This time we are happy to welcome Robert Pietsch in our series of „ETS Family Interviews“. Let`s hear from Robert how his job at Mugen looks like and what he is expecting from RC in the future!

ETS:
Hell Robert and welcome to our “ETS Family Interview” . As you live in the south of Germany (Bavaria) and very close to the Austrian border, tell us how you and your family are doing and how you managed to stay healthy and safe in the last months?
Robert:
We are all doing well. Obviously everything is getting a bit closer to usual these days. Basically we were following the advices how to deal with the situation. Once a time, we were in quarantine, but we weren´t infected fortunately. We are living landside, so it was easy for us to go outside and enjoy ourselves.

ETS:
You are racing RC cars since a very long time. Have you ever had such a long break without racing as we have it right now? How much do you miss the competition on the track?
Robert:
No, I haven´t had such a long period without racing in my career yet. As you mentioned above, I race rc cars since a very long time. To be honest I must say due to the lockdown I was able to think about racing a lot. I have the feeling this break brought me back some motivation. I have also tried to find a better mindset in that period of lockdown, which I hope being able to continue later on.

ETS:
In which year you have started the RC Hobby and how long did it take until you raced the first time on a real racetrack?
Robert:  
It was in the early 90´s and I got to the track initially because of my dad and my uncle started with racing at the late 70´s. It was a good time back then and I also have the feeling 1:1 motorsport was way more famous than nowadays.

ETS:
When you grew up in RC racing, which was the driver you liked watching the most – did you had an RC  hero?
Robert:
I didn´t had any real idol. I remember it was always impressive for me, when I saw somebody at the track who was fast. I was waiting each month for the upcoming rc newspapers, loving to see the pictures and news of the races. It was clear to me I want to do the same.

ETS:
When did you made the transition from a competitive racer to professional driver? Was it at the same time you started to design RC cars on the computer?
Robert:
I would describe myself not as a professional racer at any time, because it was always a combination of designing and driving. Only the part of driving might have been a bit more in the past than nowadays. In 2007 I have drawn a 1/8 car in my spare time beside my normal work (CAD CAM in a company producing parts for Airbus). That car has got the Shepherd Velox later on, as they have offered to me to work in their company fulltime back then. So I moved to Heidelberg which was around 450km away from my hometown. It was a pretty successful story coming up with the idea of that car, which kept its base in the following years. After that, I changed to Mugen Seiki where I´m still working these days.

ETS:
When we are looking onto the career you made until now, you are one of the best known Nitro Onroad  racers in the world because you have won a lot of races and titles. The greatest victory for sure was your 2011 world championship title in 1:8 scale which you won in Miami. When you think back to this day, which feelings are coming into your mind first and what was the most emotional moment for you?
Robert:
Basically it has changed my life a bit. It was like reaching the maximum possible. I was on pole position the 3^rd consecutive time at these worlds, so my target for the final was clear. After I was dominating the practice and qualification in 2009, but losing the title to Lamberto who won his 9^th title back then, I was so proud to be the first champ after his several consecutive wins. The most emotional moment was, when I have called my parents after the final telling them I´m the new world champion (btw. it was nighttime in Germany). I also remember several friends of mine told me afterwards, they did public viewing on liverc along with some barbecue. This also made me very proud, because it shows up people and friends are interested in what you do. Also they got the key of my apartment from my parents, and prepared some coming back surprise inside.

ETS:
Last year, after some years passed by, you celebrated another world championship title when Shoki Takahata won it for Mugen at Steel City Raceway/USA with the car that you designed. How thrilling was it to watch the final from the sideline compared to driving on the track by yourself?
Robert:
It was also very emotional for me. Basically I always dreamed about my own designed car would be world champion once with another driver, because in the past some people always thought, I have designed the cars mainly for myself and my own driving style, which was never the truth honestly.
It almost happened before, when Simon Kurzbuch was winning the world´s with the Shepherd Velox, which was produced with the base of my design back in 2007. The same worlds our prototype MRX6 car finished 2^nd with Takaaki Shimo.So it was kind of a weird situation.
Generally it was a big win for me last year too. All our team was so proud and happy. I also have a good relation with Shoki, and I must say he has impressive driving skills.

