Orlowski: “I had a blast while skiing in the Dolomites”
Hello Michal, how are you? Before we talk about RC racing, we would like to know how you spent your time around Christmas and New Year’s. We saw you skiing on your social media. Where was that, and are you as fast on skis as you are in RC?
Hey, I am feeling great and excited for 2026. I started the year in the best way possible skiing in Dolomites with my girlfriend and her family. Someone called me Marcel Hirscher 🙂
The year 2026 will be another fully packed one for you. Beside the ETS, some of the most important races will be the IFMAR worlds in China, and the famous TITC in Bangkok (which you won last year). How has your practice been going at the worlds track in China and what can you tell us about this place?
There will be plenty of big events this year. The facility in Foshan, China is something I have never seen before nor could have ever imagined. It will be a great race and I am excited for the challenge. The competition will be fierce.
You are leading the Cayote Modified championship here at the ETS and you are very close to win your third consecutive ETS title. How much would that mean to you, showing everybody that you are still the man to beat at the biggest racing series for 1:10 touring cars on the planet?
ETS overall season title is one of the most prestigious titles in our industry, since it showcases the performance on multiple tracks across the whole season. It is a privilege to be in the fight for the win at every single race and I hope I can continue along this path for many more years.
Last question for now: Rumours has it that you are already running a Mi10 prototype? Is that true, and if so, what can you tell customers about a possible release for a new Schumacher touring car?
No comment 🙂
Iivonen: “Tha past year had been amazing for me”
Hi Pekko. How is life going so far? We guess you have a lot of snow in Finland. Are you doing some fun activities there during the wintertime?
Life is great at the moment. I have been doing RC for my living for the past year, and it has been an amazing experience so far! At the moment, there is some snow thankfully, but I don’t have that much time to spend at home as the schedule is already super tight!
You have always been running very strong at the ETS in Daun. Do you like the special shape of the track and the atmosphere in the hall or what is your own secret to do well there?
I mostly run touring car on carpet, so I think that’s why I have been strong there. Also, the car has been working well there (in Daun) every time so that helped a lot too!
You have been testing for the IFMAR worlds with Michal in China. What is the biggest challenge on this huge track. Can you tell us a bit about the conditions there?
I think the biggest challenge is the changing conditions throughout the day and trying to adapt to that. Also driving on asphalt for me is a bit of a learning experience still for me but I think it was already better at the Worlds warmup.
Prümper: “I feel way more confident now with my Schumacher cars”
Welcome to 2026 Yannic. How is it going so far with your family and the company you are running?
Many thanks, I also wish everybody at the ETS a happy new year! Everything is going well! My first son is growing up very fast, while we are expecting my second son. My company is doing well, too. In summary, everything is perfect right now!
Compared to the past, you are racing a bit less. Do you think this has affected your results in the last two seasons a bit?
I need and take a lot of time for my company and family. This is the reason why my RC time is getting a bit shorter and of course it effects also my performance. It‘s very difficult to keep up, especially with the top guys in rc but also I did not feel comfortable with my recent used cars. I am always trying to use every possible freetime to practice for RC and make the best of it.
You are running for Schumacher now. How satisfied are you with the car and what do you expect from yourself at the ETS in Daun?
I‘m getting more and more used to the car and finally find my own setup‘s. In the beginning, I just copied Michals setup which doesnt really work for my aggresive driving style. After I practiced more and working to find a suitable setup for my driving style, I‘m feeling way more confident with my Schumacher cars!
Murray: “We like to give more attention on the stock classes!”
Andy, another important year of Rc racing is picking up the pace. You have signed up for the Pro Stock class in Daun. What do you expect from the race with it`s tricky conditions?
The modified class is as competitive as ever, however, as stated Schumacher have historically been a little less competitive in Pro Stock. My entry reflects having a little more attention in the class, testing in these conditions offers the best possible conditions to learn. About my own race, I have no idea, the class and race is super competitive, so I have no real expectations. I hope to have fun and learn some useful things.
Schumacher was the most winning brand in the last two seasons at the ETS – but only in Modified. You are involved very closely with the team. The car seems to be very good, but what is the reason there is mostly no Schumacher top 5 driver in the Pro Stock class.
It is true we don’t have a huge team of top Pro Stock drivers; we have however made the podium in the final carpet race of last season with a great drive from Mark Valent and Andreas Stiebler made the A main at the last round in Luxembourg. Hopefully we can continue to grow our Pro Stock team and show some great form in Daun with these guys and some others too!
You will be involved a lot in Michal Orlowski`s road to the world championship. You have worked together with him at countless big races. What do you think about all his improvements throughout the last years?
It has always been a pleasure to work together with Michal as we grow, gaining knowledge and fighting to become competitive for many years. So much needed to be learned and improved. Michal has always been fast, it has made me proud and so happy to see his recent success, having been working together with him and his father, since Michal was still a kid.
Are you nervous when you have wrenched on his car and then putting it down on the grid? How difficult is it for you to watch thrilling races from the side line?
I am always nervous when the race is unfolding, but that is true if i directly wrench on a car or not. We are a team and any mistake by any of us is felt the same by all of us, not forcing blame, just needing to learn and improve for the next race and try to get over any disappointment in the best way possible.
