Tweet
With the expected move to LiPo batteries and brushless motors VRC has adapted its line of electric chassis and has completely changed away from the ‘old tech’ nickel metal hydrate cells and brushed motors. Virtual Racing Industries president Pieter Bervoets: “When we started modeling electric cars and components 4 years ago brushless and LiPo cells didn’t even exist, or at least not in radio controlled car racing. The market has now changed completely and for good reasons. So we had no other choice than to dump the old Nicads and brushless motors we had already modeled and go LiPo and brushless only. We go where the market goes!”
From the physics point of view there are small differences between NiMh and LiPo but we need to do more research on the discharge curves. With the brushless motors more work has to be done on the speed controllers with the variable timing and how timing affects heat build-up on the motor.
The pictures show the newly modeled Tamiya TRF416X car with special Exotek LiPo narrow chassis.
HÄTTICH AND BÜRGE 2010 VIRTUAL WORLD CHAMPIONS
Germany has ruled the 2010 the (last) editions of the Virtual World Championships, taking the titles and team wins in both 1:10 and 1:8 scale.
Frank Hättich ruled the 1:10 Worlds at Fiorano, defending his 2009 title in great style winning all 4 rounds of this heavily contested event with over 370 participants. Stefan Andersson from Sweden and Sebastian Bürge completed the 1:10 podium finishing 10 seconds and 1 lap respectively behind the 2010 World Champion.
In 1:8 it was Sebastian Bürge who took World Champion honors after a fears battle with Kevin Pignotti from Italy who look set to win it after having reigned in the 3 round preceding the 45 minute final at the Sao Paulo track. Bürge surprised Mingotti with a flawless final run, outpacing Pignotti and Brunke with just over a lap at the end.
Germany had a perfect ending of the year winning both titles with Hattich and Bürge and with young Tomas Brunke leading all the VRC rankings. The Nation Cup races in January will tell if Germany can hold on to this dominant position or that Italy or maybe France can restore themselves as the strongest nation in virtual rc racing.
7th VIRTUAL WINTERNATS
Early February VRC will organize the 7th edition of the virtual Winter Nationals at the Fort Myers track in Florida. As all the previous 6 editions the race will be held in the same week as the real Winter Nats. For this last edition the Fort Myers track will be free for everybody so everyone can join this race on one of the most brutal and unforgiving tracks on the international racing calendar. The Winter Nats will be raced in 1:8 canam and 1:10 sedan (open class) and a Rookies class with 1:10 sportscars. Qualifying will start January 31st.
VRC PRO – A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME…
We can’t wait to show you what the VRC team has been working on for the past 5 years so here is a sneak preview of what you can expect.
In 1:8 nitro you will have the choice between our own Intercept NR8, the Kyosho Evolva M3, the Serpent 966 chassis. The bodies will feature decal sets of all the leading brands in 1;8 nitro on-road racing: Kyosho, Serpent, Mugen, Shepherd, Motonica, Xray, Capricorn and our own Intercept.
1:10 nitro on-road will feature the Kyosho V-One RRR, the Xray NT1, the Serpent 733 and the Intercept NR10 chassis. The bodies come with decal sets for Kyosho, Serpent, Xray, Mugen, Shepherd, Team Magic, Capricorn and Intercept.
1:10 electric on-road has a full line up of all the popular models: Tamiya TRF417, Xray T3, Kyosho TF5, Associated TC5, HB Cyclone and the Intercept ER10. The bodies will have decal sets for all these models and for Schumacher and Yokomo.
There will be spec versions of all these chassis with lower performance motors and engines and limited set-up options. The spec versions of all components will be free for trial and full members. Only full members can get the full race versions of these chassis with the virtual cash they have earned with their VRC miles or purchased in the e-shop.
Final pricing of the subscriptions will be announced early February, 1, 3,6,12 and 24 months subscriptions will be offered, the longer the cheaper as you may expect. Publisher Virtual Racing Industries, based in the Netherlands, has decided to switch from dollars to euro’s to have a more stable basis for their project. On transaction level prices will also be shown in local currency.