Well
RC car racing has always had new parts and special batteries, new tires and so on from the beginning of the hobby.
The only real problem with HB is that they are running two buggies. I say test away, but make sure all racers on the team have at least the same chassis. Especially for advertising. If the CR8 had been top 2 then the car would be very anticipated, but with an old car with older parts, and a new car both being run and the seemingly mixed situation going on with releasing a new car it kinda leaves the customers thinking, hmm, what's going on?