ETS:
After designing many nitro cars for Mugen, you finally stepped into the electric market in 2017 when the first Mugen 1:10 scale touring car came onto the market. How challenging was it for you and your team to enter the electric racing scene with a brand new electric car after so many years of drawing and racing nitro cars only?
Robert:
It is very difficult, because we were already well known as a nitro manufacturer. I achieved a very strong ETS result at our very first race. That was good on one side, but on the other side it brought along a huge pressure. It was hard for us to get into the market with a consistent and healthy growth. The impact of any mistake we did was way bigger compared to a slow and steady step in. The image of our car never reached its deserved standard, even if we had some more good results with ETS and TITC A-main later on.

ETS:
Do you see any big differences between the nitro and the electric market? Do the customers have specific needs which are completely different?
Robert:
It is obviously completely different. In my point of view it is coming up from huge differences such as testing, preparing, racing mode, and so on.
Due to those kind of things, racers growing up a different mindset to what they want to have, and what is important for themselves. I feel it is simply the result of the time in which category you grow up.

ETS:
The job “RC Car Designer” sounds very unique as it is something special in a niche business. How does a regular work day look for you when you are designing a new car? Do you work more on the computer or does the practical testing on the track finally require more time?
Robert:
I´m working way more on the software. There are a lot more things to do, which customers basically never see, because usually they only see the final product.
I think a normal working day doesn´t look to much different from others, besides the testing. Basically you are growing up an idea bringing it into 3D files, checking everything, choosing material with the resulting production machines…, prepare the drawings with tolerances for the prototype, testing the prototype, doing revisions to the 3D file and drawings, prepare packing lists and manuals and handle it into mass production. I think it is a pretty similar way like any other product development.

ETS:
Are you working on a new project at the moment? If so, can you tell us what it`s all about?
Robert:
Yes, we are working on a new touring car, as well as some other interesting new projects. Soon there will be more information on that.

ETS:
How important is the feedback of your team drivers during the testing stages of a new car? Do you rely more on your own experiences as you really know what you are doing, or is it important to also collect as much data’s as possible from other drivers as well?
Robert:
I think it is very important to hear the other drivers. Especially electric touring car is very difficult to test setup wise compare to nitro because of the tires. You have more parameters on it such as, additive, age of tire, temperature, insert, additive time….
In nitro, even if you use the same tire like the run before, you can realize a setup tendency.
You basically need more information and documentation to realize a tendency in terms of setup, and the drivers need to be very precise on how they do their setup tests.

ETS:
After the 1:8 scale worlds last year you announced that you will race less nitro to focus more on
electric racing. Was it an easy decision for you as you are a real “nitro guy”?
Robert:
I think such a step is never easy, but I think it shows up our motivation to grow up our electric business at the same time.

ETS:
After racing the ETS series now constantly for the last 3 years, what in your opinion makes the series so popular all around Europe and the rest of the world?
Robert:
I guess it is simply a good overall product.

ETS:
During your career you must have raced on a lot of different tracks. What is the best racetrack you raced on with your nitro cars and do you also have a favorite track in the electric touring car class?
Robert:
Nitro: Valencia
Electric: RC addict and Apeldoorn

ETS:
Do you follow any other sports on TV beside RC racing and are you a fan of somebody?
Robert:
I´m following MotoGP and alpine skiing when I find the time. I wouldn´t say I´m a fan of some person, but I`m excited for example of the huge passion and love Valentino Rossi has for his sport, even when results aren´t the same as it has been in the past. In skiing I like the downhill skiers, because they are simply crazy. When you see yourself what type of slopes they drop down and it is pure ice basically, you believe they are from a different planet. Also the physical training they do to hold those huge forces is impressive.

ETS:
You live close to the Alps. Do you go for skiing during the wintertime? If so, on which mountains we can meet you most of the time?
Robert:
Yes, I use to go skiing in the winter. Mostly I´m going to Fieberbrunn/Saalbach and Obertauern. But I usually go once a winter in ski holidays with my closest friends. Then we go to Italy or Switzerland most of the times.

ETS:
The Bavarian and Austrian kitchen is pretty famous all around the world! What is your favorite food when you go out for dinner?
Robert:
As I was in Italy so many times in my life, I like their food a lot.  Also the way how Italians enjoy their food, suits to myself. Also I like barbecue together with my family and friends.

