February 11, 2026

TITC Rewind – a quick look back on recent moments from the world’s greatest race

In 2003 when the first edition of the Thailand International Touring Car Championship was held no one could have ever imagined what this race would become.  For sure the fact that the first ever 1:10 Electric Touring Car World Champion Surikarn Chaidajsuriya won it as the reigning World Champion brought attention to the race and got it off on the right footing, but over the 20 editions held since it has established itself into one of the races that every great driver of our sport wants to claim.  Like the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500, Le Mans, and the Dakar Rally, are to full size motorsport, the TITC is iconic and one of the most coveted wins there is in Electric Touring Car and RC racing in general.  Manufacturers of all sizes flock to it such is its significance and only an IFMAR World title trumps it in terms of prestige but for that you must wait 2-years between attempts.  For drivers it is not a case of flying out a day or two early to get into the swing of driving around the Infinity RC Addict track in conditions that are always changing due to the Thai heat & humidity.  Drivers pretty much relocated themselves in Bangkok in search of finding that little something that might help them come out victorious at the end of what is officially only a 4-day event, all else going well because it can be a cruel race.  Australian racer Michael Stone made his TITC debut last year and asking him on our arrival to cover the 2025 action how he was finding the experience his reply summed it up perfectly, ‘I am coming for longer next year.’  The race hadn’t even officially started at that stage but it highlights the unique atmosphere that you have to actually experience to truly appreciate.  On the eve of the official action getting underway and the 22nd edition attracting the greatest media attention the TITC has ever seen, including its first proper livestream production by our friends RC Race Media, we want to rewind a little and take a look back at some of the more recent editions of the TITC as we look forward to telling the story of our sixth TITC.

While we had been to RC Addict in 2012 to witness Thai driver Meen Vejrak become the IFMAR Nitro Touring Car World Champion ahead of Atsushi Hara and Francesco Tironi, our first TITC would be in 2017.  Bruno Coelho had won the race for the first time a year earlier and he was to successfully defended that title but only after what he described at the time as the ‘hardest win’ of his career.  Qualifying would see Jilles Groskamp take the opening two qualifiers with Coelho taking the next two leaving it all to play for in Q5, but on the limit & under pressure from Coelho who had a really strong car for that round, Groskamp made a mistake and crashed out allowing Coelho to secure the TQ.  In A1 Coelho took an easy win as a frantic battle took place for second with the Yokomo of Nicolas Lee coming out on top.  Coelho would however make a mistake in A2 and crash out with team-mate Alexander Hagberg also having an error, with both incidents delaying Groskamp.  This allowed Lee to take the win meaning it was all up for grabs in A3.  While Groskamp was no longer a title contender, he put huge pressure on Coelho and contact between them would allow the Yokomo of Ronald Volker to go to the front for the win but Coelho still needed the second in order to beat Lee for the overall on tie-break.  He did it but admitted he didn’t enjoy the level of pressure he was under for the 2nd place.  Lee was frustrated he backed off to protect his lead in A2 as it ultimately cost him a TITC title.  Volker completed the podium ahead of Groskamp.  Interestingly Marc Rheinard made his debut for Infinity at the 2017 edition but it proved a challenging few days and he ended up qualifying in the B-Main!  After of our first TITC experience we had caught the bug and were the race’s newest fan recruits.

Back for more in 2018, we would witness Akio Sobue win spectacularly by 3/1000ths of a second.  While defending champion Coelho secured the TQ, the battle for the win would be between Sobue and Hagberg, with a win a piece, and Rheinard after Coelho crashed out of title contention in A2.  Hagberg needed the A3 win, Sobue having the advantage of the faster winning time.  Starting second behind Coelho, his team-mate opened the door to put Hagberg where he needed to be.  With Naoto Matsukura and Coelho clashing at the next corner, Sobue and Rheinard now made up the Top 3, the stage set for the 3-way showdown.  After an initial challenge on Hagberg, Sobue dropped back with Hagberg looking like Xray was going to retain the title but over the final 3-laps the race came alive again as the Japanese driver reeled in the leader.  On the last run through the sweeper, Sobue went for a pass getting out of shape in the process before attempting a pass on the inside of the Swede and there was contact, both cars spinning out.  With Hagberg resuming in the lead, with a bigger gap than before the contact, it looked as though the race was decided with three turns to go, but Sobue wasn’t conceding that easily and launching his car at the finish line managed the perfect line to snatch a win by 0.003 of a second that left everyone in amazement.  Behind, 2012 Champion Vejrak crossed the line third securing the final step on the podium ahead of Rheinard.

