The Backyard – I’m Shocked that R/C Rally Racing Isn’t More Popular

Happy Friday all, and welcome to The Backyard!

We didn’t have a ton of new news this week in the r/c-sphere, so I wanted to share a take that I’ve been sitting on since we did our review of the Rlaarlo 1/12  XTS-P12 Rally Car in early July and discuss r/c rally racing.

I am seriously shocked that in 2025, organized R/C rally racing isn’t more popular.

I’ll start with a confession — I’ve never actually participated in organized R/C rally racing. Never built a dedicated car, either. My experience comes from following builds online, watching videos, drooling over certain kits in catalogs, and occasionally running a touring car rally-style in my backyard or at a local park. Still, rally has always fascinated me. The mix of on-road precision and off-road grit feels like the best of both worlds.

So why isn’t it bigger? We’ve seen crawling blow up. Scale monster truck racing has never been hotter. Segments like vintage buggy racing have strong followings. Meanwhile, rally sits on the sidelines, quietly supported by a small but passionate crowd.

I guess a huge part of the challenge is the environment. Rally RC needs a very specific type of surface — something loose enough for sliding but not so rough that it eats up the suspension. Small jumps are alright, but you don’t want full send 1/10 off-road double/triple type stuff as it’s just not appropriate. That makes it difficult as tracks are not as easy to come by as “backyard grass”,  “empty parking lot”, or even “off-road track not being used”. Then there’s the organization side: without dedicated tracks or series, rally racing often exists as a DIY effort.

And yet, the machines themselves are awesome. Tamiya, Kyosho, Traxxas, HPI, and more all have various releases in the segment making the vehicles easy to attain. You even have various touring car conversion kits out there. These platforms prove that the category has the hardware and that there’s money in it. It’s the infrastructure that’s missing.

Maybe the answer is small, local pop-up rally events — temporary courses in parks, dirt lots, or even gymnasiums with loose carpet and dust. Or maybe rally just remains a niche for those who seek it out. But honestly? Manufacturers and clubs have an opportunity here. If crawling can turn into a juggernaut by giving people events, support, and cool products, why can’t rally? Someone just needs to put the hammer down and make it happen.

That’s it more me this week. Until next time, keep it on all 4’s!