ETS: Welcome to the ETS family. It was only a matter of time, wasn’t it?

David: Of course, for me, the ETS is the most prestigious racing series in the world.

ETS: Can you still remember your first RC car and how you got into your first race?

David: My first RC car was a Tamiya Mini-Fighter. I think I got it when I was 4 or 5 years old. At first, I just drove it on the road. When I was 6, I took part in my first race at my big brother’s school, but by then I was already driving a Tamiya DT-02.

What has been the most difficult moment of your RC career so far?

My toughest moment so far was probably the 2025 EFRA European Championships, where I had two radio dropouts out of the blue and my car crashed into the wall at full throttle. I was already facing quite a few challenges with the conditions during that race, and the radio dropouts made the situation even more difficult. Nevertheless, I was able to take a lot away from that race and gained valuable experience.

We’ve known each other for a few days now. So why don’t you tell us a bit about your journey from the Tamiya Fighter Cup to the ETS

Until 1.5 years ago, I only raced in the Tamiya Cup and even there I had my struggles with the cars, as I still knew very little about any car beyond the Tamiya Fighter Buggy. Fortunately, two good friends from Holland, Maarten Wouters and André Heskamp, who also travelled to the Tamiya Cup once a year, invited me to drive their car at a TOS race in Augsburg. After this test race, I got my own touring car for Christmas. About three weeks later, I competed in the ETS in Daun, where I managed to finish in 7th place straight away. After that, things went from strength to strength and I competed in more and more races.

The commitment shown by the Anna Schmidt School is quite exceptional. We should all hope that other schools follow their example. However, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to secure support from manufacturers or retailers. What do you think about that?

I think what the Anna Schmidt School set up many years ago is a prime example of how the hobby can be introduced to people in a positive way. The commitment came not only from the children, but particularly from the parents as well. The competition has always led to very close but fair battles on the track at the school and to excellent results for the school in the Tamiya Fighter Cup. With the help of the model shop “MZ-Modellbau”, the club has always been able to welcome new pupils and get them excited about the hobby. It was a very good concept, but one that can only be sustained with the parents’ commitment.

Do you spend a lot of time working on the setup, or are you more the type who says, “more driving than tinkering”?

These days, I do give a lot of thought to the car’s handling and setup, even whilst I’m driving. Fortunately, though, I’m surrounded by lots of experienced and helpful people who give me a hand when I’m stuck.

What do you get up to when you’re not racing at the weekends? Do you have any other hobbies?

Outside of RC racing, I’m quite busy with school. I’m sitting my A-levels next year. I also go to the gym and play the drums. Otherwise, I spend a lot of time out and about with my friends.

Do you have a favourite race track? If so, tell us a bit about it and why you prefer it?

When it comes to choosing a favourite track, I’m torn between Apeldoorn and Luxembourg. For me, those two tracks are the best I’ve raced on so far and the ones I’ve enjoyed the most. I think Apeldoorn is just a little bit higher up the list because I’ve had so many positive and negative experiences there, from which I’ve learnt a great deal and been able to develop as a result. I’ll be racing and training on a few other tracks in 2026. We’ll see if those two tracks can hold their position.

Do you have a favourite driver or role model in RC car racing? You can select more than one answer.

My biggest RC role model is Ronald Völker. Ever since I’ve been part of the ETS scene, Ronald has made a lasting impression on me as a role model, because for me there are very few drivers who put as much work into their success as he does. I admire that greatly and it also drives me to stay on the ball and be consistent. I also really like his manner, as I get on very well with him on a personal level and always come away from conversations with him with a smile. In second place for me is Simon Lauter. He has followed a similar path to the one I’m currently on. He also started out in the Tamiya Cup, and he too demonstrates what is possible in this sport with hard work, consistency and experience. Max Mächler is also a great role model, as he always comes across as very professional and works extremely hard for success.

Congratulations on your victory in Race Truck and second place in the Euro-TW class at the 2025 Tamiya Euro-Cup Germany Final in Neustadt.

Thank you very much.

A simple question. Why do you race in the ETS now?

I race in the ETS because, for me, it’s the strongest competition with the highest calibre of international drivers. What’s more, since my first ETS race, I’ve had the chance to meet so many people who have since become really good friends, and I’m always delighted to see them whenever I do.

Does the experience you’ve gained from the ETS carry over to the TEC races, or would you say they’re two completely different things?

The experience I’ve gained from the ETS over the last year applies to every car and every racing class. I now have a much better understanding of Tamiya cars in particular and actually have no trouble at all setting them up. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to compete in any TEC races this year, as the final round clashes with the EFRA European Championship in Luxembourg. But I’m looking forward to making up for it next year.

You’re now part of Ryan Maker’s team. Tell us a bit about the team and how you’re working together.

My time with Team RC Maker has gone very well so far. Having direct contact with the car’s developer and designer is a huge advantage and will play an even bigger role in the future. As the team’s first car, the SP1 is making an exceptionally good impression and is already performing at the very highest level. Look forward to the future with RC Maker.

The title is already within reach in my very first ETS season. How does that feel?

The season is going very well. Despite a few difficulties, we’ve managed as a team to develop the car to the point where it can compete for the overall win in the 21.5 class. I didn’t expect to go into the final race of the season as the leader. I’m going into this race feeling very confident and with a lot of momentum, because I saw in Daun, in particular, how things can go when the driver stays focused and minimises mistakes. Nothing has been decided yet, though, and I’ll have to give it my all right up to the final lap to maximise the result.

Rumour has it, like so many young guns, that you’ll be switching classes from season #19 onwards and racing Pro Stock, or perhaps Modified straight away?

That’s right, from next season I’ll be focusing on the Pro Stock class and also competing in the FWD class in the ETS. I’ll also be taking part in every race I can to gain as much experience as possible.

What are your personal goals for the next few years in RC racing?

I haven’t set myself any specific goals for 2026. The only thing I demand of myself is that I approach every race with good preparation and a positive attitude. Of course, the results are important to me, but I still have a long way to go, full of learning and experience, before I reach the point where that becomes relevant.