Hagberg: “I respond to 100% of all customer questions”

Alexander, we hope you enjoyed Christmas and the start into the new year with your family in Lisbon. How does it feel to celebrate in warmer conditions compared to your home country Sweden and what did you have for Christmas dinner?

Winter in Portugal is a lot milder (and snow-free) compared to Sweden. Which is enjoyable. We do get sunny days with up to 20 degrees even in December or January at times! Christmas dinner for me was a Portuguese tradition – bacalhau (codfish). There’s many ways to cook it, but we had a “com natas” creamy version.

You are one of the most famous XRAY drivers of all time. Your support for XRAY customers is second to none and you are doing a brilliant job. How much of your working time beside racing goes into customer support each and every day?

I sometimes spend several hours a day doing both office work and customer support for XRAY/HUDY. I do receive a consistent and quite large number of questions or feedback from customers on a daily basis which I try to respond to a 100% of them.

The upcoming race in Daun is a special one with so many entries and long days. You are used to this from other races (Snowbirds for example). What is your secret to always stay fit and mentally strong during such demanding days?

I drink a lot of coffee by habit, and try to eat well, and eat at least 3 times during the day to keep my blood sugar levels stable.

To keep this one short: What are your goals for 2026 when looking on ETS, TITC, and the IFMAR worlds?

My goal as a racer is to try and fight for the top positions at international races, which includes all of the above. My goal as an employee for XRAY is to try and keep the team and customers as happy possible with their racing/hobby!

Ratheisky: “This year`s IFMAR worlds in China will be the RC trip of my live”

You are very well known for racing multiple classes at big events – what is your gameplan for Daun and what are your expectations for the race?

Thanks 🙂 Even I had to remove F1 sadly its „only“2 classes left its 6 in the End as I have to take care on my kids. Gameplan? Learn the new car on carpet and show the young guns that I can still beat them. But I don’t want to set the goal to high. There is a stacked field of very good if not the best drivers I know atm. To answer it… Bot A mains would be a very good result to start the carpet season. 

It looks like you have a pretty nice indoor track in Braunschweig for practice. Do you think this is an advantage over others who have no track available?

Even I like the Track in Braunschweig a lot im more there to hang out, wrench and help my kids. Mostly I run old tires from US until they are worn to have some value out of the money spent. I will start to test a bit more soon as the ETS is finished. Because we have some leftover tires then 😉 I made 2 packs with the ETS equipment so far. Should be enough ^^

You will travel to the IFMAR worlds with your family in April. Will this be the coolest RC trip of your life?

You can bet on that! Luckily, I visited this great place already end of last year and it was a blast. It will be the first time for my kids out of Europe. 2 World Championships entirely in the easter school vacations. We MUST use this once a lifetime chance. Most expensive trip I ever make in my life, but the experience and good memories will be worth every €. Now me AND my kida are goon „All in !!“ 

Izsay: My childhood dream came true with my new job at XRAY

Adam, you are working full time at XRAY now since a couple of months. How does it feel to be a part of such an iconic brand and how is live in Trencin for you so far?

It’s been amazing so far to work at XRAY, was my childhood dream to be able to call my hobby my job aswell and the life in Trencin is great also, nice place where i already spent a lot of days before i moved here to live.

The X4`26 seems to be a very strong car. What is your goal for the race in Daun in the very competitive Pro Stock class?

Obviously for Daun my goal is to have a great race in both Pro Stock and Modified classes. The X4’26 has been performing very well so far, and we had a great race with Soren already last weekend at TOS in Augsburg, so i’m looking forward to Daun to race again at the ETS after a long break.

As for most of you guys, 2026 is a world championship year again. What comes into your mind when you think about your last world championship (Gubbio) and what have you learned from this race which you want to do different in China?

We went for the Femca championship back in December to try to be as good prepared for the WC as possible and i’m feeling good for April and looking forward to it eventough we have a lot of other big in front us before that. About the last 2 worlds i have missed out on USA 2024 but i was in Gubbio 2022 in my first year with TC finished 3rd so my goal is to try to improve on that this year in China.

Ronnefalk: “Becoming parents is such an amazing feeling”

Hi David, happy new year! Before we talk about RC, ee would like to congratulate you and your wife on the birth of your son Colin. It must have been a fantastic Christmas and new year`s time at home. How is life so far with him and how do you feel as a father now?

