Hello All
For the first time, I’m publishing some words about my feelings of the RC scene.
First thing, I’ve been a bit shocked to know Tamiya ended TRF; it’s the end of an incredible collaboration between the “biggest” brand in the RC industry, and one of the nicest driver, Marc Rheinard. I think we all had a Tamiya car by the past, and we have also all been impressed by the pure talent of Marc Rheinard.
The entire Rheinard family has also for sure been determinant to bring RC racing at the highest level in Europe, by creating ETS with the help of Scotty Ernst and the very professional Red-RC crew. Thank you all for what you done each year for the RC hobby.
Global brands and drivers:
Many things seem to change in the RC racing scene; new brands are growing, older ones are reducing teams etc. In my eyes we are in a very exciting period with many changes, and many chances for some drivers and companies to show something different and to put themselves under the lights.
Serpent made an incredible job and created a very original car. I don’t know if this one is affordable and if a lambda driver is able to tune it without aspirin, but for sure the car showed high potential and I can only be respectful of the risk taken by the brand and the designer.
VBC also made a nice job on their new car, and recruited top drivers to have a strong team. I’m sure they will be the third team right after Xray and Yokomo, at equality with Awesomatix.
If we check the popular brands in 1/10 touring, and think about what was RC since decades, what about Tamiya, Kyosho and Associated ? These big names, are replaced by new companies in the pits… even if some of them are still very active in other categories. Only Yokomo remains on top after so many years; and we also could say Xray, even if the brand isn’t old as the four mentioned.
There are also many changes on the driver’s side, and with TRF ending now, this will increase this global movement.
There are also some newcomers with incredible talent, like Alexandre Duchet arrived from France like a meteor! He showed all his talent all the year. After years in Mini-Z, Alexandre started 1/10 Touring one year ago. For his first year in the category, he became 10.5 Stock French Champion, finished 2nd at the Euro in Slovakia, and now wins ETS round 1 in Czech Republic. He also tried 1/8 on road classic brushless this year, and is now French champion and also finished second of the euro. How many guys are going crazy by reading this paragraph !?
So yes, many changes in the driver’s field, especially this year. New talents are coming, and older ones changing team!
I can’t say if this situation will lower the costs / salaries of pro drivers, but I think it will be quickly being more difficult to find sponsors for high level racing drivers, the number of them will probably be reduced in the next months; we will see.
Team Magic:
Even if Team Magic is a small brand, we received many driver’s inquiries; from drivers of different levels, professional driver to club racer. Top driver’s demands are usually something difficult to manage due to costs… we are still a small team and small company, but for sure we are very pleased to see top drivers really interested in our car and team; and not for money only.
I recently signed some new drivers in the team, and I would like to say welcome to them through these lines. They all seem very excited and motivated. I already announced Martin Sorlie from Norway and the young Luca Becker from Luxembourg, and I will officially announce some new drivers soon, especially from Belgium; I just miss some pictures to do that.
The next step will be the Team Magic Workshop in Antwerpen / Belgium. I’m very proud to have nice and so motivated drivers in the team to organise that kind of event. Thank you Pasquinel for that!
Many Team Magic drivers will participate this event, like Patrick Gassauer, Rob Janssen, Jacques Libars, Richard Arts and of course almost all the Belgian TM drivers. Steven Weiss also managed to have free days to be able to come both days, thank you a lot to him for that.
Of course, I invite any RC driver, of any brand, to join us on Sunday, which will be an open day at the EZ Racing Track in Antwerpen.
Best regards to all, wish you all the best for the next races and see you at the racetrack !
Lionel Troyon – TM team manager and product designer