BREAKING: Kinwald to return to Team Losi Racing [UPDATED]

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By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

More than 20 years ago, Brian Kinwald crossed the finish line to give Team Losi Racing their first IFMAR World Championship. Now he's rejoining the squad for 2018.

Kinwald first joined Team Losi in 1994 after winning his first world championship, and racked up over 20 national championships while competing in all 1/10-scale electric and nitro off- and on-road classes for the brand. The partnership broke apart in 2005, when illness knocked Kinwald out of the racing scene for more than a year, and after moving from Southern California to Tucson, Arizona, Kinwald started racing again as a member of X-Factory. When the small Ohio company had to reallocate resources to the medical care of its founder in 2011, Kinwald found a spot on the Team Associated and Reedy roster, with whom he had won his first IFMAR Worlds in 1993.

While Kinwald has racked up some impressive finishes during his second stint with Team Associated, perhaps his biggest impact has been advising the company's young drivers across the Southwest — a role he'll likely serve with TLR as well. Rumors of his move began circulating over the last week or so, and before posting this story team manager Kevin Gahan confirmed to me via Facebook message that an official announcement is coming later this week. The split from Team Associated also means he won't be Reedy-powered any longer, but I understand he won't be using Team Orion electronics either, so that's something to watch out for.

When more information becomes available, we will be sure to share it!

[UPDATE - January 9, 12:39 PM CT] 

Team Trinity issued a press release stating that Kinwald has reunited with them as well, clearing up what he'll use for motors and batteries. You can read it here: www.liverc.com/news/announcements/16886-Trinity_signed_Kinwald/