THE PREVIEW CONTINUES: RANKING THE DRIVERS
Before we get to ranking driver chances, it’s worth taking a moment to ask what constitutes a ‘successful’ World Champs for any given driver? For a few, no doubt, winning is the only thing that matters. Whatever might be said in an interview, finishing second or third is not good enough.

For others, though, a podium would be an outstanding result. Or a top five. Or an A Final appearance. Or a semi. Or racing on the final day (which starts with the 1/8 finals). Or being the #1 Junior. Or the #1 old guy. Or finishing in the top half of the field. Or beating your mate. All of these things matter, and they all constitute success – but for the purposes of this preview, we’ll concentrate on the sharp end. Thinking about the drivers with best chance to win, or podium, or make the Championship final.

And even before we do that, there’s a question that keeps coming back for me. How do we rank US drivers in relation to the rest of the world in this category of 1/8 nitro? In the 40-year history of the event (run 20 times), there have been three US winners, and none since Cody King in 2010. We consider drivers like Ryan Maifield and Dakotah Phend to be among the best in the world – and rightly so. But in the modern (let's call it post-2020) era of huge domestic races in the US, there is little need and few opportunities for US drivers to measure themselves internationally, or to race in different conditions and time zones. Front-running European drivers will race in multiple countries each year, including the US or Asia, while most US-based drivers have such a full domestic program that international excursions are rare beyond the IFMAR events. One exception to that pattern this year has been Phi-Long Nguyen, the young Kyosho pilot being seen at races in Europe and Asia in the months leading into this event, with the objective of broadening his skill-base through racing in different conditions, and against different opponents.

One way that this domestic-focused race program might be a factor is the different level of organization, of management at an IFMAR race compared to the usual non-sanctioned major races that dominate our screens and the racing experience for most of the year. The different levels of tech inspection and race protocols and refereeing may be slightly less familiar to racers with a majority domestic program than those who regularly race internationally.

There’s no doubt there are a tonne of world-class US racers. And there’s every chance one will be crowned champion this week – but it remains for me an open question as I contemplate the field – just how do we compare the likes of Maifield, Phend, Nguyen, Fuller, VanDalen, Rivkin, Lime etc with the established cream of the international crop in the form of Ongaro, Canas, Boots, Coelho, Kaerup, Figuiredo, Kilic and so on. Results this week might give us a little more evidence and insight than we currently have.

So, to ranking. The Tier system feels so 2020, and yet I feel like it might offer the best way to group some drivers together based on their chances of a win, podium or Championship final appearance. So, let’s wind back the clock with a good old-fashioned tier list. Two caveats: first is that anybody on this list is a seriously good racer – even those in our “C” list. There are no pushovers here, only high-quality, super-fast R/C racers with the potential to make an impact this week. And second, this is far from exhaustive – there are almost certain to be drivers in the Semi or Championship final that I’ve overlooked – and you’re very welcome to tell me who they are and just how badly I’ve got it wrong.

Let’s dive in (and I’ll try to be honest).

THE S-TIER – LIKELY WINNER
Let’s start in the most obvious place – the likely winner. And nobody who’s analysing this race has anybody but Davide Ongaro in this category. Not only a three-time winner, but demolished the field at the warmup race and has spent all year with this event as a singular focus. His AE chassis, engine, tyre, electronics package is superb. His history is undeniable. His talent over the last ten years unmatched. So strong is Ongaro that we’re leaving him alone in this category as the likely winner. Maybe there's never been such a hot favourite for a Worlds event - at least since the days of Lamberto Collari in the 1/8 on-road side of the sport.

THE A-TIER – HIGH CHANCE OF PODIUM, POSSIBLE WIN
Juan Carlos Canas: So close twice now, and so often the #1 or #2 driver on any world rankings list. Could win, has to overcome the Ongaro effect on his psyche to do it. SWorkz has been among the best chassis over the last couple of years.
Dakotah Phend: Maybe the best driver yet to win a Worlds. Can do it, has been close. But….has 2026 form been patchy? Can XRAY pull behind him? Will their new car/parts give him the edge? Can he beat Ongaro on the same tyre? Could he ride a fuel strategy to a World Championship?

