Motorsport news

The Gurnigel hillclimb, scheduled for 12–13 September 2026, has been cancelled by its organiser, reducing the Swiss hillclimb championship to seven rounds for the season. The decision was announced via press release on 14 August. The cancellation stems from exceptional drought conditions and elevated wildfire risk in the region. In a statement, the organiser cited consultation with local authorities and police, stating that "under current conditions, we cannot guarantee the necessary safety for all spectators, participants and personnel, nor adequately protect land, forest and nature." The safety of attendees and protection of the environment were cited as the primary reasons for the withdrawal. Four championship rounds have already taken place. The remaining schedule comprises Les Rangiers (imminent), Oberhallau (29–30 August) and Les Paccots (19–20 September).

The Automobile Club Trapani has retained Fabrizio Fondacci as race director for the 68th edition of the Monte Erice hillclimb, scheduled for 4–6 September across the Trapani province in western Sicily. The event will count towards the Italian Historic Speed Hillclimb Championship (CIVSA), the Italian Mountain Speed Championship (CIVM), and the Italian Classic Speed Hillclimb Championship (CIVSAC). Fondacci, an internationally recognised official, brings extensive experience including 18 Formula 1 Grand Prix appointments and numerous hillclimb, circuit racing and rally events. He will be supported by Francesco Sanclemente as assistant race director; Sanclemente is based in Valderice and brings local knowledge of the course and surrounding terrain. AC Trapani president Giovanni Pellegrino stated that retaining the experienced team ensures high standards of safety, sporting conduct and operational rigour. He added that the 2024 edition will feature enhanced partnership with commercial sponsors, with increased visibility along the route from Valderice to the finish in the medieval village of Erice, which overlooks the Gulf of Custonaci, Monte Cofano, the Egadi Islands and the Trapani salt pans.

iRacing will implement a subscription price increase effective 18 August 2026. The platform has announced that existing members retain the option to renew their memberships at current rates ahead of the increase, with no loss of remaining subscription time. Members considering renewal are advised to act before the price adjustment takes effect to lock in existing rates.

The 61st Trofeo Luigi Fagioli, Italy's opening round of the national hillclimb championship, will introduce a new spectator-focused initiative in 2026. The Arena Paddock, a dedicated fan zone spanning the Roman Theatre car park in Gubbio, will run throughout the three-day event (21–23 August) and transform the paddock experience with live entertainment, food vendors, simulators, and direct access to drivers and teams. The venue will host multiple themed events, beginning Friday 21 August with a presentation by champion driver Simone Faggioli and his team, who will share behind-the-scenes footage and stories from their recent Pikes Peak International Hill Climb campaign, featuring the Nova Proto NP01 ATM. Saturday 22 August brings the 2nd Trofeo Meet Street, a tuning car gathering expected to draw around 70 modified vehicles from across Italy. On race day (Sunday 23 August), a large screen will broadcast the hillclimb live via ACI Sport TV, while the inaugural motorcycle rally "Il Trofeo Fagioli si mette in… moto" debuts with over 100 two-wheeled entries. The Arena Paddock, developed in partnership with Buffalo Beer, will feature live music, DJ sets, racing simulators, and a main stage. After the official podium ceremony at Madonna della Cima, the top three finishers will return to the paddock stage to celebrate with spectators. Entry for the hillclimb—valid across the Italian Supersalita championship, CIVM North and South divisions, the national two-cylinder class, Assominicar Challenge, and the Città di Gubbio historic car cup—closes 23:59 on 17 August. The full 2026 edition will be officially presented on 20 August at Palazzo Pretorio.

The 61st Trofeo Luigi Fagioli, held in Gubbio, will serve as the opening round of the Italian Hillclimb Championship and will feature a new spectator and competitor experience this year. The event, known as the "Monte Carlo of hillclimbs," will centre around a newly created Arena Paddock zone designed to enhance the three-day hillclimb weekend. The Arena Paddock concept aims to transform how participants and fans engage with the event, moving beyond traditional race and paddock separation to create an integrated experience throughout the duration of the competition.