Happy New Year! Thank you so much, it’s been a great Christmas break experiencing the first few weeks of Colin’s life for sure. Both Colin and Johanna are doing well which is the most important and even though it’s still only a few weeks since his birth we have seen a few different phases already. Such a fantastic feeling to become parents, the next step in life!

You had been very fast at last years carpet race in Wiener Neustadt. How confident are you for the race in Daun which is always a tricky one?

The last few weeks I’ve had time to organise and prepare my gear which is an important part of the job in order to go into the race season prepared. I had great speed at the ETS in Wiener Neustadt last year and I’m looking forward to improve on that for the race in Daun this coming weekend. I was already feeling good going into this race last year but unfortunately I had to sit out last minute as I got an infected appendix which needed to be removed. Feeling very good coming into the race this year anyway, especially after the test days we have had together with Alex, Adam, Marc, Pekko and JQ at my track in Sweden. Excited to attend the first carpet race with the X4’26 which has been working great!

As you will do the EOS/ETS double header in Daun, what does your schedule look like afterwards on the way to the IFMAR worlds in China?

Together with Xray we decided to put the focus on Touring Car until the Worlds in China, so that meant I sat out EOS in Daun this past weekend. Of course it’s always tough to skip races you enjoy doing but it’s also not possible to do them all. I prefer to go into the races well prepared and then this decision was the right one for sure. After ETS I will do the TITC in Bangkok, then the team will schedule a test session together in March on asphalt before the tripple header in Wiener Neustadt – 1/12 Worlds – Touring Car Worlds. Looking forward to the racing season to kick off, see you all at the ETS in Daun!

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.

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.

Coelho (Inf1nity): “It was a year of big changes and a lot of learning”

Hi Bruno, how are you? We hope that you had a great start into the new year. Your old teammate Alex Hagberg told us that he had Bacalhau “com natas” as Christmas dinner. Which Portuguese speciality was on your table during Christmas?

All fine, thank you, and I hope the same for you. What Alex had is really good, and in Portugal it is very traditional to eat bacalhau (codfish), during Christmas. We have many different ways to prepare it, and “Bacalhau com natas” is probably my favorite.  This year I had “Cabrito assado no forno”, which translates to oven roasted kid goat. It is also a very traditional dish for Christmas in Portugal, and it is something we usually enjoy with the family on special occasions. 

Well, 2025 was a year full of changes for you. You left Xray to join Infinity and it was a year full of hard work. In the end you celebrated a huge win at the ETS in Luxembourg which must have meant a lot to you. How would you sum-up your first full year with Infinity?

It was definitely a year of big changes and a lot of learning. Joining Infinity meant adapting to a new environment, new people, and a different way of working, and it required a lot of dedication from everyone involved.  Winning the ETS in Luxembourg was a very special moment for me, as it confirmed that the hard work was going in the right direction. Overall, I would describe my first full year with Infinity as very demanding, very motivating, and extremely positive from a long term perspective. 

You are not on the entry list for the ETS in Daun and we have not seen you hitting carpet during the winter. You also told us that you will completely skip the carpet season. Can you tell our ETS fans and spectators what is the reason behind it going into the world championship season?

This decision was mainly based on focus and long term planning. With the World Championship coming up, I felt it was important to fully concentrate on outdoor racing and preparation on asphalt, which is where the Worlds will be held.  Skipping the carpet season allows me to invest my time and energy into testing, development, and preparation that is more directly connected to the goals for this season. It is not an easy choice, as I enjoy racing carpet, but my main focus now is asphalt. 

You have been at the FEMCA race to prepare for the IFMAR worlds and won it. How was the time in China at this facility and what can you tell us about the whole experience in Foshan?

The time in China was very positive. The GDC facility in Foshan is impressive, and the organizers did a great job with the event. Racing at the FEMCA was an excellent opportunity to understand the track, the conditions, and the overall environment ahead of the IFMAR World Championship.  The experience was valuable both on and off the track. It allowed us to test, learn, and adapt, and the win was a great bonus that confirmed we are working in the right direction. Overall, it was a very productive and motivating trip.

Brunet (RC Maker): “We are pushing extremley hard to develop the best possible car”

Hello Antoine, how has your start to 2026 been so far, and how have you been preparing for the ETS in Daun with your RC Maker SP-1? What result would you be satisfied with after the race?

The start of the new season looks very promising. Over the last few months, we’ve made a clear step forward in car performance, so I’m really looking forward to being in Daun to see where we stand competitively.

The RC Maker team is around for one year now and you are involved from the very first minute. How would you sum up 2025 for the brand and the car platform and what do you expect to happen in 2026?