Ryan Maifield: Twice a 1/10 World Champ, and yet not ‘quite’ managed it in 1/8. Age is a challenge, and the capacity of Tekno to put a genuinely World Champs capable car under him. A win for him might be the biggest possible story of this Worlds.

Mattia Polito: Arguably the form guy in the world through 2026 apart from Ongaro, and for me I think the man next most likely to win. Solid tyre, Sworkz chassis, the confidence to take on his friend and countryman. And maybe the “most improved” in the world over the last 12 months meaning he comes with momentum. Absolutely one to watch.

David Ronnefalk: 10 years on from his first Worlds triumph, and there’s a decent chance he repeats. Focus has been spread thin the last couple of years, but returned to 1/8 in recent times. Talent undoubted. Speed undoubted. XRAY determination to leave no stone unturned, undoubted. Preparation and focus? That’s the key question.

THE B-TIER – HIGH CHANCE OF A-FINAL, POTENTIAL PODIUM
Mason Fuller: For so long the coming man in the US, with some high profile wins. A big Worlds result would be a breakout, potentially career-defining moment. Great chassis team around him. Next best shot at a win outside our A-Tier list above?

Seth VanDalen: Just won the US Nationals, even if the circumstances were somewhat controversial – but without question the capability to be among the fastest of the US drivers. The question is, will that be enough?

Phi Long Nguyen: He’s been fast for so long, it’s hard to believe Nguyen is still so young. Huge effort to travel the world in preparation for this Worlds. I can image front-running pace in qualifying, with the question here over the full package and performance in the 30-minute semi and 60-minute main.

Joao Figueiredo: evergreen and coming off a huge Euros win. Coming in with the backing of the home-town Tekno team, a podium or top-five a chance and would be a huge result on US turf.

Elliot Boots: When he is on, there are few in the world with the speed and style to match Boots. Imagine the redemption story arc if he were to win here, more than a decade after crashing out in the 2012 semi-final while in a commanding position? The big question: will he have a competitive tyre option at his disposal?

Spencer Rivkin: You can’t write off anybody with World Championship-winning pedigree. And he’s won here at Thornhill before. The win would be a stretch goal, but a very real chance to be a podium factor late on the final afternoon.

Brandon Rose: The erstwhile leader of the US AE team, local guy, likeable, and in big form. Won his first US Nationals on this track a year ago. Can he put together a whole Championship final to push Ongaro/Canas/Polito etc?

Burak Kilic: Ferociously competitive, mercurial, fast. Could win, he really could – if there is control, cool, and calm to go with the speed. Either way, spectacular to watch.

Berkan Kilic: Big results in 2026 put the focus firmly on this Kilic. Will there be a suitable tyre in his arsenal?

Bruno Coelho: You can’t write him off, no matter the category – but this will be a huge challenge, and even getting close to a podium would be a great result for a driver and company more focused on the on-road side of the sport. Never, ever say never.

THE C-TIER – POTENTIAL A-FINAL, HIGH CHANCE OF SEMI
Ricciardo Berton: Never goes away, and always, always in the mix. Might have to race his way into a semi, unless quali goes perfectly.

Marcus Kaerup: Expect this eBuggy and 1/10 World Champ to be monster fast in quali. Can he string together a 30-minute semi to put himself in the mix?

David Todd: Rapidly emerging Euro talent. Ready for a breakout performance?

Chase Lemieux: Riding a rich vein of form and anything here is possible – but this is a huge step-up for the talented US XRAY driver.

Ryan Lutz: The lanky, likeable American has been there, done that. And a high-quality performance would be no surprise. Maybe not the outright speed, so will need serious racecraft and perfect preparation.

Jonah Wilson, Camden Lime, Lee Setser, Spencer Hecket, Jared Wiggins: A huge crew of emerging US talents ready for break-out Worlds performances. A big result here for any one of these might catapult them forward from domestic challenger to international factor.

