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Story Of A World Champion | David Ronnefalk: Journey to the Top

2016 IFMAR 1/8 Off-Road World Champion David Ronnefalk joins Lefty to tell the story of his journey to the top of RC Racing! 🏆 David takes us inside his winning run at the 2016 World Championship…

Keenan NNRC

17 Sep 2026 • 3 min read

About this video

2016 IFMAR 1/8 Off-Road World Champion David Ronnefalk joins Lefty to tell the story of his journey to the top of RC Racing! 🏆

David takes us inside his winning run at the 2016 World Championship in Las Vegas including the struggles leading into the event, qualifying, the last-minute AKA tire gamble, fuel strategy against Ty Tessmann and the emotions of finally becoming World Champion.

We also look back at his 2012, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2024 Worlds before looking ahead to the 2026 IFMAR Worlds in Texas, 10 years after his championship victory.

Thank you to David for taking the time to tell the story behind his World Championship journey and share these incredible memories with the NNRC! Do you think David Ronnefalk could add another IFMAR World Championship to his legacy a decade later? 🏆🔥

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS ⏱️

00:00 — Intro
01:51 — The early years & 2012 Worlds
07:20 — Heartbreak at the 2014 Worlds
15:38 — Leaving Kyosho & joining HB
23:28 — The difficult road through 2016
30:57 — Preparing for Las Vegas
36:44 — Arriving at the 2016 Worlds
42:27 — Qualifying & the watering controversy
46:48 — Semi-final & the tire-wear problem
49:55 — The AKA Double Down gamble
55:01 — The 2016 World Championship Final
59:56 — Ronnefalk vs. Tessmann: Fuel strategy
1:05:29 — Becoming World Champion 🏆
1:17:02 — Australia 2018 heartbreak
1:26:34 — The incredible 2022 Worlds comeback
1:45:47 — 2024 IFMAR Worlds
1:50:23 — Looking ahead to the 2026 Texas Worlds

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