‘I feel that I am in the right place again’ – Ronnefalk
In the same year that his official status got upgraded from ‘Kid’ to ‘Teenager’, a then 13-year-old from Sweden would showcase driving skills that marked him as having a talent that was going to take him places. Attending the European Championship that year, his speed on track was enough for US Offroad star Richard Saxton to state to Red RC during our coverage from that Austrian event that EFRA was about to get its first ever B and A Champion. While he didn’t make the Main on that occasion, that hotly tipped talent would go on to become a European Champion not once but three times as well as taking home the greatest prize our sport offers – World Champion. That year was 2009 and that talent was David Ronnefalk and now 15-years on from making that memorable first impression, he goes into the 19th running of the IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship confident he is in the hunt to add a second World title to the one he claimed in Las Vegas in 2016. Just before David made the trip Redovan, Spain, where today (Sunday) drivers hit the track for the first of two days of free practice, we chatted to him to get his take on the race that only comes around every 2-years and that last time round he came rather close to winning.
Opening our chat by describing the now 28-years-old as ‘being around a while now’, David was quick to agree saying ‘for sure that’s how it feels too.’ He added, ‘I have had some great opportunities, I have been around for a long time but you know I am still enjoying it like I did 10-years ago and we are still pushing.’ Asked if the Worlds was still the greatest race for a driver his response was, ‘You have other big races but once the Worlds comes around there is always a bit more buzz around it and it really brings out the best of the best. Everyone from Asia, Europe and the USA, they never come together unless it’s a World Championship so I definitely still think it is the pinnacle of 1:8 scale racing. It is definitely the biggest for me.’ Looking back to his first big career win, the 2013 European title he won as a Kyosho driver, and if the David of today as a driver has changed he said, ‘I definitely think so. When I won my first European Championship in 2013 I was pretty young and at that age you don’t think, you go to the race and just drive. Now maybe I treat it a little bit different. When I won those Euros in 2013 & 14 I was still not a full time Pro driver. I was still in school. I finished school in 2015 so that was my first year as a full time professional. I think after that it changed a little bit in terms of it being a job and not only a hobby and something I loved but I had to treat it as a job. I think now being older you think a bit more which can be good and bad. I have had some struggles here I would say the last 2-years. There has just been a lot going on outside of the track that has been affecting the results poorly as well but I definitely feel since 6-month or so back I feel that I am in the right place again. I feel as strong as I did before, obviously a 3rd place at Euros was good especially as I knew I didn’t nail everything there on the set-up for the final. Finishing on the podium is a great result. I definitely feel very strong coming into these Worlds this time around and hopefully we can have a good showing.’
David’s package both on and off the track for these Worlds is quite different to previous editions. Now with Xray and recently doubling up on his ‘Made in Slovakia’ package by switching to FX Engines, this will be the first time he will contest a World Championship without Adrien Bertin. The Frenchman first introduced his protege to the World in 2009. Asked about the split, which was only announced in July, of this synonymous duo, David said, ‘Taking the decision it was clear for me what was going to happen not having Adrien there anymore. Obviously I can’t be more thankful for having him there all these years. He has been like my second dad, the mentor, all in all just very close friend of mine and he still is but the decision that was made purely for my best moving forward. I want to keep racing at least until I am 40 I guess. That has always been my goal, you never know what happens but driving for Xray now it was always a natural decision to also go to FX. I mentioned before, too many things outside of the track have been affecting the results in terms of not having the mental side in the right place where it needs to be because the competition is so tough today that you can’t afford having any doubts in your head or second thoughts. Everything has to be very clear both at home, your family, everything has to be working well for you. With Adrien there was some other issues I had. Xray weren’t necessarily pushing me to go FX when I signed because then obviously I then would have been with FX from the start of my Xray career. They were fine with me continuing with Corastec and Adrien until later but I took the decision that it was best for me to go with FX in the end because the whole system/programme would be complete and lot easier to work with all things coming from the same house lets say which is Xray. Definitely it isn’t something I have experienced before because Adrien has always been there with me before. I had Max Gotzl, who is an Xray driver as well, helping me a little bit at the Euros, my father and Martin Bayer took care of the pitting so there won’t be any issues in terms of that. I have spent a lot of time on the track the last 2-months so I feel well prepared. I now have good knowledge of the car and set-up and I have driven the engines quite a bit now. Everything should be good, and third place at the Euros wasn’t a bad result at all considering I wasn’t feeling 100% with the set-up the Main. I am looking forward to what the future has to bring but like I said I am forever grateful for everything Adrien did for me. Winning the Worlds together will always be there with me forever.’
