Yokomo comeback with ‘Power from the Headquarters’ – ISTC World Championship
There was a time when we would attend either electric onroad or offroad races and Yokomo would be mentioned in the opening paragraph of every race report, they were a real force. That hasn’t however been the case now for a number of years but 10-years on from winning the IFMAR Electric Touring Car World Championship, that race in China giving us the iconic photo of Ronald Volker’s mechanic Yukijiro Umino reaction to what a world title means to everyone involved, there are positive vibes coming from the Japanese manufacturer’s camp here at Huge RC in Bangkok. With team leader Christopher Krapp admitting they are realistically not here with a chance of winning the 2026 World title, compared to 2-years ago there is a new energy in the team and a desire from the top management for the historic racing brand to return to being taken serious again as producer of competition level cars. On arriving in Bangkok, less our luggage, returning to our hotel after buying some necessary supplies, the first RC racer of these Worlds we’d meet was Krapp. A driver we have respected for always being personable, as always the German had a friendly handshake and positive energy but it was even more positive this time as he proudly introduced Yokomo’s new Managing Director and new Designer. While many manufacturers are contesting these Worlds with skeleton crews, Yokomo is taking the opposite approach. With Krapp and his crew hungry after their travels and looking for a food recommendation, pointing them in the direction of some good local street food we joined them for a catch up and that led to an interesting insight that we would follow up on the next day at the track on how Yokomo wants back in the game.
The last time we spoke with Krapp was at the beginning of the year when he raced at the annual MIBO International Race in the Czech Republic and it turns out he’s had a lot going on since then. In August he became a father to his second daughter, and while a break from racing was planned for this special moment, it would be longer than planned as he suffered a slip disc that would require him to undergo surgery in September. Less than ideal preparations for leading a manufacturer going into a World Championships. Interestingly like Red RC, this is Krapp’s 9th ISTC World Championship both of us having made our Worlds debut in 2008 when it was also held in the Thai capital.
Having followed his progress ever since then, he made the D Main but two years later in Germany finished 4th in the World, and enjoyed one of the best race win celebrations when he won his first ETS race in Gran Canaria in 2012, asking him about this new enthusiasm for racing from Yokomo he replied, ‘I have been with Yokomo 10-year joining them in 2017 after the Worlds and I have been through many scenarios in Yokomo with like 3 owners. I was there with the old owner Tom Yokobori, then we had two owners and luckily the new owner we have right now is having a new push in the top end scene.’ He continued, ‘The last 3-4 years I still competed in races but the development and everything was slow but right now the focus is more to the top end racing and that’s why they have sent Kazuki Yamashita the new designer and Daisuke Yoshioka, who was well known before as a top driver, and is now the Managing Director. Having them here is cool.’ The 5 time Worlds Finalist added, ‘sure we are a small team, but a unique team, and it is just good to be present here and to have the power from the headquarter. We are in the right direction right now. You can see this with the signing of Luke (Holdsworth – Top British 1:10 Offroad racer) in the UK and we are here now testing new parts were as in the past years it was just the kit and that’s it. The development is going better and is more active and hopefully we are going to be back were we belong because Yokomo is still an original OG brand. Personally I have also just signed a new two year contract with them so really looking forward to this race and the future.’
On expectations for these the 13th running of the World Championship, Krapp said, ‘My aim is not to win to be realistic, I mean I was a podium finisher before but I know it is not going to work because all the other guys here are here for like weeks but still I am fit now again. The surgery went well, and I can still drive good.’ Sharing the podium in Gubbio in 2022 with Bruno Coelho and Akio Sobue, he added, ‘I am doing good times and just trying to adapt everything to the unique conditions here because it is very strange let me say compared to the conditions we have in Europe but as a team we are working well. We are not at the top top but I am doing good times and looking forward to the event.’ Asked if this event is a new motivation for him and the team, he said, ‘Yeah 100%, the last one was in America and we had a bigger team there but at that race already decisions were made so the motivation was not that high because we didn’t have the power from headquarters and obviously now for myself its great, I’m 34-years old and a well known racer who has done many races and to know you have the backing from headquarters and that you have the support is huge motivation.’ He added, ‘I still have it in my fingers and I know with the right support I can still make top result so for myself personally that’s a big boost.’ Asked about the first day of IPD, he replied, ‘It was a bit hectic today but I guess we have the first day already done and I am looking forward to more smooth running at the real event because now we are running two cars in 10-minutes so it is very very hectic. I am looking forward to having more time when the Worlds actually starts.’