While we set-off on our first flight for what should have been our third consecutive TITC in 2019, it all came to an abrupt stop when we reached Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.  Pakistan had closed its airspace due to missile strikes and this caused complete travel chaos.  The alternative routes offered would have only got us to Bangkok just in time for the Sunday finals with that option including an overnight stay in Russia!  Unfortunately we would miss seeing Hagberg make up for missing out by a hair’s length a year earlier.  Securing the TQ, he fended off Sobue in A1 and Naoto Matsukura in A2 to claim his second TITC win having previously won in 2015.

2020 would be the year Sobue became a repeat winner giving Infinity title number 2 but that trip will probably be best remembered as the last big race before our world changed forever.  At the time Xray, staunch supporters of the TITC each year, made the decision not to travel to Thailand due to health concerns over a virus outbreak in Asia.  Rheinard and Ronald Volker also opted to not travel for that reason.  While big names were absent, Sobue took a perfectly executed victory in an all Infinity podium that saw Jilles Groskamp finish runner-up and Naoto Matsukura third.  Little did we know that within 2-weeks of Sobue’s win the world would start to shutdown due to the Corona Virus.

Having been forced to go two years without a TITC due to Covid, on the race’s return in 2023 it was Coelho who put the race back on the international stage with a perfect weekend.  From the TQ Coelho wrapped up his 3rd TITC win ahead of the outgoing Champion Sobue and Ishioka Hayato.  The win made Xray the race’s most winning manufacturer.

Having to wait until 2024 to make our post Covid return, we would witness a great drive from Mugen Seiki’s Ronald Volker, the resurgent 2016 World Champion securing the TQ honours ahead of the defending champion Coelho but the finals that followed would divide fans across the globe.  With Volker leading A1, Coelho would tangle with the German handing Rheinard the win.  A2 would be a repeat scenario, this time Hagberg the benefactor.  Having witnessed many racing incidents over the 20 years Red RC has been online, and for many years joked with Volker that he is one of the most PC drivers on the world tour, the frustration of those two incidents exploded out of him that day.  In A3 his weekend wouldn’t get any better and he would spin out of the lead on his own handing Coelho the leg and a record equalling fourth win.  Hagberg and Rheinard completed the podium with P6 not any reflection of how on form Volker was that year a decade after his only TITC win.

As used in our main headline for last year’s 21st running of the TITC, the Rookie came and the Rookie conquered, after a number of year’s of other class commitments preventing him from attending, Michal Orlowski showed up in style.  Completing a clean sweep of all four rounds of qualifying, he was untouchable and winning A1 & 2 gave Schumacher their first TITC win to see them become the sixth different manufacturers to do so.  2025 also marked the race debut of Bruno Coelho for Infinity.  Chasing three in a row, having a year earlier claimed Xray’s 8th win and matched the all time winning record of Hara, the World Champion wouldn’t quite pull off the fairy tale debut with Infinity but second wasn’t a bad way to begin his new adventure with the Japanese manufacturer that has only gotten a lot stronger over the 12-months since.  The result however was very nearly a third place as we witnessed a flash of pure Marc Rheinard greatest as he made a last lap pass on his great rival but with a better line at the final corner Coelho just beat the Awesomatix to the loop.

With 11 different drivers having gotten to raise the TITC winning trophy above their head, 6 of them on more than one occasion, will 2026 see a new name emerge or will we witness Coelho becoming the TITC’s most successful driver.  Thanks to Cayote and Gens ace we will spend the next four days at RC Addict following how the action unfolds.

TITC Roll of Honour

2025 – Michał Orłowski (Schumacher)
2024 – Bruno Coelho (Xray)
2023 – Bruno Coelho (Xray)
2022 – Cancelled due to Covid
2021 – Cancelled due to Covid
2020 – Akio Sobue (Infinity)
2019 – Alexander Hagberg (Xray)
2018 – Akio Sobue (Infinity)
2017 – Bruno Coehlo (Xray)
2016 – Bruno Coelho (Xray)
2015 – Alexander Hagberg (Xray)
2014 – Ronald Volker (Yokomo)
2013 – Atsushi Hara (Hot Bodies)
2012 – Meen Vejrak (Xray)
2011 – Andy Moore (Hot Bodies)
2010 – Atsushi Hara (Hot Bodies)
2009 – Atsushi Hara (Hot Bodies)
2008 – Teemu Leino (Xray)
2007 – Andy Moore (Hot Bodies)
2006 – Marc Rheinard (Tamiya)
2005 – Atsushi Hara (Hot Bodies)
2004 – Surikarn Chaidajsuriya (Tamiya)
2003 – Surikarn Chaidajsuriya (Tamiya)

 

Manufacturer Modified Wins

Xray – 8 wins
Hot Bodies – 6 wins
Tamiya – 3 wins
Infinity – 2 wins
Schumacher – 1 win
Yokomo – 1 win

