The International Federation of Model Auto Racing is the worldgoverning body of professional radio controlled car racing. The organization was created in 1979 by professional racer and RC model entrepreneur Ted Longshaw. At that time, many different governing bodies operated under their own rules throughout the world. IFMAR was conceived as a way to bring the different, fragmented organizations under a single, governing body. IFMAR's constitution also promotes international friendship and sportsmanship. Each of the member blocs organises the IFMAR World Championship event on behalf of IFMAR. Masami Hirosaka is perhaps the world's most distinguished racer. He has a record of 14 IFMAR World Championships, followed by Lamberto Collari with 9 titles, all within a single category and in nitro powered cars.
Governing bodies
IFMAR governs RC racing through four international governing bodies, or "blocs" representing 45 member nations and with full voting rights:
Remotely Operated Auto Racers – Oversees and promotes races in Canada and the United States of America and is credited with producing more world champion drivers than any other bloc.
To be allowed to compete in an IFMAR World Championship event, the competitor has to be a member of a national body. The competitor has to contact a representative of the body who will determine if they are competent enough to compete in the world championship round. The driver does not specifically have to have qualified in that discipline in which they choose to race.
Drivers with at least 10 finals appearances are listed Italics: drivers who have not or yet to have won a Worlds title. Bold: drivers who have actively appeared in a final race within the two previous Worlds Craig Drescher has the most appearances for a driver who have yet to win a title as of. Despite his last A-main appearance being in, he inherited the title after Ralph Burch Jr. finally won his first title in 2010 having tried since 1981 at the age of 13. Ryan Maifield claimed the honor from Drescher in 2013, who held it until he win his off-road double in 2017. Updated as of 1 February 2020
Rank
Driver
App
1
Masami Hirosaka
35
5
4
9
8
9
2
Ryan Maifield
20
6
7
7
2
Naoto Matsukura
20
2
1
1
3
3
5
5
3
Mark Pavidis
19
5
1
8
5
3
Jilles Groskamp
19
2
4
5
6
5
Atsushi Hara
18
2
3
1
6
1
1
2
2
5
Ryan Cavalieri
18
5
7
6
7
Joel Johnson
16
3
3
3
7
7
Ralph Burch Jr.
16
9
1
1
1
2
2
9
Marc Rheinard
15
1
7
7
9
Jared Tebo
15
5
6
4
12
Lamberto Collari
13
2
11
13
David Spashett
12
1
2
3
6
13
Billy Easton
12
1
3
4
4
13
Craig Drescher
12
2
2
4
3
2
13
Andy Moore
12
1
5
1
5
17
Hideo Kitazawa
11
1
1
9
17
Takaaki Shimo
11
7
4
18
Adrien Bertin
10
7
3
Podium finishers
Drivers with at least 5 podium finishes are listed Italics: drivers who have not or yet to have won a Worlds title. Bold: drivers who have actively appeared in a final race within the two previous Worlds Takaaki Shimo has the most podium finishes for a driver who have yet to win a title as of, having inherited the honor from Ryan Maifield in 2017.
Masami Hirosaka
Ryan Maifield
Jilles Groskamp
Marc Rheinard
Lamberto Collari
David Spashett
Adrien Bertin
Ty Tessmann
Bruno Coelho'