TALK IT UP TUESDAY: David Ronnefalk

0 Sept. 16, 2014, 10:38 a.m.

9/16/2014
By Aaron Waldron

LiveRC.com

Welcome to LiveRC's weekly column, "Talk-It-Up Tuesday!" Here we spend a little time talking with industry icons including racers, manufacturers, team managers, developers, promoters, and everyone in between! Sit back, relax, and go behind the scenes as we interview them all!

David Ronnefalk's rise to the top of the RC world came in a hurry - going from his first R/C cars, to winning regional championships, to becoming Swedish National Champion in less than a decade - at just 13 years old. Within a few years he was competing at an international level, and after a late-race mistake cost him the 2012 European Championships he roared back in 2013 and again this year with back-to-back titles. Does David have what it takes to become Sweden's first-ever World Champion?

Aaron Waldron: How did you get into racing?

David Ronnefalk: When I was younger, like 4 or 5 years old, my dad used to go to the fields to fly RC airplanes. I always wanted to come with him to watch, but I was eager to try to fly myself as well. I was a bit too young then, though, to be able to keep the airplane in the air without crashing. So Dad took me to a local Mini-Z track where I got to try a car, and I was hooked immediately. After this we went to a hobby shop and bought one of those cars and I started to drive more often. After a year or two I got introduced to 1/8 scale buggy as the Mini-Z track was only open for the winter season. We got our hands on a used car from someone and I loved it. From there it just moved on until today.

AW: How long did it take before you started entering larger events and attracting sponsors?

DR: I was lucky enough to get to know one of the best drivers from Sweden, Magnus Amilon, who at that time who ran the hobby shop where I bought my Mini-Z. He was the one who showed me 1/8-scale buggies for the first time and after hearing about his achievements in the class and so on I already started dreaming about having the same success in the future. He helped me a lot to get started with buggy and he gave me guidelines on what I should do to become a good racer. He told me to start racing as soon as possible to get the experience of doing it here in Sweden. And as soon as I could he told me to go abroad, to get a feel of racing at the international level - I think that has been one of the keys to why I am here today. My first big races were the NEO race in 2006 and the European “B” Championships in 2007. I got my first sponsor later in 2008, which was Upgrade RC, and more in 2009 when I won the European “B” Championships and made a great result at my first ever Euros “A” where I qualified into the semis.

AW: When did you decide you wanted to become a professional racer?

DR: I don’t really know when I decided to become a professional racer, but it was my dream from the day when I got to know about Magnus’ achievements and also when I knew there actually were people racing for a living. Now I just have to finish this year in school, then I will be focusing totally on racing.

AW: You started racing at a young age, but progressed quickly. Were you surprised to start winning races so early in your career?

DR: My dad and I went to as many races as we could and my first win came in the Regional Swedish Cup in 2006, I was a bit surprised as I wasn't really close to winning any races in 2005. However, I was super happy to get that win and I later went on to win the whole championship! The year after I won the same cup but in the “Pro" class and this was even a bigger surprise for me as some of the best drivers in Sweden attended some of those races. I think it was somewhere around there that I started to feel like I could really make my dream come true one day. In 2009 I won my first Swedish Nationals at the age of 13 - and became the youngest ever to do so, beating Magnus’ record of 16 years old. That was the same year I went on to win the EC-B, and this was also the year I started to get support from Kyosho, Orion and AKA.

AW: How much of a shock was it to go from Swedish championships to larger international races?

DR: The biggest difference between racing in Sweden and internationally was that it was the racing was a lot rougher. I took a while to realize that people would not let you pass if you were faster (in qualifying) or if you had someone behind you should get prepared to get hacked. It was not nice really but after some races you get used to it and you adapt your driving.

AW: Did you know that you were the first Swede to win the Euros?

DR: I know I was the first one in 1/8 Buggy, yes. I think we have had some others who have done it before in different classes.