February 9, 2026

TITC coverage presented by Cayote | Gens ace

Race week has arrived for the world’s most important annual touring car race and Red RC is excited to announce we are teaming up with electronics manufacturer Cayote and battery manufacturer Gens ace to bring you coverage from the legendary TITC in Thailand.  The 22nd edition of the race, this being Red RC’s sixth time to attend, it has become the most significant Modified Touring Car race in world coming second only in prestige to the IFMAR ISTC World Championship.  An event that brings together all the right elements that make for a truly unique racing atmosphere – location, track, ever changing conditions, and the buzz in the busy pits – it sees manufacturers & drivers bring their A-game as they seek to claim a coveted TITC title.  Last year we experienced the hugely impressive TITC debut of Michal Orlowski and the Schumacher star is back to try & defend his title, a feat that has only ever been achieved by World Champions.  Surikarn Chaidajsuriya won the first running of the race in 2003 and again a year later.  Atsushi Hara won in 2005 before going back to back in 2010.  Winning again in 2013, Hara together with Bruno Coelho are the race’s most winning drivers with 4 wins each.  The reigning World Champion, Coelho made his debut for Infinity at RC Addict last year.  Racing a brand new prototype car he couldn’t quite complete three in a row finishing second to Orlowski, but now firmly settled in with his new team he will be a serious contender to become the races most winning driver but the best n the world have their own plans to be on the top step of the podium.  With many drivers already well settled-in in Bangkok and clocking up mileage, some very heavy rain showers halting the action but hopefully not going to effect the race program, our coverage will start when the 2026 TITC officially gets underway on Thursday and concludes with the latest entry into the race’s Roll of Honour on Sunday.

January 30, 2026

2026 Asia Nitro Party Chassis Focus Index

Last weekend Red RC kicked off our 2026 race coverage by travelling to China to the impressive Hongyu GDC track in Foshan for the inaugural running of the Asia Nitro Party.  A brand new nitro onroad race providing an international stage for the category, it attracted a stacked international entry that only looks set to grow after a successful first edition.  With newly crowned IFMAR 1:8 GT World Champion Alessio Mazzeo and his Raptor leading the biggest category, 1:8 GT, in 1:8 GP it was IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship Top Qualifier Andrea Catanzani and his Serpent who led the entry.  Come the finals however the Italians couldn’t put their name on the race’s opening role of honour, that instead going to France’s double European Champion Bernard-Alain Arnaldi and Genius in GT and Infinity’s Naoto Matsukura in 1:8 GP.   Over the busy weekend of high revving racing action we managed to get our hands on 8 cars from 6 different manufacturers and for those who missed the any of these chassis focuses as part of coverage from the Asia Nitro Party we have compiled them in our first Chassis Focus Index of 2026.

1:8 GP

Naota Matsukura (Q14/Winner) – Infinity

Filippo Domanin (Q5/P2) – Xray

Andrea Catanzani (Q4/P3) – Serpent

Sinnosuke Yokoyama (Top Qualifier/P8) – Mugen Seiki

JJ Wang (Q2/P5) – Mugen Seiki

 

1:8 GT

Bernard-Alain Arnaldi (Q2/Winner) – Genius

Alessio Mazzeo (Q4/P2) – Raptor

Natanaele Senesi (Top Qualifier/P3) – Senesi Motorsport

 

January 25, 2026

Arnaldi takes GT victory at Asian Nitro Party

With the 1:8 GT Final bringing a successful inaugural Asian Nitro Party race to a close under the lights at the Hongyu GDC track, it was Genius’ Bernard-Alain Arnaldi who took the win in China.  It was to be a drama packed start to the 45-minute final with World Champion Alessio Mazzeo calling a time out during the warm-up due to an engine issue.  With that time out expiring, as the rest of the field headed to the grid after complete a restarted warm-up, Mazzeo’s car only making its back onto the starter having been fitted with a new engine that still needed to be tuned.  With this hastily done by Gimar’s Giovanni Crea to try not miss the start, the Italian would have to begin from the pit lane.  With that immediately putting him half lap down, Italy’s quest for victory was struck a blow for a second time as Top Qualifier Natanaele Senesi would flame just 2 corners after the start.  He would rejoin two laps down as Spain’s Raul Anton led the way in front of team-mate Arnaldi, who had had a mistake at the first corner.  Anton would soon allow the Frenchman to go to the front, giving Arnaldi plenty of room to execute a pass at the end of lap 6.  Once there that was where he would stay til the finish.  With Mazzeo’s Raptor the fastest car on track, it did look like we might be in for a showdown in the closing stages of the race.  Getting the gap down to 3-seconds, unfortunately damage to his body would in turn lead to it cutting into his tyre and causing his pace to drop right off and allowing Arnaldi to build back up his advantage to win by 16-seconds.  All the time, as the Mazzeo tried to chase down the leader, Senesi was working his way back up through the field to salvage a podium finish.

