2003 represents a banner season in RC car racing history. For the first time in IFMAR's 26-year existence, three World Championships will be held on the same continent in the same year. These three premier events- the 1/10-Scale Electric Off-Road, 1/8 I.C. On-Road and 1/5 I.C. On-Road World Championships- will be held this fall in the United States. Undoubtedly, most U.S. racers regard the 1/10 Off-Road Electric World Championship as the most prestigious international race. 

We caught up with the reigning 2WD and 4WD Electric Off-Road World Champions, Matt Francis and Jukka Steenari respectively, to find out how their lives have changed since winning the 2001 and 2002 titles and to get their insight on the chance of a repeat performance. Each has won two IFMAR World titles. Jukka won back-to-back 4WD Worlds in Finland and South Africa, while Matt won 2WD World in 1995 and 2001 in Japan and South Africa.