AW: If the RC world was perhaps a bit surprised when you won in 2013, there was no doubt this year - you dominated the 2014 Euros. Did you feel more pressure to win again? You certainly didn’t show it!

DR: There is always some pressure in play but I think I had more pressure in 2013. Maybe not from others, but I put a lot more pressure on myself as I was so close to getting the win in 2012. Because of this I didn’t want to make the same mistake again, and to come out on top after such a tight race in 2013 felt awesome. That win made me stronger as a person and going in to this year’s Euros I felt really good as the year had been really good until then. I didn’t put as much pressure on myself this year but I think I had a bit more from outside, maybe. However, the whole week was perfect and to win a seconnd year in a row was amazing.

AW: What would it mean to you to become the first Swedish driver ever to win a World Championship?

DR: First of all, it would be a dream come true for me. I don’t want to think about it too much because I know there are so many things that have to go your way. The only thing I know is that I have a very good package, I feel very comfortable with everything and I know the speed has been great this year, but there is a long way to go!

AW: When you started racing, what were your goals? What are they now?

DR: When I first started, I wanted to become as good as Magnus and maybe even beat his records and become a World Champion one day. Today my goals are the same - I have achieved some of them but there is more I want to do. Other than becoming a World Champ, having a professional career, and doing this for a living, I want to be a well-respected racer around the world.

AW: When did you start racing 1/10-scale electric off-road? Do you think it is good practice to race both nitro and electric?

DR: I made my first race at the Swedish Nationals back in 2009, and I went to the race without much knowledge of the class. I had ran a few packs with a 2WD buggy before but never tried a 4WD buggy. I made the A-Main in 2WD and finished in the top 5, which I was really happy with as the best 1/10 scale racers in Sweden were there. In 4WD I picked up a car from my good friend Linus Thern on the way to the race. He told me he couldn’t remember when he checked the diffs and shocks last, but he said it would probably be fine. I didn’t do anything to it at the race, I just put a battery in and that was it. The driving style was close to 1/8-scale and I was able to win the race. I was surprised as it was my first time ever with a 4WD buggy. After this I started to race more 1/10-scale as I felt racing Mini-Z in the winter by then didn’t give me so much practice for 1/8-scale anymore. Today I race nearly as much 1/10-scale and I feel it is a great thing to do along side 1/8-scale. It is good practice for keeping your concentration on top and to be more consistent as there are no room for mistakes in 1/10-scale. I like both nitro and electric and I think it is good to be doing both classes.

AW: How do you feel about the fact no one has run on the new configuration of the Naxos Worlds Track? Do you think that the extended practice this week is a good idea?

DR: I think it is more fair for everyone to have a new layout coming into such a race as the Worlds. I don’t really like the extended practice as I think it's way too many days now, and in the end it will be the same drivers up there so I think it is not needed.

AW: The Naxos World Track looks wild - it’s really big, with different surfaces, and several tricky sections of the layout. Do you like tracks of this style?

DR: I think the layout of the track looks nice, I feel that different surfaces is a kind of the European style so I feel good with that (maybe not the concrete though).

AW: You finished fourth two years ago in Argentina. What is it going to take in order to finish three spots higher and win the race?

DR: In Argentina I was happy with fourth as it was my first A-main at the Worlds ever, and I didn’t have any expectations going into the final there more than trying to enjoy it and get experience of being in such a tough race. I didn’t get the best of starts there so that will be the main thing I have to change in order to be in contention this year. Other than that I think it is important to get a good starting position and try to stay calm and not get too excited. Also, it will be important to make sure all your gear will be ready for one hour of racing on a track like Naxos.

AW: Who do you think will be your toughest competition?

DR: It is hard to predict anything as the track is totally different to what we normally race on. For sure there will be a lot of guys up there and it will be a very tough race I think.

AW: What do you think is the biggest reason we’ve never had a repeat winner at this event?

DR: I think it is because everything has to fall into place at just the right time. I think this is hard to do two times in a row. You will also need to have the luck on your side and there are so many more things that have to go right.