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Xray have introduced the 2017 variant of their successful NT1 1/10th 200mm nitro on-road kit. IFMAR World and EFRA European as well as multi-time national champion, the NT1 has proven to be very successful in the past with the 2017 variant again offering many refined areas over radical new designs and so the car is based off of a slightly updated aluminium main chassis that features larger cut-outs in the front and reinforcements in the rear for updated flex characteristics while a mirrored flywheel opening makes for equal left-to-right flex.

Attached to the new chassis are updated rear bulkheads for improved rear suspension flex while redesigned bulkhead upper clamps offer increased durability. Also new in the rear of the car is a 1-piece RF suspension mount that is connected to the rear bulkhead halves while interlocking with the chassis plate for improved centring.

Part of the 2017 package is also a new, stronger carbon fibre rear shock tower that improves high-speed steering while the body posts are mounted farther apart for increased stability. On top of this does a new carbon fibre roll centre bridge remove unwanted flex of the rear suspension for again increased corner speeds.

Attaching to the new chassis is a new centralised “floating” engine mount that is fixed close to the chassis’ roll centre for optimised rear end flex while not disturbing the natural left-to-right hand twist.

All new brake pad material makes for smoother and more consistent braking and also better braking feeling.

Updated, longer rear lower suspension pins make relocating the rear arms and thus the wheelbase by about 2mm easy, resulting in improved traction.

Moving forward in the chassis, the 2017 variant sports an updated 2-speed layshaft mount that lowers the shaft for an overall lower centre of gravity. The bulkhead also mounts to the chassis with more screws and an all-new graphite reinforcement plate connects the bulkhead halves for improved stability.

Also new on the NT1’17 are redesigned aluminium radio tray mounts for more equal flex characteristics while a relocated side belt tensioner directly mounting to the alloy radio plate holder for reduced wear.

An all-new carbon fibre radio plate offers improved mid-corner steering, greater front suspension flex and improved forward traction.

Replacing the previous link is a repositioned graphite rear chassis stiffener that connects the right hand 2-speed bulkhead and the rear radio plate mount.

Up front all-new aluminium upper arm holders make for improved flex of the front suspension and thus increased forward traction. This is further helped by softer upper A-arms that improve mid-corner steering and forward traction.

Another new feature up front are redesigned pivot balls whose narrower shank increases steering throw which can be helpful on tight and twitchy tracks.

The updated front end is rounded out by a new, softer 2.0mm swaybar wire for increased mid-corner steering. The kit will hit stores by the time you read this.

New features:
– All-new chassis features stiffer area under rear suspension for increased stability, larger openings under front suspension for increased forward traction. An additional opening (matching the flywheel opening) has been added to the other side of the chassis for equal side flex.
– All-new redesigned aluminium rear bulkheads for improved flex characteristics of the rear suspension.
– All-new redesigned aluminium rear upper clamps work with new rear bulkheads and offer increased durability.
– All-new redesigned aluminium rear – front 1-piece suspension holder allows mounting of the rear bulkheads into the holder for improved flex of the rear suspension. The holder is now inserted into the chassis for better centring.
– All-new redesigned aluminium rear 2-speed shaft bulkheads lower the rear 2-speed shaft to decrease the CG of the rotating parts.
– All-new graphite reinforcement plate connects the rear 2-speed shaft bulkheads for improved stability.
– All-new thicker graphite rear shock tower improves high-speed steering. Body posts are mounted on the shock tower wider for increased stability.
– All-new thicker graphite roll-centre bridge removes unwanted flex of the rear suspension and improved cornering speed.
– All-new updated aluminium upper arm holders offer improved flex of the front suspension and forward traction.
– All-new softer upper suspension arms offer improved in-corner steering and increased forward traction.
– Upgraded steel pivot balls allow increased steering angle for better cornering speed and out-of-corner steering.
– All-new redesigned aluminium radio plate mounts are now mounted to the chassis equidistant from the the chassis centreline, and inline for more equal chassis flex characteristics.
– All-new relocated side-belt tensioner mounts directly to the aluminium radio plate holder to reduce wear.
– All-new redesigned graphite radio plate offers improved in-corner steering, improved front suspension flex, and improved forward traction.
– All-new graphite rear stiffener works with the new repositioned aluminium radio plate mounts to increase stability.  Replaces the previous link.
– All-new redesigned engine mounts offer improved and more equal chassis flex under the engine area.
– All-new brake pad material for smoother, more consistent braking and better braking feeling.
– All-new redesigned rear lower pivot pins work with adjustable rear wheelbase.
– All-new adjustable rear wheelbase allows 2mm rearward relocation of the rear arms for improved traction.
– All-new 2.0mm softer front anti-roll bar wire is included in the kit for improved in-corner steering.
– Improved flex of the front & rear suspensions.

