2009-10 Micro Winter Series Race Results
2009 Micro Summer Series Race Results
2009 LRP Micro Madness! Results
2008 Micro National - Race Report
WRCC races micro off road cars at its Monday and Saturday evening meetings. 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. The most popular car at present is the ‘Shark ST’ made by LRP. These come pre-assembled and can be bought as a rolling chassis or RTR (Ready to Run) setup. Other popular chassis include the FTX blaze and Associated RC18T. Other manufacturers such as Xray, Team Losi and Maverick also produce micro chassis, but these aren’t as popular as the other options. Prices start at £80 for a basic entry level Maverick RTR car, with the full spec competition models made by LRP retailing for just over £200 without electrics. Most of the cars available can be upgraded to a higher spec if required, but it is often cheaper and easier to simply buy the next model in the range. The most popular car at club and national level is currently the LRP Shark ST, and last years British championship was won with an almost out of the box example of this chassis.
Battery and motor choice is fairly open, even at national events. Both lithium-polymer (li-po) and nickel-metal-hydride (ni-mh) cells are permitted and these are usually bought as pre-assembled packs to fit the popular chassis derivatives. Motors are 380-size brushed or brushless units. Most drivers choose to run a li-po battery and brushless motor configuration for ease of use, performance and reduced requirement for maintenance.
Tyre choice is also open, but most drivers choose to run foam tyres and in the case of the LRP shark car, pre-mounted 1/10th touring car foams can be purchased and fitted straight to the car with no modifications. Tyre wear is very low as the cars are so small and light, so it is usually possible to get several months racing out of a set before they wear out. The same low wear rates apply for chassis components and electrical equipment, making micro off road one of the cheapest classes of rc racing to compete in competitively once you’re setup.
For more information about micro off road racing, visit www.brcamicro.org or join in with the discussions on the forum at www.uk-microrc.co.uk Alternatively pop down to one of our Monday or Saturday evening meetings and see what all the fuss is about!