iRacing has released version 3.0 of its Companion App, featuring a comprehensive technical modernization and redesigned user interface across iOS and Android. The update brings the mobile experience into closer alignment with the desktop iRacing UI, with improved data synchronization and a more consistent visual design throughout the application. Key improvements include real-time synchronization of favorites, social connections, and league data between the mobile app and the main iRacing platform. Users can now manage friend requests, follow drivers, and organize their favorite cars, tracks, series, and leagues directly from the app, with these preferences automatically reflected in the desktop UI. The reminders system has been redesigned with a guided step-by-step setup flow, making it simpler to configure notifications for races, series, and league events. The Series Details section has received substantial enhancements, including full Weather V2 display matching the desktop client, detailed race restriction information such as fuel and tire change limits, and redesigned standings that highlight the user's own position alongside friends and followed drivers. A new date-based week selector now better accommodates series with non-standard calendars, displaying series-specific week numbers when needed. Filtering capabilities have been expanded across multiple areas of the app, including Series, Upcoming Races, Leagues, Hosted Sessions, Time Attack, Cars, and Tracks. Event Results screens have been redesigned for clearer session navigation, and the News section now supports richer content rendering with improved image zoom and pan functionality. iRacing Companion App 3.0 is now available in eight languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil), German, French, Italian, and Simplified Chinese. The legacy 2.x versions will continue to function until the Season 1 2027 build, when they will be sunset. The update is available immediately on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

The Italian Super Salita championship heads toward its conclusion with two remaining rounds: the Luigi Fagioli Trophy in Gubbio (21–23 August) and the Coppa Nissena in Caltanissetta (11–13 September). Both events carry a 1.5 coefficient in points allocation, setting up a decisive finish to the season. Michele Gregori, a 37-year-old driver from Pieve Santo Stefano, currently sits fourth in the E2SC-SS up-to-1600cc class standings with 41 points, piloting a Nova Proto NP03 with central driving position under Team Faggioli support. The car made its debut in mid-June at Trento-Bondone. Leading the class is Andrea Santo Di Caro with a perfect 100 points, followed by Michele Puglisi (75 points) and Filippo Ferretti (48 points). Gregori won this same class in 2022 driving a Gloria. Gregori described the season as "more than positive" despite the mid-campaign switch to the new chassis. The updated Nova Proto NP03 features a newer engine, revised suspension geometry, and 30 centimetres of additional steering lock that aids visibility through chicanes. At Terminillo, he trimmed nearly 10 seconds from his previous times. "It's a year of growth for me," Gregori reflected, noting that Di Caro, Puglisi and Ferretti have demonstrated superior pace, though emerging talents Matteo De Luca and Gerardo Rosa in Osella Pa21 Jrb machinery have also made significant progress. At Gubbio, competition will intensify with the return of Ivan Pezzolla, last year's absolute winner at the Luigi Fagioli Trophy, and French driver Kevin Petit. Gregori remains undecided on Caltanissetta but confirmed plans to race at Orvieto in late September. He narrowly missed the overall podium at Sarnano by 0.85 seconds, a result that would have been stronger had the second run not been cancelled. Beyond competition, Gregori highlighted the camaraderie within the 1600cc class. "With Giancarlo Maroni, Andrea Santo Di Caro, Michele Puglisi, Filippo Ferretti and Mirko Torsellini, there is genuine friendship outside the car," he said. "On track there is healthy competition, but off it we often gather for dinner together. That spirit is what motorsport should teach everyone."

A new analysis examines whether sim racing fundamentally alters driving behaviour and technique compared to real-world motorsport. The investigation draws on sim-to-real transfer research, interviews with professional racing drivers, and comparative testing across leading simulation platforms including iRacing, Le Mans Ultimate, Assetto Corsa Competizione, and Assetto Corsa EVO. The study explores how different simulators—each with distinct physics engines, force feedback characteristics, and tyre models—may condition drivers to adopt varying approaches to throttle application, braking points, and vehicle setup. By cross-referencing driver feedback with published research on skill transfer between virtual and physical racing environments, the analysis aims to clarify which aspects of sim racing translate directly to track performance and where differences in simulation fidelity create divergent habits.