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]

Round one of the Xray Racing Series Alpe Adria was held at the Slovenian Mini Circuit Na Logo in Tolmin with drivers from five different countries in attendance. The weekend started off with practice on Saturday that held pretty high temperatures for this time of the year but cooler and even rainy weather was predicted for Sunday. As for the racing action, in 1/10th Electric Touring it was Andrea Ghilotti who took the TQ while in 1/8th Electric GT it was Grega Hrovat on pole. In the three nitro classes the TQ positions went to Gabor Laszlo in 1/10th Touring, Fabio Callegari in 1/8th GT and Nejc MIhelič in 1/8th on-road. Due to the predicted rain kicking in the organisers opted to sit out the rain shower and to shorten the mains.

In 1/10th Touring Stock 13.5 it was the pole sitter Andrea Ghilotti who won in front of Rok Rudl and Jan Pernarčič. All three drivers had pretty straight forward races with no big battles.

Touring Stock 13.5T final results:
1. Andrea Ghilotti – Xray
2. Rok Rudl – Xray
3. Jan Pernarčič – Xray
4. Željko Selman – Xray
5. Gabriel Benvenuti – Xray
6. Luka Školaris – Xray
7. Arno Webernig – Xray
8. Thomas Thaler – Xray

In 1/10th Nitro Touring and right from the start Gabor Laszlo, Paolo Mariuzza and Fabio Callegari fought for the lead. Later Fabio had a crash followed by some technical issues which put him into 3rd place overall. At the end Paolo managed to take win in front of Gabor.

Nitro Touring final results:
1. Paolo Mariuzza
2. Gabor Laszlo
3. Fabio Callegari
4. Sašo Kramljak
5. Bjan Mikožič
6. Lovro Šušteršič

1/8th Electric GT was won by Grega Hrovat from Nejc Oražem and Rok Pongrac.

1/8 Electric GT results:
1. Grega Hrovat
2. Nejc Oražem
3. Rok Pongrac
4. Matevž Homar
5. Janez Jerovšek
6. Anže Leban
7. Gašper Ravbar
8. Sašo Kramljak
9. Matevž Furlan

The 1/8 GT nitro class was almost cancelled, as some Croatian drivers went ill and only three drivers remained. In order to get this race done it was decided to let them race with the 1/8 Electric GT cars and in the end the class was won by Fabio Callegari.

1/8 Nitro GT results:
1. Fabio Callegari
2. Robert Jezerčič
3. Aleksandar Žaja

The 1/8th on-road category was meant to be an interesting one to watch, since the pole position went to fast Nejc Mihelič from Alojzij Osvald and Jernej Vuga, the latter having mileage problems during all qualification runs and a small engine problem was discovered only after the final. In the final Nejc started well as did Alojzij and Jernej. Before the end of first lap Jernej passed Alojzij and went catching Nejc since his pace was a little faster. Later Nejc made a contact with a backmarker while Jernej was a few seconds behind him. This allowed Jernej to pass him and to built a small gap but then Nejc hit some technical problems and had to pit. This allowed Jernej to cruise to victory while posting also the fastest lap of the final.

1/8th on-road final results:
1. Jernej Vuga Štendler
2. Bušac Luka
3. Valentin Mis
4. Goran Vignjevič
5. Denis Fink
6. Roland Riegler
7. Nejc Mihelič
8. Zvonimir Matošič
9. Alojzij Osvald
10. Mihael Galekovič
11. Gerald Stuckler
12. Marko Pristov

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]

American offroad ace Ryan Maifield is to make his Euro Offroad Series debut with the confirmation he will travel to the season finale of the five round championship in Wels, Austria (21-23 April).  Joining Yokomo’s 1:10 Offroad team for the 2017 season, the 4-times EOS Champion manufacturer will be hoping the input of their high profile signing will lead to the team’s first win of Season #6 since Marc Rheinard won the season opener.  With both EOS buggy title’s having been decided at Arena 33 in Germany earlier this month, all drivers will be targeting the win to cap off the season with Maifield’s participation adding an extra dimension to winning at Austria’s largest Hobby Show.  Featured on the Euro Touring Series calendar last year, the Modellbau Wels show attracted over 30,000 visitors.  At last season’s finale, held at the Nurburgring, Maifield’s great rival Ryan Cavalieri became the first American to win a round of the indoor carpet track based championship but it wasn’t the Team Associated driver’s first EOS outing.  Accompanying Maifield on the trip will be the Arizona driver’s longtime sponsor Jason Ruona whose JConcepts brand is an associated sponsor of this year’s Euro Offroad Series.

