How much does RC drifting cost in the UK?
You can start RC drifting in the UK for about £119 with a complete 1/24 desk drifter, or about £389 for a complete first 1:10 rear-wheel-drive car before a battery and charger. Club-night builds run to around £570 and competition builds to around £950.
Cost by level
| Level | What you get | Complete setup | Also need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desk and small spaces | Rhino Racing RTS 1/24 carbon chassis, brushless motor, ESC, servo, gyro, tyres | £119 (Desk Drifter) | 1S battery and charger |
| First 1:10 RWD car | Reve D RDX kit, Hobbywing ESC, Yokomo 10.5T motor, metal-gear servo, gyro, tyres | £389 (First Slide) | 2S shorty LiPo + balance charger, about £17.49 for the LiPo and £35.99 upwards for the charger. |
| Club night | RDX with Team AD carbon conversion, 120A ESC, sensored motor, brushless servo, pro gyro, carpet tyres | £569 (Carpet Weapon) | As above |
| Competition | MST RMX 4 GT, 160A ESC, Muchmore motor, Reve D programmable servo and gyro, competition tyres | £949 (Podium Spec) | As above |
Each setup costs less than buying the parts separately, saving £11 to £99. All four are on the beginner's guide.
A cheaper 4WD route exists: Tamiya TT-02D drift kits start from around £124 at UK retailers. But the technique doesn't carry over to RWD, which is what UK club nights run, so most beginners do better starting RWD.
The one-off costs
- Battery: a 2S shorty LiPo for 1:10. £17.49 to £71.99.
- Charger: a balance charger. £35.99 to £149.99.
- Tools: hex drivers and a turnbuckle wrench. £5.99 to £44.99.
The battery and charger carry over to every car you own, so treat them as a one-off rather than part of each car's cost.
Running costs
- Tyres: the most frequent purchase. Buy at least two compounds; they wear fastest on rough concrete. £7.99 to £17.99.
- Spares: driveshafts, knuckles and arms take the hits when you find a wall. Keep a set in the pit box. from £3.99.
- Track time: club nights and indoor tracks set their own fees; RC Shopper's Thursday club night is at our Manchester workshop.
How to spend less
- Spend on the chassis and gyro; go cheap on the shell.
- Buy a complete setup rather than parts one by one.
- Keep spare driveshafts and knuckles so one crash doesn't end the session.
- Free UK shipping from £60 makes it worth batching spares orders.
FAQ
How much does it cost to start RC drifting in the UK? About £119 for a complete 1/24 desk drifter, or about £389 for a complete first 1:10 RWD car plus a battery and charger.
Is RC drifting an expensive hobby? It can be cheap to start and costs what you choose to spend on upgrades. Running costs are mainly tyres and the occasional broken part.
What costs the most in RC drifting? The chassis and electronics at the start, then tyres and crash spares over time.
Do I need to buy a battery and charger separately? For most 1:10 setups, yes. Buy them once; they work with every car you own afterwards.
Where can I drift my RC car in the UK? On smooth, sealed surfaces: polished concrete, sealed wood, vinyl or low-pile carpet. Club nights and indoor RC drift tracks are the best place to learn.