ETS Champions Interview

Ronald Völker – ETS Matrix Modified Champion Season #14 2021/22

Ronald Völker is our newly crowned champion of the Matrix Modified class. He won three out of 5 races this season which was enough for him to claim his seventh personal ETS title in the premier modified class. For his actual chassis sponsor – Mugen Seiki – it was the first title and we asked Ronald about his feelings and the way to the top with Mugen Seiki!

But right before we step into the interview, let us take a quick look back on Ronald`s highlights on track during ETS Season #14 2021/22 on his way to the championship:

ETS – Hello Ronald, thank you for taking some time to sit down here with us. The first question is very simple: You are the new champion of the ETS Matrix Modified class, how does it feel to add a seventh title to your belt?

RV – It’s another great achievement I was aiming for but I am also happy for all my sponsors, especially Mugen Seiki and LRP electronics, to get another ETS Overall title.

ETS – There was a long way to go until you crossed the finish line in A2 at the last race in Daun. Was it your main goal to win the ETS title in the moment you joined the Mugen Seiki Team at the end of 2020? Or didn`t you expect to be on top with the new car and the team directly in the first season?

RV – I knew the MTC2 had potential right away so my goal was always to win races and ETS titles but also helping to develop the car and making it more attractive for the market. We’re on the good way and the journey isn’t ending😊

ETS – At the start of the season, you won the first two races at Arena33 in a very dominant way. In the third and fourth race (Apeldoorn and Neumünster) you took a second and fourth place. What was the key to not lose your confidence before the very important race in Daun? Is Daun a good place for you in general – you won there for Yokomo the last time as well?

RV – We knew why we had issues at the Neumünster ETS, however I always felt confident prior to Daun but also it’s a good place for me as I like the unusual track shape and the bungalows near by the track where you can relax and enjoy the evenings with friends, definitely a big plus and one of my favourite events during a year.

ETS – Tell us a little bit about your work with the Mugen Team around car designer Robert Pietsch and drivers like Eric Dankel, Sebastian Meibörg or Jonas Völker (to only name a few). How are you working together to prepare for these bigger races Like the ETS or German nationals for example?

RV – I have constant exchange with Robert to keep improving and in general we try to help each other within the team as good as we can not only before an event, as simple as it sounds.

ETS – What do you think are the main characteristics of the Mugen Seiki MTC2 touring car which you are using now? Is it suiting your driving style perfectly? Does it work almost everywhere with the same setup, or do you have to change a lot on the car when you arrive at a new racetrack?

RV – It’s a modern and up to date design which is easy to drive and does work everywhere. To maximize the performance, I would like to go testing and racing even more as there’s still room to explore its potential.

ETS – A lot of “hobby drivers” would like to know how often you go for practice and testing. It is for sure different right now because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but how was it looking like before that mess started? How much practice needs a world class driver like you to stay sharp on track?

RV – I like to go testing frequently, if not every week, then every two weeks. Not only to keep myself „sharp“, but like I said before, there is always the possibility to explore or improve the car, the electronics or even driving. Somehow before ETS Daun I wasn’t on the wheel for 6 weeks for some reasons, but that basically never happens normally.

ETS – When somebody would like to meet you during a practice day, where are the best chances to see Ronald Völker practicing. Do you have some indoor, or especially outdoor tracks you go for practice frequently?

RV – It is tough to have proper organized practice Indoors nowadays, so I mainly go to different kind of races all over Germany but also to France (Longwy), to get a decent amount of track time and competition. Outdoors, over the summer, I do most of testing in Andernach and Wächtersbach (near Frankfurt).

ETS – Now, with the ETS title in the bag – what are your goals for the rest of 2022? The EFRA euros will take place at the Hudy Arena in Trenčín (Slovakia), then we will see the German nationals at Arena33 in Andernach before the prestigious IFMAR worlds are scheduled to be in Gubbio (Italy) in September. Will you attend all these races and what do you expect from those different locations?

RV – Yes, I am planning to join as usual our German Nationals, the Euros and the Worlds in Gubbio. Can’t wait to compete at any of those events and especially looking forward to the Worlds as Gubbio seems like a very fast, but challenging track. Also, it has been almost four years since the last time in South Africa back in 2018 so like I said, can’t wait for it to happen.

ETS – Ronald, we wish you best of luck for the rest of 2022 and for all upcoming years of your RC racing career. Thank you for being a part of our ETS family and we see us trackside!

RV – Thanks a lot and stay safe!