Entries are now open for the 5th Slalom Città di Ucria, scheduled for 5–6 September and organised by ASD Ucria Racing. The event will carry four competitive validities: the Southern Italy Trophy, Sicilian Slalom Championship, Messina AC Social Championship, and the Nebrodi Trophy, which will conclude its 2026 season at this round. The race will also feature the Vincenzo Belladonna Memorial, honouring a prominent figure in the local motorsport community. The 3.85-kilometre course will feature 17 braking zones and is known for its technical variety and demanding driving conditions. Previous editions have consistently attracted over 100 entries, placing the event among Italy's leading slalom competitions. Last year's winner Giuseppe Giametta from Trapani claimed his second consecutive victory, ahead of Silvio Fiore (Catania) and Santi Leo (Messina). The event benefits from strong support from Ucria's municipal administration, led by Mayor Vincenzo Crisà, and has become an important occasion for territorial promotion. Beyond the competitive programme, the weekend will include a traditional Saturday evening gathering for drivers, teams, officials and enthusiasts. The organisation is already preparing the course and all necessary logistics to accommodate participants and spectators.

The European Le Mans Series will mark a decade of racing at Spa-Francorchamps with a strong entry for the four-hour event scheduled 21–23 August 2026. The grid will feature 47 cars, 140 drivers, 30 teams and representatives from 30 nations, making it one of the season's most significant rounds. The Belgian fixture arrives as the fourth championship event, following races at Barcelona, Le Castellet and Imola, and is expected to reshape the title battles across all categories: LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am, LMP3 and LMGT3. Four Belgian drivers will race on home soil, including Jean Glorieux, a former Michelin Le Mans Cup LMP3 champion now competing in LMP2 Pro/Am with DKR Engineering, and Maxime Martin, winner of the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours in LMGTE Pro, who will drive the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 No. 62 for Team Qatar by Iron Lynx. Alessio Picariello, a two-time ELMS LMGTE champion, returns to the grid in a Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 for Proton Competition. In LMP2, United Autosports leads the championship with Ben Hanley, Grégoire Saucy and Griffin Peebles on 58 points in the Oreca No. 22, ahead of Forestier Racing by Panis on 52 points. The LMP2 Pro/Am class presents a tightly bunched fight, with Algarve Pro Racing and Vector Sport both on 43 points at the top. LMP3 sees Rinaldi Racing's Alvise Rodella, José Fernandes Cautela and Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen leading on 49 points, just eight ahead of Inter Europol Competition. In LMGT3, TF Sport's Corvette No. 33 holds a one-point advantage over Proton Competition's Porsche No. 75, with Kessel Racing's Ferrari No. 57 a further point back. Spa's technical layout—featuring Eau Rouge-Raidillon, Pouhon and Blanchimont—makes it one of Europe's most demanding circuits. The tenth-anniversary race will serve as both a celebration and a potentially decisive championship turning point. The weekend runs Friday to Sunday, with the race on Sunday; tickets start from €8.

Saber Interactive has announced the Mercedes-Benz Trucks Dual Pack 2 for SnowRunner, arriving 2 September across PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2. The DLC introduces two officially licensed heavy-duty vehicles: the Mercedes-Benz NG3850 and the LG1519 6x6 Mamute. The NG3850 draws from Mercedes-Benz's Neue Generation series, produced between 1973 and 1988. The truck features a V10 diesel engine delivering approximately 500 horsepower and is designed as a rugged utility hauler for demanding terrain. The LG1519 6x6 Mamute represents an extreme off-road variant, equipped with a six-wheel-drive configuration and a distinctive boomerang-style rear suspension geometry intended to enhance traction and stability on severe terrain. This marks the second official Mercedes-Benz DLC pack for SnowRunner. The first arrived in March, adding the Setros and Actros models to the game's roster.

BeamNG.drive developers have revealed a teaser image of new vehicle content for the physics-based driving simulator. The image suggests an upcoming European cab-over semi-truck, a significant departure from the North American long-hood tractors currently available in the game. The teaser screenshot, captured on the West Coast USA map, shows the rear section of the truck with its fifth-wheel coupling visible. While the full vehicle remains unrevealed, the silhouette clearly differs from the conventional American-style rigs already in the game, such as the Gavril T-Series. The addition of a European variant appears a logical and fresh expansion of the truck roster, particularly given the sustained popularity of titles like Euro Truck Simulator 2 and player appetite for more diverse heavy vehicle options. The teaser arrives less than two weeks after the release of version 0.39, a major update that introduced overhauled graphics, a new photo mode, rally mode improvements, interface refinements, and performance optimizations. The studio appears to be actively preparing the game ahead of its planned PlayStation 5 release, currently scheduled for 2026.