Ryan Lutz looks forward to the IFMAR World Championship

It’s just around the corner, the event we prepare and await eagerly for every 2 years. It’s the pinnacle event in our sport, and the one time every two years where all of the Worlds contenders converge on one location to crown the World Champion! It all comes down to just one race, and quite often it’s a surprise on who comes out on top. Unlike other forms of motor-sports where long race series crown the champion, here in R/C it’s all about who can put it all together when the time is right, to take home the glory. Heading into the event there is always the talk about who is favored to win. Then when the event gets under way, there is usually one or a handful of drivers early on who you can see present themselves as the pace setters. But what makes this class of racing so difficult is that no matter how good you qualify, you still have to make it out of the Semi-final. That Semi-Final quickly becomes the most important race of the last two years. So many times in the past, some of the top challengers are knocked out in this stage and never get to fulfill what looked so promising through qualifying. Then if you can get through your semi, that most important race quickly becomes eclipsed once more by the A-Worlds Final. A true test of man and machine where you go from 30 minute semi, to what amounts to about a 50 minute thrash session to freshen up your buggy. Next is the grueling 1 hour long A-main, where some who make it feel just lucky to have made it and finishing anywhere is bonus. Others have no prize except that top step of the podium and anything less is pure disappointment. The reason in my opinion why quite often the favorites going in don’t always come out on the very top are:

In the end someone will walk away as the World Champion. Whether people feel like this person deserves it, there will always be debate. Maybe they weren’t the fastest in qualifying, and maybe they just squeaked by in the Semi. But when it comes down to that one chance. That one hour long A-final. That one person who can combine the best, all the elements of skill, preparation, mental fortitude, and luck will come away the champion of our sport for the next two years! We all know going in that it’s just one race. One race that decides it all and everyone puts in the extra preparation for this one race. So if you want that taste of glory, you just have to bring it at the right time!