Source: Euro Offroad Series [eurooffroadseries.com]

American offroad ace Ryan Maifield is to make his Euro Offroad Series debut with the confirmation he will travel to the season finale of the five round championship in Wels, Austria (21-23 April).  Joining Yokomo’s 1:10 Offroad team for the 2017 season, the 4-times EOS Champion manufacturer will be hoping the input of their high profile signing will lead to the team’s first win of Season #6 since Marc Rheinard won the season opener.  With both EOS buggy title’s having been decided at Arena 33 in Germany earlier this month, all drivers will be targeting the win to cap off the season with Maifield’s participation adding an extra dimension to winning at Austria’s largest Hobby Show.  Featured on the Euro Touring Series calendar last year, the Modellbau Wels show attracted over 30,000 visitors.  At last season’s finale, held at the Nurburgring, Maifield’s great rival Ryan Cavalieri became the first American to win a round of the indoor carpet track based championship but it wasn’t the Team Associated driver’s first EOS outing.  Accompanying Maifield on the trip will be the Arizona driver’s longtime sponsor Jason Ruona whose JConcepts brand is an associated sponsor of this year’s Euro Offroad Series.

Hobbywing have announced the signing of multi-time IFMAR World Champion, Naoto Matsukura to their factory team. The Infinity driver will use Hobbywing brushless speed controller and motors in all of his electric rides in 2017 and he has the following to say about the deal:

I am very happy to join Hobbywing team. I tested 1:10 off-road power combos last month and found it super good. Then I decided to use Hobbywing power in CETC first round to feel it on my touring car and it worked amazing. I think Hobbywing can provide me the best combos in all my electric classes. Thanks to Hobby and Sekido for this good opportunity.

Source: Hobbywing [hobbywing.com]

Schelle Racing Innovations have introduced a carbon fibre gearbox shim set for the Team Associated B64 buggy. Made from 1mm sheet material the shims are used separately or even stacked to raise the rear gearbox and suspension mounts as a tuning option for certain track conditions. Raising the assembly can lead to a more responsive rear end and more entry and mid-corner steering. Strategic cut-outs prevent backwards differential installation and the shims only work on the rear suspension.

Source: Schelle Racing Innovations [schelleracing.com]

Italian company 7075.it have introduced new option parts for the Xray T4 series of touring cars in the form of a battery mount system and two centre brass weights. Starting with the battery mounts, they utilise new brackets that incorporate slots for the mounting tape, doing away with the need to use the respective chassis slots which results in reduced chassis tweak and also a more secure battery mounting as there are less chances to damaging the tape during a run. The brackets are included as lightweight 9g aluminium and heavy 20g brass blocks which gives the possibility to adapt the weight bias and overall weight. The brackets can also be mixed for even greater influence on the weight distribution and to top things off they also use adjustable stops to shift the battery pack forth and back by about 3mm. The alloy parts come black anodised and laser-etched for wear and looks.

Also new are the 27g and 35g centre weights for the T4. Due to their design they not only add weight in the very centre of the car but they also allow to adjust the torsional flex of the car when running carbon fibre chassis. A total of three settings, flex, stiff and super stiff, are possible depending on the amount of screws and type of fixing used. The weights come made of high-quality brass, they are polished and sport machined weight markings.

Source: 7075.it [7075.it]

RC Excitement recently held their Supercross Showdown Race and in the 4WD Modified Buggy class it was Caleb Jennings who took the win from Jared Phair, coming from the 6th spot and chasing Caleb for a good part of the race, in 2nd and Mike Barkus 3rd. In Modified Truck Jared Phair jumped into the lead right at the tone and he would bring home the win from Jose Rodriguez in 2nd and Luis Moreno 3rd.

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]

Xray have released a lightweight variant of their XT2 stadium truck bodyshell. About 25 percent lighter than the standard body, the lightweight variant will lower the centre of gravity for higher corner speeds, a more aggressive handling and an overall improved performance especially on high bite surfaces and when running stock motor classes.

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]

Japanese company Active Hobby Products have introduced their new wide flange M4 wheel nuts for 1/10th on-road and off-road cars. Offering an increased diameter of 11.3mm, compared to the 9.6mm of most flanged M4 nuts, the parts allow for a more secure wheel fitment while also reducing wobbling issues associated with small diameter nuts. At 5mm they are also thicker than many fasteners and a serrated back section grips into the wheel’s surface for greater security against unintended loosing than standard nyloc nuts. The wheel nuts come in sets of four, in the five colours of black, blue, red, orange and silver and due to their diameter they may not fit all wheels on the market.

Source: Active Hobby Products [active-hobby.com]

Coming from Exotek and made for the TLR 22 4.0 and 3.0 buggies equipped with standup gearboxes is a carbon fibre battery strap. The design works with the stock body clips or Exotek’s optional twist nut post set and it is stronger than the standard battery retainer, keeping the battery from moving while adding visual impact at the same time. Included with the battery strap comes an alloy hinge plate for secure mounting.

Source: Exotek [exotekracing.com]