On the unique situation of the same track hosting back to back Worlds this year David said, ‘I don’t mind it at all. They put somewhat a new layout in, some sections stay the same as last time, the layout now is a mix of a few layouts they have had. I think it is going to be a much closer race because the Americans and others that where there now kind of know what to expect. Us Europeans already knew what to expect in 22. Now everyone has been there, everyone is familiar with the place and facilities and everything will run smoother even though it was a great event in 22. Everyone is going to bring their A Game for this one. I don’t think the advantage is there for the Europeans as it was in 22. It is going to be a very level playing field. As much as I would like to go to different places for the Worlds, considering everything that happened I think this is not a bad option.’
A Mayako driver at the last Worlds, having secured the European title with them, on that 2022 result and getting so close taking the World title back from Davide Ongaro, David said, ‘I was never in contention that weekend at all. I was lacking pace, I didn’t get the car to be where I needed it to be to be fast. In the Semi I struggled. I was I think the last man through our Semi and I started 11th so going into the main we where like we didn’t expect to challenge or even be in the Top 5. So then we made a gamble on the tyre choice which worked out incredibly well and made it possible for me to be able to challenge Ongaro for the win. I was surprised, of course I had the speed, I made a couple of mistakes towards the end. If not I would have been World Champion but at the same time I was never thinking I would have that chance going into the Main. During the whole week I never thinking about winning, I was just trying to figure out how to get more speed out of the car. Everything came together so quick and I had been driving through the field in the Main and trying to get to the top and when I was there I would say I was too stressed. I was just not used to being there and threw it away in a way. I never expected to be fighting for the win going into the main. Right after the Main I felt like a second place was a good result, then obviously watching the main after looking back I know I had two mistakes that kind of cost me the win but if someone would have said that going into the main I would have been laughing. It was a tricky situation but I hope I can make it one better this time now that I have a good package and good feeling going into the event. I will see what we can do.’
A driver who by choice doesn’t have a tyre sponsor, asking David if this gives him an edge over his rivals as buggy performance is more evenly matched, he responded, ‘I definitely think there is not one brand that is so much better than other cars out there. I think it is very close between them all and the main difference today is definitely tyres. You know if some one says it is 50-60% of the thing before it is now like 80% of the performance today. Finding that right tyre is going to be key. Luckily we have some experience now at that track and how they treat the surface and how it is going to develop through the week. I think we have a good understanding of what we need coming into the race and we just need to nail our choices and options that we have during the week. Definitely tyre is key and being free gives me option and freedom to choose the best tyre. At the same time it can be difficult unless you have prepared well. The Euros for example I used one brand for the first four days and for the final day we switched to another brand that clearly looked like it had better potential in speed, but then we would have needed to change the car a little and that is why I said for me in the main the car was not 100%. I would have needed to adapt more the set-up for that tyre we ran in the Semi and Main. So it comes with good and bad sides. If you stick with one brand maybe it wont be the absolute quickest but maybe you can really dial you car for that tyre. Also your driving of course as you know how it is going to react but if you just change to another tyre maybe that drives completely different, but I would say it is more towards the positive side to be free.’
Wrapping up our chat we asked David who he expects to be battling with on the big day next Saturday to which he responded, ‘Well if it came down to that I would like it to be a fight between me and Ongaro and me coming out on top so I can get my revenge back from last time. I think it’s going to be a super close race. There are going to be quite a few drivers on the same level. We have seen the Kilic improve a lot the last year, I always expect (Ryan) Maifield to be there of course, Dakotah (Phend) was fast in the main last time round but had an issue towards the end. He was following me through the field, he is going to be there, along with Canas, Ongaro, Bruno. It’s hard to say but Canas has had a great year so far. Ongaro is going for 3-in a row. I will try to get my second (World title) and I guess we will just focus on ourselves and see what happens at the end of the week.
2024 IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship coverage presented by Ruddog
The first of three World Championships Red RC will attend this year, our coverage from 1:8 Offroad in Redovan is being supported by Ruddog. This German based company is steeped in offroad racing history being a distributor for 32 times World Champion manufacturer Team Associated and iconic offroad tyre brand JConcepts to name but a few. Founded in 2006 by Sven Rudig, himself an avid offroad racer, they have developed their own product ranges such as Ruddog Racing which offers a line of electronics and engines. They are also behind Revolution Design Racing Products which has established itself as a designer & producer of high-quality tuning parts and are popular upgrades among offroad racers.
Action & Driver Stand Images : JConcepts [Facebook]