The Large Scale Off Road (LSOR) of the BRCA is one of the newest sections and covers the largest scale of off road model vehicles on the market with BRCA affiliated clubs throughout the country.
Our national race series is open to any make of off road vehicle whether that is two or four wheel drive, 23, 26, 30 or 32cc petrol powered. Brakes on our petrol powered models can be a single layshaft rear brake, hydraulic or air brakes front and rear which all help to stop the large scale cars which are capable of speeds in excess of 50mph from their two stroke petrol primed engines.
As a rule the top end kits are complete with everything apart from radio gear, engine and fuel. Ready to run kits are also available with everything apart from fuel making large scale off road racing available to all. All models can be modified as and when needed to the drivers specification.
The BRCA national series runs throughout the summer months normally from March until October with our drivers visiting all four corners of the country. When the national series is over the majority of the clubs then run interclub meetings over the winter months, giving you all year round off road racing. In addition, our annual indoor fun event, the Indoor Masters is held every February.
Within the national series the BRCA run four classes, 2 wheel drive buggy, 4 wheel drive buggy, short course and open class with drivers competing for either National or clubman titles. Our normal race format is to run three rounds of qualification heats to determine the days qualification positions. Either single or double sided finals are undertaken based upon the drivers qualification position and by the end of the day we have our class winners.
Whilst the national series drivers may be competitive we have one of the friendliest and helpful series around so why not come and join us?
Not only is large scale racing popular in the UK, with numbers increasing year on year but also within Europe & there are many opportunities to enter European race meetings.
If you would like to join the largest form of model car racing in the world, with clubs all around the country, then visit the BRCA club section above for more details on your local venue, pay them a visit and see what you are missing out on.
By Phil chester Round 7 of the BRCA Large Scale Off Road National Championship brought racers north to the scenic Pickering RC Track for an action-packed weekend that capped off an incredible season. The venue delivered a fantastic mix of fast-flowing sections, technical corners, and elevation changes — testing both driver skill and machine setup to the limit.
4WD Class
In the premier 4WD category, it was Ian Oddie who showed his class once again, driving with precision and consistency to take the top spot on the podium. Leon Satchell kept the pressure on throughout, securing a strong second place after some close racing in the finals. Karl Norris completed the top three with another solid drive, rounding off an impressive season for all three competitors.
2WD Class
The 2WD competition was equally fierce, with Mark Higgins proving unstoppable on the challenging Pickering surface. His clean laps and strategic pace earned him the win ahead of Andy Blackburn, who fought hard for second. Neil Young held firm in third, showcasing great control and composure under pressure.
Short Course Class
The Short Course trucks provided plenty of wheel-to-wheel entertainment for the crowd. Alfie Jack took the overall victory, mastering the bumps and jumps with confidence. Jake Humphreys put in a strong performance to claim second, while Neil Svins rounded out the podium in third after a string of competitive runs.
As the sun set on the 2025 BRCA Large Scale Off Road season, the Pickering finale served as a fitting celebration of the passion, talent, and sportsmanship that make this community so special. Congratulations to all the winners and every racer who made this season one to remember.
By Oliver Whittleston Round 6 of the BRCA National Series saw the drivers return from the European Championships to the superb Sussex RC Club. With its ultra-high grip astro surface, practice was all about readjusting. Some struggled early on, but as the laps ticked by, the pace rose – and by qualifying, it was game on across all classes.
Qualifying in 4WD belonged to one man – Ian Oddie. He stamped his authority on the field by taking all three rounds and locking in pole position. Behind him, Karl Norris showed strong form with second on the grid, while Andy Spence impressed the paddock with his VR Phoenix to secure third.
The finals saw drama from the very first tone. Stavros Costas, Kevin Sexton and Mark McCabe all battled their way up from the C to the B final – a brilliant effort from all three. In the B, the fight for promotion was fierce, with four drivers pushing to the limit. Stavros narrowly missed out by just 7 seconds, but Jake Faulkner, Stephen Hunt, and Andy Knight earned their spots in the main event.
The A Final was a true endurance test. Over 30 minutes, mechanical failures, DNFs, and wheel-to-wheel scraps kept everyone on edge. But at the front, Oddie was untouchable. From lights to flag, his Elcon Fourtexx 2.0 never put a wheel wrong. Karl Norris chased hard in second, while Leon Satchell brought his MCD RR5 home in third after some brilliant mid-race battles.
Final Top 3 – 4WD:
🏆 1st – Ian Oddie (Elcon Fourtexx 2.0)
🥈 2nd – Karl Norris (Traxx 4WD)
🥉 3rd – Leon Satchell (MCD RR5)
The 2WD class belonged to Oliver Whittleston in qualifying. He was simply on another level, taking TQ in all three rounds with a huge gap to the rest of the field. Craig Chilvers lined up second, with Andy Blackburn third.
With no B final, the entire 2WD field went straight into a gruelling main. The opening laps were clean with Oliver, Craig and Andy setting the pace. But the blistering heat soon caused chaos – tyre failures hit Oliver, Andy, and Saul Morris. Oliver lost 1½ laps in the pits while changing rubber, while Andy and Saul were forced to retire.
What followed was the drive of the day. With a fresh set bolted on, Oliver pushed flat-out for over 20 minutes, clawing back time and finally regaining the lead. In a stunning recovery, he crossed the line 13 seconds clear to take a memorable victory. Behind him, Craig held strong for second, while Mark Higgins moved through to claim a well-earned podium.
Special mention goes to Neil Young, who impressed in his first ever national off-road 2WD race, finishing a brilliant 4th.
Final Top 3 – 2WD:
🏆 1st – Oliver Whittleston (Traxx 2.0)
🥈 2nd – Craig Chilvers (Traxx 2.0)
🥉 3rd – Mark Higgins (Traxx 2.0)
Short Course racing brought its own fireworks. In qualifying, Dave Parish took TQ with two round wins, while Alfie-Jack Shilcock and Matt Stokes lined up right behind him.
The B-final was hotly contested with Patrick Vice, Zach Whittleston, and Gavin Kettlety at the sharp end. After 20 minutes of elbows-out racing, Zach, Jack Keatley, and Gavin secured their bump-ups into the A.
The A Final was a classic. The top three were never more than a few seconds apart, with Alfie-Jack, Dave, and Matt trading blows throughout. After half an hour of relentless action, it was Alfie-Jack who kept his cool and brought his Losi 5T 2.0 home for a famous win. Just three seconds separated him from Parish at the line, while Stokes completed the podium.
And what a result – Alfie-Jack becomes the second junior ever, and the youngest in history, to win a National Series round! A sensational achievement.
Final Top 3 – Short Course:
🏆 1st – Alfie-Jack Shilcock (Losi 5T 2.0)
🥈 2nd – Dave Parish (Losi 5T 2.0)
🥉 3rd – Matt Stokes (VR Phoenix SC Version)
Round 6 at Sussex had it all – high grip, high drama, and high emotion. From Oddie’s flawless 4WD victory, to Whittleston’s heroic comeback in 2WD, and Alfie-Jack’s history-making win in Short Course, this was racing at its finest.
Bring on Round 7 – the championship fight is far from over!
