“Scoring Points Regularly”: Ottimale EM with a Clear Mission for 2026
- VFC-Media
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Ottimale EM are heading into their second VFC season in 2026 — and team principal Roy Seifert is staying true to his approach: keep things calm, tailor the car as well as possible to the drivers, and further professionalise the teamwork behind the scenes. After a debut year in which Ottimale EM scored points in almost every race, the next step is to build on that solid foundation. The focus isn’t only on upgrades and raw pace, but especially on the “basics”: preparation, communication, processes — and the small decisions that often make the difference over the course of a race weekend.
With Tim Hauck, one of the big surprises of 2025, expectations have risen noticeably — and with them the pressure to back up what he has already shown. At the same time, Stefan Schubert wants to bring stability back into his results after a difficult year and work his way towards the points again through consistency and regular finishes. In this interview, all three talk about pre-season, team spirit, confidence — and how Ottimale EM want to deliver regularly in an even stronger field in 2026.
Hi Roy, Ottimale EM are entering their second VFC season in 2026 with you as team principal — how do you reflect on the pre-season?
Roy Seifert:
“Hello, the pre-season was relatively relaxed. We’re approaching it calmly again — just like last season — and we’re looking at how we can adapt the car as well as possible to our drivers.”
You’re taking a calm approach again — what did you learn from your first VFC season that you want to do differently or better in 2026?
Roy Seifert:
"I think we already did a lot right last season — we scored points in almost every race, which was already a success.
For the second season, the basics — meaning the teamwork — need to improve, whether that’s in preparation or during the race.
Towards the end it was clearly better than at the beginning of last season.."
Finish the sentence: “If we take a step forward as a team this season, it will be because we …”
Roy Seifert:
"…score points regularly against this strong competition!"
Regularly scoring points may sound simple on paper — but in an increasingly tight field it’s exactly the benchmark teams are measured by in reality. Seifert makes it clear that Ottimale EM don’t need a “big swing”, but rather better routines and more day-to-day alignment. And that’s where it gets interesting: with Tim Hauck, Ottimale EM have a driver who showed many people in 2025 what’s possible when everything clicks.
Hauck won’t start 2026 as a hidden gem anymore — he’s a name everyone will have on their radar. How he deals with this new role and what targets he’s setting himself is the focus of the second part of our interview.
Hi Tim! You were one of the big surprises of the 2025 season — some in the paddock see a lot of underestimated potential in you. How do you feel going into the new season: is it mostly excitement, or do you also feel the pressure of higher expectations?
Tim Hauck:
"Hi! Yes, of course the excitement for the new season is growing — but with that, the pressure is back as well, because I’ve seen myself what’s possible.
Still, it makes me happy to be seen as one of the surprises of last season.!"
Do you think you have more to lose in 2026 than you did in 2025 — or does it give you more confidence?
Tim Hauck:
"Yes, I think I have more to lose this season, but that only motivates me to give everything to achieve the best possible result for myself and the team, because this team deserves every bit of success."
You say the team deserves every success — what makes this team so special to you?
Tim Hauck:
"The unity and the trust in each other.
I’m still very grateful to Roy for the chance he gave me here to prove myself, despite my messed-up start here in 2022 and 2023."
Finish the sentence: “My goal is to repay Roy and the team for that trust by …”
Tim Hauck:
"…finish in the top 5 of the championship."
Hauck’s answers show that at Ottimale EM it’s not only results that matter, but also trust — and the feeling of building something together. At the same time, 2026 is a season where different starting points need to come together: on the one hand, the driver pushing for the next step after a breakthrough year — on the other, the driver aiming for stability after a tough season.
For Stefan Schubert, it’s about using the team’s experience and support more deliberately and working through the 2025 problem areas step by step. How he used his winter break, what he learned, and what “success” means to him personally is covered in the third part.
Hi Stefan! After a difficult 2025, you’re heading into your second season with Ottimale EM. How did you spend your winter break and what are you hoping for in 2026?
Stefan Schubert:
"Indeed, 2025 was a difficult year. I’m going into the new season freshly motivated. I have a great and very strong team behind me, whose experience and willingness to help I will make more use of this season — and I hope I can give something back as well. I used the winter break to adjust my demanding training program. Based on the training so far, I’m heading into the new season with confidence."
If you had to sum up 2025 in one point: what was the biggest factor that made it so difficult — pace, consistency, mistakes, or bad luck/circumstances?
Stefan Schubert:
"Bad luck, my own mistakes, and consistency."
You said you want to use the team’s experience more: what does that look like in practice — do you do more comparison runs with teammates, or do you ask for targeted feedback on specific corners/sections?
Stefan Schubert:
"I think it makes more sense to train with teammates than to drive around alone in circles."
Finish the sentence: “2026 will be a success for me if …”
Stefan Schubert:
"…if I can finish all races and maybe score points on my own merit at least once."
In the end, the picture is clear: Ottimale EM don’t want to be louder in 2026 — they want to be better. More structured, more aligned, and therefore more consistent. Seifert keeps the team benchmark intentionally pragmatic with “scoring points regularly”, because that’s the foundation for everything else over a season: strategy options, development, momentum. Hauck brings confidence after his strong 2025, but also feels the pressure — and sets the goal of paying the team back with a top 5 finish in the championship. Schubert, meanwhile, is aiming for a reset through consistency: fewer mistakes, more finishes, and the chance to fight for points on merit again.
If Ottimale EM can bring these three layers together — team processes, individual growth, and stable results — then their calm approach could turn into exactly what matters in a strong field: a team that doesn’t just score points, but shows up reliably every single weekend. And that’s often where the next step forward begins.