Thomas Laigle delivered a masterclass performance at the recent CF BILLIO event (June 13-14, 2026) in the TT5 Th SC (1/5 Scale Gas Short Course) class. Driving a high-performance short course racing truck equipped with Antz Racing Front and Center Torsen (Torque-Sensing) Differentials, Laigle secured Pole Position and P1 victories in both the 1/2 Final A and the main 30-minute Main Final A.
This race serves as a definitive proof-of-concept for Antz Racing: Laigle’s victory was built not just on raw, blistering speed, but on a robotic level of consistency enabled by a mechanical drivetrain setup that withstood 30 minutes of brutal, high-mileage punishment without a single drop in performance.
Core Data Comparison
| Race Session | Total Laps | Total Race Time | Best Lap Time | Average Lap Time | Standard Deviation (StDev) |
| 1/2 Final A (20 Mins) | 29 Laps | 20:17.113 | 39.742s | 40.686s | 0.671 |
| Main Final A (30 Mins) | 43 Laps | 30:10.356 | 39.396s | 41.242s | 1.185 |
Deep-Dive Performance Metrics
1. Robotic Consistency (The StDev Killer)
In RC racing, the Standard Deviation (StDev) measures a driver’s lap-to-lap variance. The lower the number, the more consistent the driver.
- The Antz Racing Advantage: In the 1/2 Final, Laigle clocked an astonishing StDev of 0.671. For 20 continuous minutes, virtually every single lap he ran was within a 0.6-second window. Compared to P2 (1.339) and P3 (1.043), Laigle’s driving precision drastically minimized errors, a direct result of predictable mechanical traction.
- In the Main Final: Despite a grueling 30-minute stretch with heavy track traffic and tire degradation, he maintained a tight StDev of 1.185, showcasing elite mental stamina and chassis predictability.
2. Flawless Pace Management & Instant Recovery
A lap-by-lap breakdown reveals how the front and center Torsen diffs allowed Laigle to push the truck safely to its absolute limits:
- The Sweet Spot (Lap 25): As the fuel load lightened, Laigle dropped the hammer, clocking the absolute fastest lap of the entire weekend at 39.396s.
- Instant Mistake Recovery: On Lap 20 of the Main Final, Laigle suffered his worst lap of the day at 43.825s due to a track tangle. However, demonstrating the immediate point-and-shoot capability of his drivetrain, he instantly bounced back on Lap 21 to a 40.501s.
3. Zero Thermal Fade Over 30 Minutes
A 30-minute main event is a nightmare for traditional fluid-filled differentials. As the silicone oil heats up, it thins out, causing the diff to “soften” and lose locking force, which changes the truck’s handling mid-race.
- The Antz Racing Consistency: Look at Laigle’s final 5 laps (Laps 39 to 43):
40.769->41.758->41.271->41.856. - Because the Antz Racing Torsen diffs rely on premium CNC-machined gear engagement rather than oil viscosity, they stayed entirely constant for 30 minutes. Even under ambient/track temperatures reaching 31°C, there was zero thermal fade, keeping the power perfectly glued to the dirt until the checkered flag.
Track-Proven Engineering Insights
Laigle’s track data validates the real-world performance of the Antz Racing design:
- Effortless Corner Entry & Explosive Exit: Traditional diffs often cause understeer on entry or “diff-out” (spinning the unloaded tire) under heavy throttle on loose dirt. Laigle explicitly noted that with the Antz Racing setup, “corner entry is easy, and exit under acceleration is quick.” The mechanical torque biasing perfectly managed power distribution between the front and center axles.
- True “Fit and Forget” Reliability: Despite the extreme 31°C runway conditions and severe track chassis slaps, Laigle performed zero mechanical work or maintenance on the differentials between the sessions. The hardened steel construction proved it is fully race-ready right out of the box.
Thomas Laigle’s championship weekend has proven that Antz Racing Torsen Differentials are the ultimate upgrade for 1/5 scale short course racers demanding maximum traction, zero maintenance, and flawless mechanical endurance.