The 2025 season has brought some strong positives, but also a few challenges. We unexpectedly lost several drivers, which reduced the amount of data available and inevitably impacted our race results. Despite that, Ryan and the team have been pushing extremely hard to develop the best possible car as quickly as we can. As a team, we’ve learned a huge amount—everything was completely new for us, and that experience has made us stronger.

We talked to many other drivers about the upcoming big events like ETS Wiener Neustadt, TITC, and finally the IFMAR worlds in Foshan and the Euros in Luxembourg. Will you attend all these races in 2026 or did you have to pick some of them to fit in your life schedule?

Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be very exciting, with many races across Europe and several events worldwide. I’m confident in our development direction and have full trust in Ryan and the work he’s doing for the future. There are also a lot of exciting developments coming soon for RC Maker, as well as for our new brand, INOV8 Our goal is to compete in all races leading up to the World Championship. That’s our main goal, and we’re fully committed to giving everything to reach the top .

Jung (ARC): “I am fully involved and comitted to the A11 project”

Enrico, how are you doing mate? Well, it is 2026 now and we see you practicing and racing a lot. You had a very good race at the FEMCA event in China, and you had been super-fast at the TOS in Augsburg. How happy are you right now with your equipment and everything?

FEMCA went very well. Events like this are never easy for a small manufacturer like ARC, but we managed everything well and I was able to win the first final. Unfortunately, due to major delays, I couldn’t start the remaining finals. TOS Augsburg was also very positive. We did a lot of testing and are well prepared for the ETS in Daun.

We have heard that ARC will release a new car called A11 very soon. You have been involved in testing and developing the platform. Can you tell customers what to expect from the A11, especially when you compare it with the current A10?

I’m feeling very good right now. I’m fully involved in the A11 project, so I invest a lot of time testing and developing the car in many different conditions. Overall, I’m very happy with the equipment and the direction we’re going.

When looking onto the ETS Pro Stock championship, you are still in a very good position to fight for a top 3 season finish. It can become the best ever ETS season of your career so far. How motivated are you to make it onto the Pro Stock podium?

I’m very happy that we will release the A11 on January 20th. The car is more than 90% redesigned and is a completely new platform. The main focus was lowering the center of gravity and widening the setup window. The car is much easier to drive and the overall quality is outstanding.

As mentioned before, you had been super-fast at the GDC track in China. How much confidence are you carrying over from that on the road to the world championships?

The season is going really well for me. Of course, my goal is to win a race, and an overall top 3 finish would be a very strong result for my first season with ARC. Definitely. The whole season has been very positive so far, which gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming races. The support from the entire team is great, and I especially want to thank Jones Chu for the trust he gives me, which boosts my confidence even more.

Krapp (Yokomo): “The development we did in the last half year is a significant step forward”

Hi Christopher, how was your start into 2026? We hope you are doing fine with your daughter, wife, and family?

Hello to the whole ETS crew. Happy New year to you all! I had a great start into 2026 which lots of family time! My batteries are fully charged towards this year and I am extremely looking forward to get my 2026 RC campaign started at the ETS in Daun in a couple of weeks time!

You are rocking the current MS2.0 from Yokomo which seems to be an improvement over the previous model. Did you have some time to practice and test on carpet before heading to the biggest indoor race of Europe in Daun?

I am personally very motivated as I traditionally love the ETS in Daun and had great success at this event since ever the ETS is going to Daun. I used the “free” time in the last weeks to test at the beautiful permanent track in Hasloh near Hamburg as I am luck to not live too far from it (2h drive).

Your team is not the biggest now. Do you think it is a disadvantage in case of collecting important setup data at such a big race like the ETS in Daun or is it not that crucial?

Our Team will be small but unique with Olav Dahle and Frederik Hovgaard in the mix for the top spots in the Pro Stock category and myself for sure in the mix in the modified category as always. Since releasing our new model, the MS 2.0 things looking better and better every time we getting out with the cars and the development we did in the last half year is a significant step forward compared to before. Also our general guidline has changed a little bit as you saw with our annoucement of the “ABC driver system” with me in charge for the Global Team Management. This will be the first step for us to invest again more into the top end racing and drivers from now on. Also my teammates are hard working on the setup and thats why we will thrive to be best prepared and succesfull at the ETS in Daun!

Which big races are on your 2026 schedule? Have you already been in China to prepare for the IFMAR worlds or will you just show up at the event and aim for the best possible result? The GDC facility looks amazing – doesn`t it?

