Ronnefalk is Top Seed at Offroad Worlds

Coming into the IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship in Spain with some new found confidence, Xray’s David Ronnefalk has further boosted his form for the most important bi-annual racing week of the year by claiming the Top Seed honours for the start of qualifying tomorrow.  Fastest in first seeding practice from reigning Champion David Ongaro, the former World Champion went quickest again in the second round motivated by the hard charging back to back reigning European Champion Juan Carlos Canas.  Over the counting 3-consecutive laps only 0.038 of seconds separated them.  Third fastest for the round, that is where Ongaro finds himself seeded for quali in front of Boots, the British driver struggling with the increased grip and only managed 7th fastest time time for the round.  Fourth fastest in the second run of the day, Tekno’s Joao Figueiredo is the 5th seed, one spot ahead of fellow countryman Bruno Coelho, the Xray driver having to pit during the evening run after a rear tyre parted way from the rim.

Reacting to his 8/10ths of a second improvement, Ronnefalk explained, ‘we made a couple of changes to the car for that one as I had a good car in the first one.  Also I broke in a new drivetrain to put that one aside for later in the race just to keep everything fresh towards the end. The grip was up, we saw the track was faster the heat before so I knew that it was going to be a quicker run so I had to put everything together took a couple of laps for the driver to break in.  I also had the idle set too low before going out on the track,  it died there on me once, bumped it back up and after that it was really good to the end’.  On tomorrows qualifying, Ronnefalk said, ‘It should be all good, feeling confident, car is easy to drive . Everything we’ve been trying is good, I have always been in the Top 3-5 let’s say and it seems like we are on a really good track here so hopefully we can keep it going tomorrow in qualifying.’

With the potential to give the host nation a home winner, Canas was much happier with his Sworkz second time round.  He explained, ‘I changed things on the car and the tyre compound and I didn’t like it but for the last one I tried new things and it works really really good.  Asked about tomorrow’s first day of qualifying, 3 of the sixth rounds on the schedule, the Spaniard said , ‘yeh, yeh I feel confident cause I not only made three good laps also the 10-minutes was under 50 (seconds).  It’s a really good car to drive.  Asked about further changes ahead of Q1 he replied, ‘maybe we try to make it a little safer for the 10-minute run nothing more’.

Checking in with Ongaro about his evening run, the Italian was running in Heat 14 of 15 for seeding, said ‘Overall it was better so we are happy’.  Asked how he had improved his Associated, he explained, ‘We changed tyres and it was really really good.  The only thing is they are running after me so maybe they can see if the track is faster or not so they can change tyres and stuff.  On the 10-minutes I think I am the more consistent one so I mean that’s the goal for us and we see tomorrow.’

Summing up his second seeding run Boots said, ‘from the first one we wanted to try and increase a bit of rotation in the car and get a bit more speed but the grip came up so it was like a double whammy so it became a bit more edgy to drive so we’ll go back to our previous settings.  The track is coming in now and the grip is coming up so we’ll see tomorrow how the track is but definitely in that last one a lot of people were saying the grip has come up quite a lot, you could see it watching the cars as well.  We’ll go back to the set-up we had this morning just to make the car more calm and easier to drive now the track has become more aggressive.’

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Ronnefalk fastest in first seeding round at WC

After two days of free practice, today drivers finally got down to some serious business at the IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship with the first of the two seeding rounds that saw Xray’s David Ronnefalk set the pace on the sloping RC Redovan track.  The 2016 World Champion was almost a second faster than the Team Associated of defending World Champion Davide Ongaro with Elliot Boots completing the Top 3 for Sworkz.  Overall it was a good start to the day for Xray with Bruno Coelho posting the fourth fastest time just ahead of WIRC Racing’s Marco Baruffolo.  Having set the pace both on Sunday & Monday, hotly tipped race favourite Juan Carlos Canas opened the day with a P6.  The back to back reigning European Champion won the first of those title at the RC Redovan track.

