With several companies like Corrally,
Speedmerchant,
BMI and
CRC releasing narrowed 10th-scale or lengthened 12th-scale pan-car chassis, for now called the GT10 class, we see the resurrection of a racing class that once didn't manage to get out of the gates.
CRC GenX10
A couple of years ago Corally, and shortly thereafter Associated released narrowed pan car chassis that would fit the 190mm touring car bodies. A similar realistic looking car that was faster and also cheaper should be a big hit with the racing crowd, right? The idea never took off. Apparently this type of car was ahead of it's time. Back then people preferred drifting their rubber tired 4WD touring cars on parking lot tracks, and if they wanted to race pan cars they would stick to 12th scale.
Fast forward to today, almost all touring car racing in the US is on carpet tracks using foam tires. When running a car with that much grip, there is not much point in a 4WD system. It just puts extra weight on the chassis and combined with high grip foam tires, this puts a big strain on batteries and motors. The cost of racing in the touring car class has therefore risen significantly the last couple of years ago which makes people look for alternatives. The returning interest in 12th scale might also be an indication for this.
Most touring car racers have the foam tire equipment. It makes perfect sense to switch to a car that looks the same but is cheaper, has higher performance and is less complicated. I think these cars have a good chance of making a big impact now.
For an in depth discussion on the new class, check out the forums at
R/C Tech.