My 2026 race scheduled is set to be the same as always, attending all the ETS races, European Championships and big races in Europe as well as attending the IFMAR Worlds in China for sure! I am not able to practice before in China but that will be not a problem as my teammates from Yokomo Japan went there to gather information as well as some of my teammates from Team Cayote went there as well. So everthing will be fine at the worlds and also the last time I did not go to practise before a worlds was 2022 when I became Vice World Champion in Italy

Rheinard: “I always see a chance to win the worlds…”

We hope you had a good start into 2026. How and where did you celebrate Christmas and new year?

Yes, I had a good start into the new year. After christmas, I went for a quick 4-day trip to my favourite island Mallorca and after that I was at home to celebrate new year`s eve with friends.

In a couple of months, the IFMAR worlds will take place in China at this fabulous looking GDC facility. It looks like Disney Land for al RC enthusiasts. Together with Bruno Coelho, you are the most winning driver in the touring car class when it comes to world titles (3 titles each). Do you think you can win a fourth title in China, and what would that mean to you?

I believe that I always have a chance of winning. At the last World Championships in Bakersfield, I performed well, was in contention for the overall victory, and ultimately finished third on the podium. Looking ahead to the World Championships in China, I expect all the top riders such as Bruno, Michal, Ronald (and a few others) to be in top form.
I’m really looking forward to this event because the facility is simply fantastic. The hotel is close to the track and there are lots of shops and cafés in the area, which makes the stay even more enjoyable. The track itself is very large and I expect a very demanding high-speed race, which will put a lot of stress on the equipment.

Coming into Daun for the ETS, how will your preparation look like in terms of practice and setup for this unique race at the Sporthotel Grafenwald and what do you expect from your first big race of 2026?

The ETS in Daun will be my first carpet race since the one in Wiener Neustadt at the end of the last campaign. I will do a bit of testing at (David) Ronnefalk`s track in Sweden in the days before Daun to get back into the groove. When looking onto the championship, I am in a good position and my goal is to stay second overall until the end of the season. However, a victory in Daun would be nice for me and my sponsors!

As we know, you are not a driver who enjoys practicing so much. Do you think it is one of your biggest strengths arriving at races with a “freer” mind, or is it maybe a weak point which could help you to score even better results on track with more testing going on?

Yeah, that`s true – I am not the biggest fan of practice. BUT I take a lot of attention on a good preperation immediateley before big race events. I rebuild my cars, prep the body shells, and make sure that everyting is spot on when showing up. Practicing on track is not bad too, but for the race in Daun it is super difficult as you can never find the same conditions somewhere else. Overall, I like to arrive at a big event with a free mind which helps a lot to start into it unbiased.

Lauter: “My goal is the A-Main at the China worlds..:”

Simon, you raced a lot in the last weeks at events like the TOS for example. Are you confident and happy with your carpet performance going into the Daun ETS?

Hi everybody. I have been Racing a lot recently as we have been in China for the Worlds preparation. I did the TOS in Augsburg and a longer week of practice after the TOS race. There was a lot to learn and good competition which is always helpfull during practice to have some kind of orientation. We tested a lot and found some good things in my opinion, but Daun is always special so I am not sure whether this will work there as well. But I think I know how to react to the conditions

You have made the move from Pro Stock to Modified some years ago and you have become one of the top 10 modified drivers at most of your ETS races since then. What would you say is the biggest difference when it comes to driving the cars and would you recommend even more racers to “try modified” at a time?

For sure the biggest difference is the ESC setting and the finger movement on throttle and brake. In stock you basically put everything to highest Punch and in modified you try to be as smooth as possible. A lot of guys think modified is faster in the corners as well which is not the case as the tires are the Limit. That’s why the most improvements in Modified can be found on braking. I still run rather low brake on the radio to smoothen everything out where the best Modified guys use very high brake and are more capable of limiting themself with calmer finger movements.

Your Awesomatix team is a very strong one and maybe the strongest force out there together with Xray. As 2026 is a world championship year, what is your biggest goal and dream for the new season. You are the reigning world champion in the Spec (Stock) class but we guess you will run modified at GDC in China  – right?

I will run modified all year that’s correct. There are some big events this year – with the Double World Championship being the highlight of the year – so my main goal is being as prepared as possible and doing good on the big stage! If everything works out fine I think the A -Main is possible there. I will do my best to make it and enjoy my first IFMAR World Championships in the modified class!

