How much attention do we really pay to the controllers we use? Competitive club racers will tell you that your controller can give you the edge, but top-end controllers can cost hundreds of pounds!

I think most people will agree that the controllers supplied with a lot of sets are pretty crude, but where can we find a reasonably-priced alternative?

There are a couple of 'budget' controllers currently available. Probably best-known is the Parma Economy, while the Red Fox makes a good alternative. Now we have a new controller from an old name - MRRC.

The controller is held together with three nuts and bolts, so let's take a look inside.

Like its rivals, the MRRC can be ordered with one of a range of resistors; in this case from 10 to 65 ohms. The resistor is secured with two screws so replacement should be easy.

The wiper arm is fitted with a spring-tensioner to ensure consistent contact with the resistor. The trigger is solid-feeling nylon fitted with metal bushes to give a smooth action. Full-travel brake and throttle contacts are also fitted to give extra connectivity when you need it most. The full-throttle contact has a small range of adjustment. It would also be easy to fit a small piece of plastic tube (or similar) to the contact to limit throttle travel for younger or less-experienced drivers.

The trigger has an adjustable spring - the adjuster is accessible without taking the controller apart, just loosen the grub screw and move the slider. I think the spring is a little bit weak but that's personal taste. 

There is one further option with this controller - a larger trigger designed to be used with two fingers rather than one. It's supplied as a bare nylon trigger - you need to transfer the bushes, wiper arm etc from the original but it only takes a few minutes.

I must admit that I thought this was a bit of a gimmick at first. But since I changed to the two-finger trigger I haven't changed back, it's quite comfortable to use.

Ok, that's all the gubbins but what is it like to use? 

It fits nicely in my hand and feels solid and fairly substantial (some controllers can feel quite cheap and flimsy). Trigger movement feels precise and there's no noticeable slop or wobble. 

I've tried it with a range of cars on my routed track. It's a nice controller to use, it feels smooth and precise. The trigger has quite a long travel which seems to add to that feeling of precision and mid-throttle control. You can see the cars react, even to small throttle movements. I felt comfortable and confident with it almost immediately.

But the real difference came when we set up a Scalextric Sport track and tried the MRRC in comparison with the standard controllers. And the answer is - there is no comparison! The MRRC is by far superior in every way - build quality, adjustability and of course control. Obviously there is no difference at full throttle, but the difference when you're only using part of the throttle travel is amazing. With set controllers it often feels like you squeeze the trigger and hope! But with this type of controller you have much more precise control over the car's speed.

MRRC's controller is quite impressive. It looks and feels well-made and well designed. It's an ideal upgrade from standard box-set controllers and a viable alternative to the Parma controllers for budget-conscious club racers.

Please note: 

These controllers, like Parma and most others, are supplied without plugs. Please contact your dealer, as in most cases they can supply and/or fit the appropriate plugs for your track.

If you are unsure which resistor to choose, again seek advice from your dealer when you order.