EFRA President Javier Garcia came along to this week’s ETS event in Daun. Oli Meggitt from our Media Team had the chance to interview him to talk about EFRA, Euro RC Series events, and racing in general.
OM – a first question, what brings you to Germany and to the ETS this weekend?
JG – Well, as part of EFRA’s Development Plan, we identified the need and benefits to co-operate with other races and race organisers. I had the chance to come here and I think it is important to visit events like the ETS to demonstrate this sort of co-operation.
OM – Can you tell us a bit more about the Development Plan and what it hopes to mean for RC across Europe, and also for our events in the ETS, EOS and ENS?
JG – The main aim is to help grow our sport. I hope to see EFRA as an umbrella for the whole RC community – people who are racing at any events, if they are EFRA events, Nationals, or events from any other organisers. We can always learn from each other! We can see different points of view and different ways to approach events and different racers too. It is important to EFRA to have strong National championships, but we realise it’s important to co-operate with big international races like ETS too. Overall, we want to promote RC in the best way possible, and I think that means everyone working together.
OM – In 2020 and 2021 there were no EFRA races, whilst there could be some other international races like the ETS, EOS and ENS races we held in that time. Were you worried that EFRA didn’t hold any races, but other events did happen?
JG – Actually no, I want to thank organisers like the ETS crew to keep events running these last years. Both international events and many Nationals races that could take place too, and that’s important for RC of course. But for an EFRA European Championship, we decided we could not risk to hold it and not every country would be able to attend.
OM – So what does 2022 look like from your view?
JG – Of course, EFRA events will be back in 2022 and we are pleased to show our Development Plan work. For example, there will be some new and different media approaches to races and we want to expand our co-operations with other series and events, like we already announced with RCGP.
OM – Can you summarise how this will work then? What is the basic idea of the co-operation between events and organisers?
JG – As well as using the experience of National Federations, we want EFRA to be the umbrella for RC in Europe – bringing all organisers and manufacturers together. There are three things to highlight really. Firstly, we want to promote our sport better through sharing media and give us the chance to reach out to the most people possible to expose them to RC racing. Second, it’s important to help with calendar co-ordination – there are many great events and it’s important to bring all the calendars together so everyone can easily see all the different races that are there. And third, we want to see how this co-operation can be expanded in future, through learning from each other – things like seeing how different racing formats work for different events.
OM – Thanks for the time to talk to us. Is there any final summary or ending you want to give us?
JG – The most important part is to show our RC community we are all working together. Now is not the time to look for divisions, or for anyone to fight to get drivers to one race instead of another one. It’s an ambitious plan we have, and we hope we can deliver it over the next three years. So let’s see how far we can go, we have just opened the door!