Urbain: “Kicking myself for not doing well in Bakersfield”

Lucas, welcome to 2026 and another ETS race. Before we talk about racing, we like to ask you about your Christmas and New Year`s celebrations. We hope you had a great time?

It was nice to wind down a bit during Christmas, spending time with my family and taking time off RC Racing. It was short lived though as I was already on the road on January 1st to attend the TOS in Augsburg. I didn’t mind though, because this race really is a good one, the right balance between a chill race and a big practice session in the right conditions to get adjusted ahead of the ETS.

With the biggest indoor race of the season right ahead we like to ask you about your current form and your own expectations for Daun. You have been close to a victory at the last ETS in Luxembourg – do you think you can win in Daun?

My current form is there or thereabouts. I haven’t quite found my marks this carpet season yet, but at the same time Daun isn’t really a race you can accurately prepare for. Every year we face widely different conditions there, so I’d rather approach it without any preconceived ideas.
Track evolution can really catch you out, and since we have very little practice before Q1 starts, it is probably better to stay open-minded rather than getting stuck on a setup that seemed perfectly fine at another track the weekend before. That being said, I still feel reasonably confident in my ability to win it. It is up to me to put myself in the right mindset and to give myself the right tools to achieve it.

As the new year is picking up the pace slowly, you have already raced for the first time at the TOS in Augsburg. The schedule for the first half of 2026 is pretty stacked with the ETS in Daun, the TITC in Bangkok, another ETS in Wiener Neustadt, and then the maybe most important trip to the IFMAR worlds in China. How excited are you about the coming months?

It is definitely going to be a busy time. I am currently doing my final prep to fly to Italy for the Charity Race as I am writing this. ETS Daun and TITC are pretty much back-to-back this year given how early we fly to Thailand to maximize practice time.
Then, I’ll be back on carpet again for ETS Wiener Neustadt, with plenty of testing and club racing in between I’m sure, and the WC as the cherry on top after all that. Constantly switching from carpet to asphalt is not the most ideal scenario. I am expecting endless wrenching sessions ahead, but it is what it is. It is in fact what I signed up for and I’m relishing the challenge of it all.

It is maybe not the nicest question, but you have never managed to qualify for an A-Main at the IFMAR worlds – even while being one of the best in the business since many years. How much would it mean for you to end this kind of “streak” at the GDC facilities in Foshan?

I’ve gotten into the habit of doing quite poorly at both EFRA and IFMAR races. If I’m honest these events often fail to feel special to me and despite their status and heritage, I usually struggle to take them more seriously than a glorified club race (lack of an announcer, “à la carte” rule set, endless arguments about simple things etc…).
Last Worlds in Bakersfield were good though, it felt like a proper high-stakes race, and I am kicking myself for not doing well there. I must say I expect quite a lot from the worlds in China this year. When you see the facilities with your own eyes it becomes clear that “just doing things good enough” is not part of their policy, they will make sure it stands out.
Of course, it would be nice to get the monkey off my back by finally making it in the top ten, yet I will arguably not be satisfied with “just” doing that, I’ll be hungry for more. The Worlds always seem to hit different though, unknown set of conditions and a new layout for everyone, it is also not a long race, things can easily spiral down for the worse (been there, done that)…
So as always it can certainly strike a few surprises. That’s not all though, the Euros happen to be at my home track this year in Luxembourg so it would be hitting two birds with one stone in a very short time frame to end a streak of poor EFRA/IFMAR on my end.

Mächler: “Daun is always the “special event” in the calendar”

Max, how are you doing as a team manager and driver in a world championship year with so many big races on the schedule? Let us know a bit of your thoughts and how you plan to handle all the stress with traveling, testing, wrenching, supporting, and racing in the next months?

This year is extremely packed: 1/12 EC and Worlds, 1/10 TC EC and Worlds, TITC in Thailand, the full ETS season, plus a few standalone events. A Worlds year is always special – it’s the top priority for everyone – and that’s exactly why having a strong team structure is crucial.
When I talk about a team, I don’t just mean the drivers. It’s about planning, organization, and execution well in advance to avoid unnecessary last-minute issues.
Together with Lucas and Nicole, I’ve built a very solid internal structure around Oleg and myself to stay on top of everything.
All major events have been fully planned and booked for months already, which also reflects the strong cooperation within the driver group.
We work with shared data and dedicated WhatsApp groups for events like the Worlds and TITC, which helps everyone prepare more efficiently. Due to my responsibilities for the Awesomatix brand, I currently have less time to prepare my own racing program perfectly, which means I’ll race a bit less myself this season. I will grab the transmitter this year with full focus for the double header Worlds in China and the Euros in Sicily and Luxemburg. For the TITC and all the ETS Events I will be present at the events 
to take care of the trackside support for customers and our racers!

