Micro Off Road
WRCC races micro off road cars at its Monday evening meetings, and also on Saturday evenings (numbers permitting). WRCC features an all-carpet, high grip racing surface onto which we place various ramps, jumps and obstacles that are aimed at challenging the capabilities of both car and driver. It is this that usually results in off-road racing being a good test of driving and car setup ability, as horsepower and the latest equipment aren’t as important as in some other classes; technique and consistency are the keys to going fast!
Micro off-road presents the perfect opportunity for beginners to try model car racing. Ready to race cars can be purchased from most good model shops for as little as £80, and with spares being very cheap in comparison to other classes, micro cars are ideal for younger racers as they offer an affordable yet fun class to race in.
In addition to regular club meetings, there is also a dedicated BRCA national championship for this class where the country’s best drivers race to win the title of British Champion. One-off events are also common, with many clubs (including WRCC) holding Sunday open race meetings, and these provide a stepping stone from club to national competition.
As
with any class, there are several different cars to choose from
depending on a drivers experience, ability and budget. Some of the
options have been reviewed by top drivers from across the country
and documented at the bottom of this page. As a rough guide we have
split the most popular kits/cars into groups, as detailed below;
All of these cars are ideal for entry level or budget racing, or for those who have never raced model cars before. They are mostly ‘RTR’ (ready to run) models, meaning they don’t require assembly and can be used straight from the box. Prices range from around £70 up to £125.
Maverick Atom XB RTR 1/18th Buggy
Xray M18T RTR 1/18th Stadium Truck
Associated RC18T RTR 1/18th Stadium Truck
FTX Blaze RTR 1/18th Buggy
Team Losi Mini-T RTR 1/18th Stadium Truck
These cars are a sort of ‘middle ground’ – they are equally suited to competition racing and less experienced drivers alike. However, the fact that they require partial or full assembly means they are better suited to drivers with some prior experience. Prices range from £100 to £140, although bear in mind that most of these kits require additional items (such as batteries etc…) to enable them to be run.
Xray M18T 1/18th Stadium Truck with
Power Pack
FTX Blaze ARTR (almost ready to run) 1/18th Buggy
Team Losi Mini-T Pro
These cars are better suited to more experienced drivers who compete in national competitions, or perhaps those with slightly larger racing budgets and a better technical understanding of model cars. Prices range from £120 to £150 (not including additional items)
Xray M18T Pro
Associated RC18T Factory Team Kit
FTX Blaze ARTR 1/18th Buggy (with additional hop-up
parts)
Most of the cars detailed above can be upgraded to a higher spec if required, but it is often cheaper to simply buy the next model in the range. The most popular cars at national level is currently the FTX Blaze, although these are used in conjunction with a large amount of upgrades to maximize their performance. The top-level kits from Associated and Xray are the most popular choices in the USA, and are beginning to find favour on UK tracks. The Losi Mini-T is not as popular as the other cars as it is a 2WD model, whereas all the other cars are 4WD.
Losi Mini-T
Pro
Xray M18T with Power Pack
Xray M18t
Pro
FTX Blaze (general review of all models)
Associated RC18T factory Team
Coming soon – reviews of the new Maverick Atom entry-level racer, and Xray M18T Pro!