July 2010 saw Tamiya Racing Factory (TRF) team's ace driver Marc Rheinard win the 2010 IFMAR World Championship with the TRF416X. Two months later in December 2010, the TRF417 was released and it has achieved equally impressive results. With an eye on winning at the 2012 IFMAR World Championship, Tamiya is introducing this latest version of the TRF417. Although the differences between the new car and the TRF417 may seem subtle, the newly-designed lower deck offers improved chassis flexibility for better low-speed traction. The previous one-piece motor mount has been replaced with a three-piece type to allow further adjustment of chassis’ flexibility by linking them together. The thickness of the front and rear damper stays have been increased to 3.5mm and other new developments include a new upper deck, metal battery holders which serve as counterweights, and low-height kingpins. Front direct coupling and rear gear diff unit (Item 42197 TRF417 Gear Differential Unit II) are also included.