Summing up his first seeding effort Ronnefalk, who was runner-up here 2-years ago said, ‘The first one was good but it started a bit weird ’cause I changed the car from yesterday to today and it was a little bit different to drive.  It was struggling to hit apex of corners ’cause my brakes were too soft and it was understeering but then the tyres broke in just enough to have the right amount of grip I would say and from 3-4 laps into the run to the end I felt really strong’.  The Swede continued, ‘I was able to put 3 laps together and it was enough for the top spot by a second or so. Definitely happy with that even though there is still some room for improvement in terms of drivability the car is fast now it is just a matter of fine tuning the small little details here and there.’  Asked about the track layout change required as part of RC Redovan hosting back to back World Championships, he said, ‘I think the track is nice it’s definitely a little easier than the previous layout they had here but still there are some tricky sections were you need to be able to carry the speed, car needs to carry a lit of corner speed on this layout, lots of 180s were you need to have the right amount of steering without car scrubbing speed to much.  I think set-up on this layout might be a little more critical to have every close to perfect.  Track flows nicely and I like it.’

The hottest day drivers have experienced so far in the South of Spain, Ongaro was pleased with how his track time was going so far stating, ‘It was good.  I think they put some fresh glue on some corners because my car was different from yesterday.  Overall I am happy.  I just try to find the 10-minutes, I don’t care about the three laps.  Comparing the layout on which he won World title two years ago to the new layout he said, ‘I think it is easier to learn but more difficult to go fast, it is more critical.  We are trying to chase how the track is changing, we change something for the second seeding and we see, so far so good.’

Winning the second of his two European Champion titles here at RC Redovan in 2016, Boots was happy with his Reds Racing powered Sworkz.  The British driver said, ‘We got 3rd in first one the car was feeling really good and comfortable.  Going to make a few minor set-up changes just to see if we can extract a few more tenths but it’s very close between a few people.  The layout is a bit different but we have a good feeling of the surface.  It’s hard to say, it could go like Euros way when it went really black line and got more grippy or it could go polished like it did when we had Neobuggy here a few years ago.  We have to see.  At the moment it is in the trending stage of which way is it going to go so we just have to keep an eye on it.  We’re in the mix, we’ve been in the Top 5 all week so far, I know its only 3-laps but we also feel good over the full run’.

Asked how he was finding the early going here at the 19th running of the World Championship, Coelho said, ‘We are still kind of learning the track finding some 10ths here some 10th there but it’s looking very good.’  Asked how the track was developing, the first seeding run the 7th time drivers got out on the track, he replied, ‘The track is changing for sure’.  The Portuguese driver continued, ‘When we started there was only glue so grip was super high now it feels like the grip is a little bit lower but at the same time there is more corner speed.  Times are faster but soon I think it will get more oily and we will need to change tyres for different compounds which will again change everything.  I am confident because we are doing pretty well on these changes since the beginning, the pace is there I was never so ready like now in the past so I am pretty confident.  Small changes now, previous days we have been changing a lot now only small changes ’cause car is on point almost.  Last round I just missed to make third lap with small bobble.  I had fastest lap which proves car is fast and my 10-minutes was also really good- 3 consecutive laps were not amazing.’

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‘We don’t have to show to anyone who we are’ – Ongaro

Two years ago Davide Ongaro reigned in Spain making history as the first driver to defend his IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship, the previous 17 Champions who went before him unable to execute a successful title defence.  Having been forced to wait double the length of time to defend his 2018 Perth victory due to the global Covid pandemic, the likeable Italian again finds himself in a unique title defence situation.  Originally set to travel to Brazil to chase the title hat trick, São Paulo was cancelled, and now he is this week lining up on the very same dirt he skimmed across for an hour 2-years ago en route to his historic feat of winning 1:8 Nitro Buggy’s biggest prize for the second time.  Now a 23-year-old veteran of the sport, this year marks a decade since Ongaro announced himself to the World on his championship debut in Sicily.  Having added a 1:10 Offroad World title to his CV last year in Arizona, putting himself into a very exclusive driver’s club, many a driver might find the prospects of lining up for an attempt at three in a row daunting.  However with Ongaro one might ask is the Team Associated star a master poker player and just one of the most laid back kids on the block?  While Davide was making his final preparations ahead of travelling out to Spain we took the opportunity to have a quick chat with him on the story so far and get his take on where things are at for the second coming of the Worlds at RC Redovan.

