Völker: “I have a lot of confidence after my latest results”
Ronald, before we look onto the biggest indoor race of the season we need to ask: Has it already sunk in that Robert Pietsch will not be on your side anymore? It was an announcement which nobody had expected so it must be kind of a big change for you and the team?
Definitely an unexpected news, by the time it was official, I already had my ideas, goals and mind focussed for all upcoming challenges, but the moment he has told me wasn’t the easiest as many could imagine as he played the major part to my racing program in the last years which I am very thankful about.
Your racing had been going extremely well in the last months. You won the AOC in Korea, the EWS in Essex, and the TOS in Augsburg – a great streak against a strong competition. What do you expect from the ETS race in Daun – a race you could already win two times in the past?
Yes, I got lots of confidence after the AOC in Korea to carry into the indoor season as the last ETS outdoor race started well but didn’t end well, kind of a reset was needed. Daun is always tricky by its track condition, beside of one year, I was always up there to challenge for the win and usually like the differences this event has compared to others.
2026 is a world championship year. How was your trip to then new GDC facility and what can you tell us about it? We also like to know how your feelings are, going back to a worlds in China ten years after you won your worlds title in the same country?
Of course, the memory to win there was huge and still is and I couldn’t be more motivated currently. The testing went very well in the end, but I know of all the Worlds I have attended in the past, the event itself always has different track condition than testing (which is good and fair), different kind of attention and momentum so you need to do the right things in the right moments with a bit of luck on your side, but I’m definitely ready for it!
Sparbier: “Grateful for everything that Robert has done for me!”
Hi Sören, happy new year 2026. Last year was simply amazing for you with two ETS wins and a victory at the TITC. Do you think you can do even better in 2026 – especially when we are looking on the upcoming world championship which will be the first one for you?
Hello everyone, and Happy New Year. The 2025 RC season was amazingly good, and I don’t know yet whether 2026 will be even better, but I hope so, and I will do everything I can to improve. This is my second World Championship; I competed in Gubbio back then, but just to experience it. Now my expectations are a little different than they were back then, and I think I have a good person in Ronald to support me in getting the best possible result. I’m not going to compete in Stock, but in Modified (as I did in Gubbio), and we’ll see what kind of surprise comes out of it.
It seems that you are racing every weekend on all different stages in onroad and offroad. Is this your biggest strength – to just drive and drive as much as you can to further improve your skills?
Yes, I think that driving a lot has brought me a long way to where I am now. I can’t say whether it’s best to drive in so many different classes, but it’s definitely fun, and that’s important. You learn something new everywhere, so it’s not a bad thing.
You are the number one Pro Stock racer from Mugen Seiki right now. In Daun you will once again face a very strong competition. Do you think you can repeat your victory from 2025 and what would that mean to you?
In any case, there is a big focus on another victory, as is the case with every race, of course, but an EST victory is particularly important and would be a good start to the year. I always do better indoors than outdoors, and the training in Augsburg as preparation has already worked wonderfully in Stock and Modified.
Robert Pietsch has left your team. He was a huge help for you, especially on the road to all your big wins. Is there something you like to tell him?
Yes, Robert is unfortunately no longer our helping hand, but he has given us a lot. I now have to do more of the wrenching myself and work hard, but I will do my best. As a sign of gratitude to Robert, I will not be racing in my colors, as I did in the last races, but in his. Just as I did when he was still here. I am very grateful to him for everything he has done for me and will try to implement everything he taught me.
Callens: “It`s my Daun debut so the challenge will be “big like hell”
Hi Remi, we hope you are doing fine and also that you have celebrated Christmas and new year`s eve in style. Did you have had a lot of chances to practice on carpet with the MTC-3 so far?
Since I have the MTC-3 from November 2024 I can say I have had a lot of practices on carpet with full winter season 24/25, then as the platform didn’t change too much, I started 25/26 winter season with a great knowledge in my bag. However I did not practice a lot yet this year, I did only a few races in Longwy with great speed showing and EWS International where I failed with my driving and finding a proper car setup for my driving style I guess. Last « race practice » for me will be in Longwy, one week before ETS, where I need to adjust some things to get fully ready for the battle!
Daun is a huge challenge for everybody with the difficult track, the long days, and the high competition. You have never been in the A-Main at this race if we are not wrong. What kind of target have you set for yourself for the biggest indoor race of the year?
Yes you are right, as I never went there before haha ! It will be my first time competing in Daun and I feel the challenge will be high like hell with all those great guys and the exhausting days incoming. Target on my side always is to make the A-Main and I really look forward to it as this season has been really difficult on my side. I think I lost a bit myself with all the things I do, have to manage, outside RC in my professional/personal life. But I know my package Mugen Seiki MTC-3 / LRP is one the greatest on the market at the moment, so if I can get the confidence on my first run I know I can be competitive during the whole race, I feel ready ! Except the race I expect, and I will, share a lot of good moments with my friends as it’s also why I reach, always well organized, ETS races.
With the MTC-3 looking like a really amazing car, how would you rate Robert Pietsch`s departure from the team, especially with the IFMAR worlds coming up soon?
Indeed, Robert Pietsch made an amazing and outstanding car with MTC-3 platform, from the beginning as the prototype we got was really close (99%) to the commercialized kit in June 2025. But Robert was more than that, he was the team leader with always great communication, great ideas and always kind with everyone. I was shocked when he sent me a message start of December to let me know his departure from Mugen because in my mind he was the one that represented Mugen Seiki the best with 1/10 and 1/8 job he has done. It’s a big loss for the team for sure, especially with the upcoming IFMAR Worlds but I know Ronald can handle it as I trust
Gollner: “My preperation was fucussed on consistency”
Patrick, coming into Daun and knowing that it is the biggest indoor race in Europe – what is your preparation looking like and what do you think you can achieve together with the team?
Coming into Daun you always feel a bit of extra pressure – it’s the biggest indoor race in Europe and the level is insanely high every year. My preparation has been very focused on consistency: a lot of indoor practice, working on driving clean on high-grip carpet, and refining small details like tire management and rhythm over long finals. Together with the team, the goal is to be competitive from the first run and build up step by step. If everything comes together, I believe a solid A-main result is realistic, and on a good weekend even fighting closer to the front.
You are racing for Mugen Seiki for one year now. How would you sum-up your first year with the team and what is your forecast for 2026 with races like the TITC and the IFMAR worlds on schedule for you?
My first year with Mugen Seiki has been very positive overall. I feel more comfortable giving feedback and pushing development now. Robert Pietsch helped me massively in my first season. Especially when it came to car setup, but also to changing my driving style, which is generally very important before every race, including how you prepare yourself mentally and technically. Learning all these things from a different perspective was a real pleasure, and of course I was able to take a lot away from it. He basically brought me to the next level. Looking ahead to 2026, I’m really motivated. Races like TITC are huge goals, and with the experience from this year, I think we can go there much better prepared and aim for strong results.
We have asked Ronald and Sören the same: How did you receive the news of car designer Robert Pietsch leaving Mugen Seiki? He played a key role also for you we guess?
Of course, the news about Robert Pietsch leaving the team was a surprise. He played a very important role in the development of the car, and also for me personally – his technical knowledge and clear explanations helped a lot during my first year. Mugen still has a very strong structure and talented people behind the scenes, and I’m confident the team will continue to move forward. I’m very thankful for what Robert contributed and wish him all the best for the future.
