Ronald Völker leaves Mugen Seiki after nearly six years in 1/10 touring

Photo: Red RC (source)

Ronald Völker is leaving Mugen Seiki. The German, one of the world’s benchmark drivers in 1/10 electric touring, announced on 11 August 2026 on his social media the end of almost six years of collaboration with the Japanese manufacturer. A split announced without bitterness, but which leaves open the most interesting question: where will he race next season?

Ronald Völker leaves Mugen Seiki: the driver’s announcement

“After nearly 6 years, my time with Mugen Seiki has come to an end and it is time to take on a new adventure ahead,” the driver summed up in his message. Having joined Mugen Seiki in October 2020 from Yokomo, he has therefore completed a full cycle with the Japanese brand, from development through to competition at the highest European level.

Völker stresses the collective work rather than his role as a driver alone: he says he enjoyed working hand in hand with the whole team, and singles out Robert Pietsch, the man who designed the brand’s touring cars for sixteen years.

Two ETS titles and three national titles

The sporting record of this partnership is solid: two Euro Touring Series crowns, three national championship titles and a long run of international podiums. Red RC points out that he has a hundred ETS wins across his career, a figure that says a lot about his standing in 1/10 touring.

On the technical side, the driver worked on three generations of chassis: the Mugen Seiki MTC2, MTC2-R and then MTC3. “We achieved great results with the MTC2, MTC2-R and MTC3 platforms and I am proud to be a part of Mugen Seiki’s rise,” he explains.

A departure that follows Robert Pietsch’s exit

This departure does not come out of nowhere. At the end of 2025, Robert Pietsch himself left Mugen Seiki after sixteen years designing the brand’s models. The pairing that drove the electric touring programme has therefore been completely rebuilt in less than a year, which raises the question of continuity in the development of the MTC3 and its successor.

What next for Ronald Völker?

As we write these lines, no new partner has been made official. Given the German driver’s record and his development value, the announcement is expected quickly in the 1/10 touring world: few brands can afford to let a driver of that calibre slip away as the next ETS season approaches.