Yes, the second pick-up seems to have direct contact with the motor body and, through motor body and the spring, current goes to the lower motor brush, as usual with the RX motors, but the yellow wire seems to connect the first (central) pick-up and the upper motor brush, so I would say it has to be there. In any case the car is well build, that brass subchassis is a good idea to insure proper gear mesh, far better than relying on the plastic chassis.
Eduardo
Eduardo