Daniel and Adrian Pariente: the brothers with speed and style. And every chance one or both might find their way into at least semi-finals appearance, or better.

Pekko Iivonen: A globetrotter, with more air and racing miles under his belt than just about anybody on the planet. If they can keep the program together and be on the right tyre, Iivonen is a big chance for an A-Final appearance.

Robert Battle, Ryan Cavalieri, and Jared Tebo: Three legendary but now veteran former World Champs. Is one last Worlds A final appearance possible for any one of these guys? They’ll need everything to be perfect – but it is possible for one (or two?) to sneak in. Battle or Tebo would be the most likely.

Clement Boda, Noha Ben Mohammed: talented French pair, well known on the European scene, and just maybe ready to become global stars. Both could make semi, but is there room for two in the Championship final?

Marco Baruffalo? Andrea Trevisan? Cole Ogden? Who else fits in this category?

THE LEFT-FIELD TIER
There are a few other drivers who I’m going to keep a close eye on. Some of these have the ability to make it to a quarter or semi-final with a perfect run, while an A-Final start would be a monster result. And some are just interesting stories for other reasons. Who’s in your left-field tier?

Davey Batta: Uber-talented US 1/10 racer. Hard to know from a distance how his preparation has been, but honestly could do anything. Loved watching him battle for the win at the ’25 1/10 Worlds.

Aydin Horne: immensely likeable, crazy fast. Anytime Aydin is around a race track you have to pay attention. If he’s out early, I’m sure he’ll pop up in a media role somewhere.

HyunKyu Jung: Talented young Korean driver fresh off a first international win at this month’s Asian Buggy Championships race in Indonesia. This week could be an important step along the way in his career and I’m curious to see how it shapes up for him.

Caleb Noble: There’s nobody I’ve ever met who is as unashamedly competitive as Caleb Noble, and few with the natural car control and reflexes. If he can work with SWorkz and JConcepts to put a good package on track, and if he can stay calm and focused, then a really big result is possible. I’m imagining some top-20 quali runs, and the chance to push forward for this Aussie.

Christian Wolhuter: Won plenty of races in Australasia, known for persistence and consistency in long finals, but displaying quali speed too in 2026. Aims to race the final day (1/8 finals and above) and I think a very good chance to do that if he can find his rhythm with the track early.

Daniel Kobbevik: One of the form 1/10 racers on the planet this year, and making a rare 1/8 appearance. Could be super-fast in qualifying if the team get the car working? (What car exactly?). Long-run form unknown.

Kouki Kato: Struggled at the Worlds Warmup, but the Japanese National champ has been one of the big improvers on the world scene over the last two or three years. I’ll be curious to see what he can do this week.

The Aussies: Naturally I’m keen to see how the rest of the Aus contingent fare as well – the likes of Josh Pain and Andrew Gillot, Peter Seckold, Gavin and Tanner White, and Ben Sterling will all fly the flag for Aus and we’ll be cheering from across the Pacific.

Dylan and Logan Toia, Jayden Jamieson: I’ve loved getting to know the kiwi crew over the last couple of years – so will be paying close attention to their progress this week. Just maybe one might put it together well enough to be racing on the last day?

COVERAGE? SO MUCH!
I, like everybody, will be glued to as much of the Live RC coverage as we can next week. And then there’s the likes of Red RC, RC Racing TV, the No Name RC Podcast crew, JConcepts media team, Circus RC and many, many more. IF I can find some time, and feel like I have anything to say, maybe I’ll string together some “From the Couch” observations like we did for the last 1/8 Worlds back in 2024. So much content to look forward to! Who needs to sleep, or eat, or work, or race, or ride mountain bikes for the next 8 days?

Am I willing to go out on a limb here, even before the first car hits the dirt? Sure, what’s to lose: Mattia Polito, Dakotah Phend, Davide Ongaro – in that order. Who you got?