Your team is very strong – and very big. How difficult is it to always care about everybody and to keep the team spirit alive week in and week out?

The size of a Team is never an issue, in case you build it with the correct minded people and drivers! No doubt – at the end only one guy can win its class, but there is more to it. The Teamwork to refine the setups and car design plays a major role in every Awesomatix success.
My goal was always to build a Team with guys that genuinely get along and may become even more than just Teammates, because friendship is a much stronger bond than a logo on a shirt.
Given this, it’s rather simple for me to keep the spirit high, because everyone is willing to help each other in case there is something up. All of my drivers know that I’m just one message away in case 🙂 

As mentioned before, 2026 is a world championship year and we all have seen many pictures and videos from the GDC facility in China. What was your first impression when you arrived there?

The facility that Gavin and the Hongyu GDC team built from the ground up is mind-blowing. Photos really don’t capture the scale of the place. Even the visual impression while driving feels unique at first, mainly due to the combination of track width and the height of the driver stand. We’re really looking forward to the Worlds and to racing under those conditions.

Some quick words for the ETS in Daun: Big race, big competition, big chances to win for your team in almost every class. What are your predictions for ETS RD4 with 500 entries?

ETS Daun is always the “special event” in the calendar with the huge amount of entries and long days. Many of our drivers used the recent TOS race in Augsburg to prepare specifically for Daun. With the amount of data collected there, we should arrive with very solid base setups. As always, the final conditions on site will determine the last setup adjustments. With such a talent-packed entry list, nothing is guaranteed for anyone. Everything is wide open, and I’m expecting intense racing and very close battles.   

Bultynck: “For sure, the championship is in the back of my head…”

Ollie, we like to wish you a happy new year and hope that you are fine. First question is a tough one: You can already seal the Pro Stock championship in Daun – how much is it in your head while approaching the race and how are you dealing with it?

Hi and happy new year to everybody. Well I am not really thinking about the Championship yet. I’m just more busy to prepare my cars and myself to do my best and try to fight for the win in Daun and for the team, but for sure the championship is somewhere in the back of my head. But a great result in Daun is priority at this moment. So I will do my best there!

Awesomatix is so strong, especially in the stock classes during all the last years. What do you think makes your team so good at all?

We have a good car for sure, but the most important is the team and teamwork we do. The whole team works so hard to develop and test different things to not leave anything on the table. This way I want to thank Max for building this team as it is, its more like family for me, and his hard work behind the scenes! I have to thank Lucas (Urbain) for all the help and helping me prep all my things.

Beside the ETS, which other races are on your schedule for 2026 and what is the race you are most excited about?

I’ll look to do some Longwy races and also look forward to TITC soon. Last year was my first time there and I really enjoyed it. So, I will be happy to be there again. Preparing for the Worlds is also in full swing for 12th scale and TC Spec, so looking forward to that also. I’ll do Euro’s in Luxembourg as well because I love that track. Nationals are also on the board and some TOS races – so will not be a boring 2026!

Ellerbrock: “I want to secure P2 overall in Pro Stock”

Another strong season for you Lukas. Even if it seems that Ollie will win the title, you are ranked in second place before going into the Daun ETS. Would you be happy so save overall P2 behind him when we wrap up the season in Wiener Neustadt?

Thank you. Unfortunately the outdoor races were not the best for me, so the title defence is out of reach. But as always I will give my best to achieve some good results at the indoor events and try to finish P2 overall, which surely would make me happy.

We think you have already been testing for the IFMAR worlds in China. What have your impressions been at the GDC facility, and in the city of Foshan in general?

Yes I was in Foshan for a week of testing with team. The facility is absolutely crazy! Different and huge tracks, great pits, a big shop and just overall an amazing city. I’m already looking forward to come back there for the Worlds.

It looks crazy to see 500 entries on the list and everybody knows how long and hard these days in Daun will be. But it seems that nothing can stop people from signing up for this epic event. What do you like the most about our big ETS race in Daun, and what are your dislikes about it?

500 entries is an absolute crazy number and once again shows what a good job the whole ETS crew is doing every time! Of course those entry numbers also means that the racing is a bit more limited, which is probably the biggest „dislike“. But in the past years I always had a good time in Daun as it’s a great place to socialize with everybody. I’m already looking forward to be there in a few weeks.