Reacting to his win, Arnaldi said, ‘It was a very good race for me except for one mistake at the first corner.  After that I raced with a lot of strategy for our refuelling and tyres.  This was very hard because Alessio is very fast, but it work out very well.’  The 2-time European Champion continued, ‘My car was very consistent, my engine consumption was very good.  I made two less refuelling than Alessio.’  On the battle that was looming in the closing stages of the race he said, ‘I don’t push 100% in the race so at the end I had still enough tyre to respond to Alessio.’  Summing up the event he said, ‘’The weekend started slow & bad and every day it got better & better.  I was maybe not happy with our speed in the end but the end race result is perfect.’  Asked about coming back to defend his win next year, the Asia Nitro Party set to establish itself as a season opener on the international nitro onroad calendar, Arnaldi replied, ‘For sure’.  Today’s win is perfect preparation for his French National GT Championship which kicks off in a months time but before that he reverts to a race organiser of his own Large Scale & GT8 race, this year being its 5th edition.

Putting his engine trouble ahead of the race down to some sort of dirt getting into the engine, Mazzeo said they had no choice but to change it ahead of the final.  He explain, ‘we take an engine from Natanaele, so thank you Natanaele and Michelle for the engine, but when we started the engine was not set for carburation so we set it during the race.  We had to come in many times to adjust it.  The engine was sometime too rich so we loose time on the track with that also.’  The 33-year-old continued, ‘We start from the pit lane, not P11, and I tried to catch BA (Arnaldi) but we lost a bit of time in the pit lane with the body touching but still in the end I think I could do it because the gap was only 4-seconds, but on my last pit stop I touched the wall and the body went in and cut the tyre so that was like ‘you have no win today’.  The race was like a big quali, I pushed every lap and our pace was super fast’.  Always a driver with great respect for his rivals, he said, ‘Congrats to BA and I am happy for Genius because it is an Italian brand so I am happy they won in Asia.’  He was also full of praise for the race and his first trip to China, ‘It has been an amazing race so I will be back next year for sure.  Gavin (Kwok) did an amazing job.  It’s an experience that is impossible to describe, you have to come live it.’  While his next race will see him at the controls of an 1:8 Buggy at his engine sponsor’s Gimar Trophy Race, in March he will be back to GT for the opening round of the Italian National at his home track of Naxos in Scilly.

Trying to explain the flame out that robbed him of the chance of a perfect debut using the Raptor chassis, Senesi said, ‘I started, the engine was good and I arrived at the second corner but since I release the throttle and went slowly on it again I fouled up the engine and it stopped.  I lost 2-laps and then it was an impossible race to come back’.   Recapping the weekend’s performance, he sad, ‘I think at the beginning of the race we where the fastest, then Alessio came in pretty good, and without the flame out I think it would have been another race but overall I am super happy because it is the first race with new car and I TQ’d and make P3 with a flameout.’  With it hard not to be impressed by Hongyu GDC,  Senesi said, ‘I think Gavin made a great job with the facility and all around it.  For sure there are always ways improve how the race is run so as to make it even better but for sure he organised a very nice race and it is for sure the race to come to in Asia.  I will be back next year absolutely.’

View our event image gallery here.

January 25, 2026

Chassis Focus – Sinnosuke Yokoyama (Mugen Seiki)

Chassis: Mugen Seiki MRX7
Engine: O.S. Speed 2106
Exhaust: O.S. Speed TR03/MR05
Radio: Futaba T10PXR
Servos (Steering/Throttle): Futaba HPSCB701
Body: Xtreme Hyper Diablo
Tires (handout): Hotrace
Fuel (handout): Maxima

Image Gallery

January 25, 2026

Chassis Focus – Natanaele Senesi (Senesi Motorsport)

Chassis: Senesi Motorsport S21 GT’26
Engine: Gimar Jupiter Senesi Edition
Radio: Sanwa M17S
Servos (Steering/Throttle): Sanwa XBII
Body: Blitz GT7 Super Pista
Tires (handout): Sweep D-SPEC GT 36
Fuel (handout): Maxima

Notes: 
With the S21 GT’26 now based on the World Championship winning Raptor, Natanaele’s car features Senesi Motorsport’s own rear body support, front lightweight bumper, and low profile radio tray.  The car has also been assembled using T-Works titanium screws & turnbuckles.

Image Gallery