While his 2016 performance was the real warning shot of what was to come, it was his first World’s experience two years earlier on home soil that gave the first indications of the talent within.  The then 13-year-old would line up in the the same 1/4 final as 2010 World Champion Cody King (who went on to make the Main).  Sending the local crowd crazy when he took the lead of that race, unfortunately engine issues ended his impressive Worlds debut but his efforts had set the wheels in motion.  Davide said from this performance his journey to where he is today began,  ‘In Italy I had a fight with Cody King in the 1/4 final and then from that Ricky Acciari (former Red RC photographer), who you know, started to speak about me and this was what kick started what was to become my job.’  On his subsequent performance in Las Vegas, where he took the fight to eventual Champion David Ronnefalk, he explained,  ‘I was close to David but I had a problem with the pressure tube from the fuel tank going to the engine.  I didn’t flame out but I needed to go into the pit to repair it so I finished 6th overall.  I mean it was still a good result.’

Asked how the then 15 year old has evolved as a driver in the eight years since, Davide replied, ‘the biggest change between then and now is my driving style.’  Driving a Mugen Seiki in Sicily and Vegas, he then switched to current sponsor Team Associated adding, ‘the main thing for sure was changing the car as I changed my driving style because it was different.  Also I am older now and I know what to do with the car and stuff.  Mainly I think the driving style but personally before for me it was just say going there and having fun.  I am having fun also now for sure but for me now it’s my job so I have to do it like a real job.  I have to dedicate more time preparing everything at home, go for testing training with the others so it is different but it’s still for me about having fun, that’s the first thing.’

On the pressure of the three in a row, Davide replied, ‘there is no pressure, for sure it will be a special event because we won there but also maybe it will special for Canas because he won the Euros there last year.  To go back to the track you won at before is not easy but we will see, just go there, work harder, have fun, no pressure.  We don’t have to show to anyone who we are, just drive well and if everything works good, we have everything to do well.’  Asked if he will approach anything different to how he did last time he said, ‘It was the same for me last year when the Euros was at same track I won the Worlds so no for me it’s no problem.  They changed the layout so it is new for everyone so approach doesn’t change.’  Of the three World titles he has already racked up asked if any stood out more than others he replied, ‘for me the most important one was the one in Spain because we arrived just after the Covid so after 4 years without any World Championship and big events it was the hardest one.  Also because I won four years before so it was not easy for me. It will be not easy this year for sure but we go there without pressure, we go there and see what happens.

In the time Red RC have known Davide, one thing that has always stood out with Team Ongaro is relationship between Davide and his parents, and in particular his father Mauro.  Hanging out with them away from the track at the Philippine Masters earlier this year they seem more best friends than father & son.  Davide says, ‘I think like everyone we also had difficult times together because sometimes I want to do a thing and he wants to do another thing but then at the end we are super super close like you see us.  I think it is a good family hobby.  My mam comes to the races sometimes when she can so it’s a good thing but with my dad it is always a close relationship and I think this makes us strong on this side.’

Asked how he would sum up his 2024 season so far as preparation coming into the Worlds, Davide replied, ‘So far it’s good apart from the Euros, it is always strange racing in your home track, apart from that race it’s a good season so far.  We won the first two nationals, we have the third round after the Worlds, we won the eBuggy Euros in Montpellier, which ok is e-Buggy, but it is still a European Championship title.  We are happy but we need to work for sure like everyone, now the level is very high but so far we are proud.’  Asked if the dynamic has changed much as Davide gets older he said, ‘I also do a lot more work on the car now.  At home I always work on car and then at the races my dad wrenches the car.  I help gluing tyres and stuff but the set-up and everything he wrenches for me.’

With tyres a much talked about aspect of these Worlds, Davide’s view is, ‘honestly I think it will be like 2022 because we will start with a new surface with some glue on it and then the last 2-3 days the track will be different so it will be a tyre game for sure, 100%.  Also the run time for fuel because the track is really huge so the tyres and let’s say strategy will be difficult for everyone.’

With back to back European 1:8 Offroad Champion Juan Carlos Canas being the widely tipped race favourites for RC Redovan we asked Davide if that’s something he focuses any attention on to which he replied, ‘I think like everyone we have a rival in our thoughts but if we are there it is because we are all fast.  Sometimes it works for him, sometimes its works for David, sometimes it works for me so for sure he will be a rival at the race but we have to consider other drivers that are fast, Bruno and the others.  I think it’s a new race for everyone so we will see how it will be.’

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.

‘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]