ETS:
Robert, thank you for being a part of our world of racing and for the insight views of your job as a designer for the cars we all like so much. We look forward to see you racing at the highest level for many more years. Now it`s your time to end our nice interview!
Robert:
Thanks a lot!
I wish everyone to stay safe. Let´s hope we get our previous life back soon.

Next in our ETS Family interviews is multi-time ETS winner, Viktor Wilck.  Hailing from Sweden, Viktor has an impressive list of race results against his name, including two Reedy Race titles alongside his many European victories.

ETS:
Hi Viktor, and thanks for taking the time for this interview.  As we’ve asked all the drivers so far, it’s strange time for the world right now, so how are you doing and is the family staying well?
Viktor:
Hi Guys, my family and myself are doing all right. We try to not meet too many at same time and take our distance.  Hope all of you and the ETS crew is staying healthy and safe.

ETS:
So, without racing, how do you keep yourself busy right now?  Sweden seems to be much more ‘open’ than many other countries, so have you still been able to go to the track at all?
Viktor:
I try to promote the brands I’m supported from as much as possible with setup, videos and support to their customers online. As you say Sweden has tried a different approach to the situation with keeping most of our shops and business open as much as possible. We still have a limit of 50 people for an event or gathering, and there is still no official race organized by our federation. We can go to the tracks and there are people coming back for practice now, so I’m very happy about this.

ETS:
Where in Sweden do you live?  How long have you lived there, and do you like that area?
Viktor:
I live in Gothenburg, the second capital of Sweden on the west coast. I lived here all my life and I like our “medium” sized city next to the sea where you can find all necessary brands, shops and restaurants while still not being too big and crowded city. Our airport is 20min from the city, which is also nice with all our travelling.

ETS:
One thing all racers seem to love is seeing each other’s RC space at their home.  Have you got a separate room for your RC stuff?  Where do you do your ‘RC Work’ usually?
Viktor:
Yes, we moved to a new apartment last year that allowed me to get an office and RC room to do my daily work to my cars 🙂

ETS:
Going right back to the start then, how did you first get started in RC racing?  What can you remember from the early days?
Viktor:
When I was about 11 years old I watched an older neighbour playing with his Kyosho car on the parking lot. We later went to the local club and after we started racing we went to races for more than 10 years together; I have a lot to thank Bjorn my old neighbour that taught me a lot and helped me out in my early days racing. My biggest memory when I was young was a podium finish on the off-road nationals back in 2000.

ETS:
Was there anyone you looked up to when you started racing?  Did you ever think it would become your full time career?
Viktor:
When I started, my first car was a 2WD Team Losi XX. Back then there was no touring car class and the biggest stars were Brian Kinwald, and Masami Hirosaka, so probably those two. I used to check the car action RC magazine and read about all the big races. Of course it was a dream to become full time RC driver, but it was never the goal. It slowly emerged as a possibility when I made the A-final and 5^th place at my first IFMAR world championship back in 2006, when I was 18years old and started to think what to do once school is finished.

ETS:
You are a full time RC driver.  How long have you been “working” as a racer for, and did you have any ‘real’ job before you were a full time driver?
Viktor:
I started to work at local distributor, PROCAR in 2007. Back then it was the Horizon distributor in Sweden. I worked there for a few years on the side until there was not enough time than to go to races. I learned a lot from the staff and the owner Lars helped me a lot with connection to the RC brands and the industry. At the same time I was offered a contract with TAMIYA as a factory driver. I have always tried to keep in contact with distributors or other companies during my RC career. This is something I think can be useful in the future and important to understand the other side of the industry, rather than only racing.

ETS:
If we think about the beginning years of the ETS Championship, you were always a contender and part of the mighty Tamiya team then.  What was this like to work with people like Marc and Jilles every week?
Viktor:
We had a great time together, back then ETS was not so big and just getting started. I think there was a more relaxed feeling in the beginning of ETS and new places for events, so I think everyone was very excited and enjoyed those years. I think later when looking back at it, it was quiet a big deal to race for such a big company as TAMIYA. Everyone at the company was very supportive and I can’t thank enough for the support from Maezumi, Suzuki and Kono. Together with the drivers we made a great team that dominated the touring car class for a few years and built a good friendship until this day.

