With So many great drivers attending this race and only a week to go I think I will break down the teams and their drivers going into this race. Max and I have been doing this on the pod but I would like to do it writing. For clarity we will focus on the top factory drivers of these teams only.

Team Mugen Seiki

Mugen has 3 IFMAR World Championship Titles but has not won since 2012 with Robert Batlle and in my opinion Mugen has the strongest team going into this race and has multiple drivers that can win next week.

The Dynamic Duo of the Kilics Brothers

The brothers from Turkey joined Mugen about 2 years ago and they have been nothing but impressive. Burak is the eldest brother, he is 18 years old and considered to be the faster or more serious brother and it shows on the track. Burak was very fast at the Euros recently and just missed TQ, Burak would run out of fuel in the semi and not make it to the final unfortunately, at the Worlds warmup Burak would  have to settle for 11th.

Berkan is the younger brother, the 16 year old is mature beyond his years but he is still in high school and able to focus and become one of the fastest racers in Europe Berkan will also tell you he doesn't take the racing as seriously as Burak but that doesn't mean he isn’t as fast as him. Berkan has also compiled a list of decent finishes lately in major European races and watched his stock rise.

IMHO Burak and Berkan are on their way to becoming two of the top Pro drivers in the world and honestly the future of Mugen Seiki. 

The Kilic brothers may not be a household name around the world  now but they will be. My prediction for them is a hard one to make as I also understand the level of talent and competition that will be at this race. I believe one of the Killic Brothers will be in the final. I cannot say which one but I will not be surprised if they both make the A final in all honesty.

It's also difficult to predict a final position but I believe a top 5 finish for either brother would be a great result. It isn't a win but these brothers will have many more opportunities to win but thus us racing and Nox anything is possible !!!. One thing for sure is that all the RC world will know who the Kilic brothers are after this Worlds!

Robert Batlle

The Spaniard!!! Robert Battle’s first worlds was in 2002 !!! 20 years ago !! Since then, the 34 year old has won 3 European Championships and of course the 2012 IFMAR worlds in Argentina.  

Like his Conquistador ancestors, Robert IMHO was the first Euro driver to have the crossover popularity that the top USA drivers have and has become one of the most respected and fastest drivers around the world. Robert seems to do well everywhere and has been known for his come from behind charges. Spain is considered to be a powerhouse in Rc talent in Europe and that is thanks largely to Robert and his popularity around the world.

Robert joined Mugen in 2011 and has enjoyed great success winning his last Euros in 2017. It seemed the veteran had maybe lost a step but after a solid 4th place at this year's Euros as well as looking solid at the warm up Robert has found some late year form.

Robert can definitely win this race, this is the first World’s in Spain and Batlle is fast at the Redovan track. He has the chance to become the second 2X World Champion and also do it on home soil. Confidence is high but so is the pressure to do well.

Robert is 34 and while that is still young in RC years it is not so young. A Worlds win would be very beneficial to Batlle and his future as he transitions into the next phase of his career over the next few years. He already has one WC Title, I'm sure he will be happy with nothingless than a win and another.

Ryan Maifield The Man !

If this was Ancient Greece Ryan Maifield would be compared to legends like Hercules, a mix of both mortal and god. When The Maifield was born the RC Gods rejoiced! This man was born to drive rc cars fast and that is exactly what he does. 

Since joining Mugen Maifield has been pretty much unstoppable. The last 2 years have seen Ryan win almost every major USA race at least once! Maifield is on another level than his competitors it seems. The only driver to really take the challenge to him in the USA has been Phend, Maifield is fast and can win any race he enters and there aren't many drivers that can do that. 

To us Maifield is an enigma. We expected that as he has gotten older he would slow down a bit, we have seen this with many top drivers as they age. Like a fine wine Ryan has gotten better with age and is proving that theory wrong. 

We will truly see how long a racer can be competitive with Ryan Maifield, add the fiery no nonsense persona Ryan has. He is a racer that will let you know how he feels and that makes him even more of a favorite.  People either really love Maifield or just hate him either way Maifield is one of the best ever!

Ryan goes into this race in many minds as the one of the two  Americans  that can win this Worlds as well as just one of the overall favorites. Maifield has been in this position before but this year it just seems to be different, he has an aura of confidence in his abilities,team and equipment that radiates victory.

If there is one race that has been Ryan’s weakness it is this one. Going into 2014 in Italy he was the favorite to win and had a servo failure in the final, 2016 in the USA was lackluster for him in 8th . 2018 in Australia Ryan was once again considered one of the favorites but he would have to settle for a 3rd and the fallout from the OS/REDS Engine drama. Ryan and the worlds just don't seem to mix. 

Ryan carries the monumental weight of the entire USA on his back. He is going to a track he has never been to before, Redovan will be very different from anything he has raced on in the last 2 years and very fast paced. Make no mistake this will not be easy for anyone to win but IMHO Ryan Maifield is at a level where none of that matters the cream always rises to the top and I have no doubt the top is where you will find Maifield. 

Will this be the year we see Ryan Maifield conquer his biggest foe that is the 1/8th IFMAR World Championships and etch his name in the history books as the16th person to win this coveted title?

Will this precious victory escape his grasp once again? 

How many chances are left for the veteran racer to win this race?

Time will tell but The Maifield is certainly up to this monumental class and for him it’s victory or nothing!!! 

This is the IFMAR World Championships and this is RC Racing at its highest level!

Nitro is The Glory !!!