Touring cars are some of the most fun, most advanced, and most competitive vehicles on the market.  These on road 4wd machines are fast, handle exceptionally well, and in the right hands, can dice around a track like nobody’s business.  Looking to make their mark on this highly competitive class, , it is loaded with all the high end features that racers desire.  But with all of 3Racings work result in a winner?  Read on to see.

AT A GLANCE

WHO MAKES IT: 3Racing
WHO IT’S FOR: Intermediate to Advanced Drivers
PART NUMBER: SAKURAUL
HOW MUCH: $299.99 (prices may vary)
BUILD TYPE: Kit

PROS & CONS

+ Fantastic fit and finish of components
+ Competitive price
+ Cool floating servo mount (that they custom anodized for me!)
+ Narrow chassis
+ Composite front spool

- Kind of trick getting the LiPo battery in and out
- Limited parts support in the US

Authors Opinion: Building on the successful versions that came before it, the Sakura Ultimate touring car lives up to its name and just might be the ultimate touring car machine.  It is quick, smooth, durable and will keep up with vehicles that cost considerably more.

Star rating (1-5) = 4

FACTS

- The narrow graphite chassis on the Sakura Ultimate is precision machines and is almost completely symmetrical from left to right.  The main portion of the chassis is 2.25mm thick while the upper deck is 2.0mm thick.  This is done to help increase chassis flex to improve traction, something that is much needed with rubber tire racing.  A front belt tensioner is attached to the upper desk to help eliminate belt skipping.

- The shocks on the Sakura Ultimate are some of the smoothest I have ever worked with on a touring car.  The bodies are machined of 7075 aluminum and are then hard coated and PTFE coated for keep them smooth and consistent run after run.  Front and rear sway bars reduce body roll and are secured into the rear bulkhead in such a manner that they will not move or shift even in a hard collision.

- Since space is tight the Sakura Ultimate is designed to be used with a low profile servo.  The servo is kept secure with an aluminum floating mount.  The dual steering bellcrank attaches to the main chassis plate and rides on ball bearings for smooth side to side action.  A smack graphite brace connects the two bellcranks to eliminate any unwanted flex.

- Like the vast majority of high end touring cars on the market, the Sakura ultimate utilizes a rear gear differential.  It is near bullet proof in design, is almost maintenance free and unlike a ball differential has no chance of slippage.   The front features a lightweight composite spool with east to replace joint cups.  SSK style front driveshafts make for smooth delivery of power to the front wheels and help prevent wheel chatter under power when entering and exiting corners.

- The front end of the Sakura Ultimate features a foam bumper with strategically placed cut-outs that not only look cool, they provide just enough give should you hit something. The front shock tower features a body support to help the Lexan shell keep its shape in a roll over.

ITEMS NEEDED
- Low profile steering servo
- Brushless speed controller
- 540 sized brushless motor
- 2S LiPo battery pack
- Body
- Radio system

ITEMS USED

- Spektrum DX3R Pro Transmitter
- Spektrum SR3520 Receiver
- New Wave 4500mAh, 90C LiPo battery pack
- Toro TS 120A Speed Control
- Ares 13.5 Turn Motor
- Parma RTB GBS Touring Car Body
- Turnigy YGY-4409MD Digital Steering Servo

TOOLS & ACCESSORIES INCLUDED

+ 3mm turnbuckle wrench

ON THE TRACK

STEERING Understeer Neutral Oversteer

The first few laps with the Sakura Ultimate were a bit of a learning experience.  It had much more steering than I had originally anticipated and a tagged a board or two during this time.  Once I got the feel for the car, and turned the steering rate way down on my DX3R Pro transmitter the car was considerable more predictable and easier to drive.  Now a bit more dialed in, the Sakura Ultimate entered corners very smoothly and I was able to grab the throttle quickly, launching it out of corners.

ACCELERATION Poor   Fair   Good   Very Good   Excellent

From a dead stop the Sakura Ultimate launched forward as soon as I pulled the throttle back.  It tracked perfectly straight, not pulling to one side or another even when coming out of corners.  This is very impressive as I was running a 13.5-turn Ares motor.  While not as fast as a true modified motor is is still much quicker than a stock 17.5 turn motor that most people use to race.

BRAKING Poor   Fair   Good   Very Good   Excellent

Entering high speed corners, where I had to get on the brake quickly, like at the end of the straight-a-way could be a bit tricky as the back end could get a bit loose and want to change places with the front.  After messing around with a few settings on the Toro TS 120 esc via their Bluetooth app with my iPhone I found a softer setting that made areas of the track like this a bit more consistent.

SUSPENSION Poor   Fair   Good   Very Good   Excellent

The Sakura Ultimate is smooth, from the PTFE coated shocks, to the sway bars and just about everything in-between.  This translates into a car that is very easy to drive once it is dialed in.  What I perhaps like most about the Sakura Ultimate was able to transition from corner to corner with minimal body roll.  This translates into quicker lap times.

DURABILITY Poor   Fair   Good   Very Good   Excellent

As a mentioned earlier, I am by no means a seasoned touring car driver.  Because of that, the Sakura Ultimate faced muck more punishment than it probably should have.  I flipped it, smacked several boards (some at full speed), and more.  At the end of the day, the car was still in once piece ready for another challenge.

SPECS & TUNING OPTIONS

DIMENSIONS
Length: 435mm (without foam front bumper)
Width: 186mm
Wheelbase: 257mm
Weight: 1350g (approx)

Body, wheels and tires
Body: Not included
Wheels: White plastic dish
Wheel adapter type: 12mm hex
Tires: Not included

Suspension
Type: 4-wheel independent
Shock positions:  (F) 5-tower, 2-arm, (R) 7-tower, 2-arm
Camber:  Adjustable turnbuckles
Roll: Washers
Wheelbase: Adjustable shims
Ride height: Threaded shocks
Misc:

Steering
Type: Dual bellcrank
Toe: Adjustable turnbuckles

Chassis
Type: Flat
Material: Carbon Fiber
Thickness: 2.25mm

Drivetrain
Type: 4WD
Transmission: Direct drive dual belt
Differential: Front spool, rear gear differential
Clutch Type: N/A
Gear ratio: Optional pinion gears
Bearings: Full set of shielded