ETS:
Since Tamiya later decided to cut back (and eventually completely close) it’s racing team, you moved on to Serpent, where you were really their top electric driver.  With a lot of Serpent then based in China, you had quite a lot of trips to Asia then.  What do you remember best from your time with the ‘Orange brand’?
Viktor:
In the last years at TAMIYA I felt I needed to try something new to get back my motivation. About 2 years before TAMIYA started to close down the factory team I made the decision to move to Serpent. I think with Serpent I had a very close relationship to the factory and the people behind the company. It was good to learn a different racing scene in Asia and I got to do more races, which helped my driving, and consistency. Probably the greatest moment with SERPENT was to put a brand new car platform (the Project 4X) on the podium and 3^rd place at the IFMAR World Championship in Beijing, China.

ETS:
And now, you’re with Infinity.  Initially you were re-united with the ‘old Tamiya team’, what was it like to have your old friends and teams all together again?
Viktor:
Yes, it was like getting back to the TAMIYA team feeling but of course with different company. I had a very good welcome and feel I made a successful first year with the INFINITY team.

ETS:
And now, with Marc and Yannic no longer part of Infinity, you have more responsibilities in the European electric scene really – what is the team like for you now?
Viktor:
It was sad to see Marc and Yannic leaving the team. But we have to look forward. We still have a big team. And with myself and Jilles in Europe, and Naoto, Akio and many more in Asia I’m sure we can do good results in the upcoming season.

ETS:
And alongside this, you are also the European Manager for the Dash line of electronics from Arrowmax, a fairly new brand.  What is it like working with them?
Viktor:
I’m really happy to work together with the people at Arrowmax and DASH, they supported me also before and I look forward to take on more responsibility. DASH is fairly new brand but we already made a good stance in the market and I think we can continue to grow the team and develop the products.

ETS:
What race result are you most pleased with if you think back on all your racing?  Perhaps your two Reedy Race titles stand out the most?
Viktor:
Of course my first Reedy title stands out with Tamiya, that one felt special and always was a race I wanted to win. But I’m also really happy to be able to win my second Reedy title last year with INFINITY in my first year with the team. After that I would say my two runs with 3^rd place at the IFMAR world championship and my two ETS wins.

ETS:
And is there any track or race you didn’t go to yet, that you really want to visit?
Viktor:
Perhaps racing in Australia would be nice, I was never able to go to an event there.

ETS:
RC racing has changed a lot over the years.  What has been the most fun or exciting event you can remember being too?  Maybe something you’d like to go back and experience again?
Viktor:
When I was younger and started to go to international events the Snowbirds in Florida was very exciting racing 24/7. IIC in Las Vegas was always very special with so many things to do around the track. And I have to say the ETS in Gran Canaria – that was a special race and something I hope we can go back to in the future.

ETS:
Thinking of when you aren’t at the ‘big races’, do you do much racing in Sweden – either National events or club races?  How is the on-road scene in Sweden usually?
Viktor:
I do the nationals every year and try to do as many races as possible back home, always nice to meet the old friends and race at your local clubs. The on road scene has been on the low but slowly starting to pick up again. 

ETS:
Outside of RC racing, what other hobbies do you have, or what do you like to do in your free time?
Viktor:
Just enjoy hanging out with friends and I try to do some sports occasionally.

ETS:
And what about other sports – is there anything else you play yourself, or follow closely?  Do you have a team or player that is your favourite?
Viktor:
I follow Formula 1, Valentino Rossi in MotoGP, had the opportunity to meet Rossi in Mugello, so he will always be no1, and Tiger in Golf. Try to play Tennis and Padel with my friends as much as possible.

ETS:
And finally, I guess you’re hoping things get back to ‘normal’ soon and we can get racing properly again.  What would you say you have missed most during this COVID-19 time?
Viktor:
Of course racing, that has been too long now. And just meeting all friends around the world, I hope everyone stays safe and healthy and we see us back at the track soon!

ETS:
So Viktor, thank you for your time.  We hope you, your family and friends stay well and look forward to seeing you at the track again soon.  As we close – is there anyone else you want to thank or acknowledge that you didn’t so far?
Viktor:
Thanks for having me and great job with the column Oli! I like to thank my sponsors who still support me in these difficult times, big thanks to: INF1NITY, SMJ, DASH, ARROWMAX, PRO-SPEC, SWEEP, MPE, TD-DESIGN, RACEBERRY