s assembling dirt oval sprint cars, late models, and custom drag cars. With the applications are endless, the Builder’s Support Kit has the major sub-assemblies builders need in a value-packed kit, without having to pay for excess 2WD off-road buggy parts. At the heart of the RC10B6 Builder’s Support Kit is the Laydown, Layback, and Standup transmissions with ball differential; all gearboxes are included. Putting the power down is the next-generation Octalock slipper clutch with Factory Team LCF slipper pads. Along with the easy-access rear differential, the rear end includes standard pivot rear blue aluminium arm mounts, 69mm CVA bones and B7 rear hubs. The kit also includes a set of four 13mm Big Bore shocks, all four with 23mm length bodies for custom build applications. Builders need only select an appropriate application, and they can bolt on the suspension, shocks, hubs, drivetrain, and gearbox from the Builder’s kit. The opportunities are endless to customise your dirt oval or drag car from any of the B6-based third-party specialty manufacturers in the industry.

View kit features & more images here