Club Racing — news

Michael Schrey, driving for Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport, dominated qualifying for the BMW M2 Cup at Sachsenring, securing pole position for both races of the weekend.

The sixth and penultimate round of the European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli is underway at Hungaroring from 10–13 September, with 35 drivers competing in Ferrari 296 Challenge machinery. The Hungarian event forms part of the broader Ferrari Racing Days programme and carries significant weight in the championship battle, as only the season finale at Finali Mondiali in Barcelona (17–23 November) remains after this weekend. In the Trofeo Pirelli class, Sergio Paulet (Ineco – Reparto Corse RAM) leads the standings, with Max Mugelli (CDP – Eureka Competition) in second and among the main title contenders. Returning drivers include Niklas Abrahamsen (Formula Racing) and Hendrik Viol (Scuderia Praha Racing). The Trofeo Pirelli Am category is headed by Michael Verhagen (Ferrari Warszawa), while the Coppa Shell battle remains tight: Fons Scheltema (Kessel Racing) holds 84 points, just two ahead of Sven Schömer (Penske Sportwagen Hamburg). In Coppa Shell Am, Jean Ryu (Kessel Racing) leads with 120 points. Beyond Ferrari Challenge, the weekend includes track sessions for Club Competizioni GT, XX Programme, F1 Clienti, and Sport Prototipi Clienti. Racing began with test sessions on Thursday 10 September, followed by qualifying on Friday. The first races are scheduled for Saturday 12 September at 10:30 (Coppa Shell classes) and 15:50 (Trofeo Pirelli classes), with a Ferrari owner parade at midday. Sunday 13 September features further races at 10:30 and 14:55. Ferrari has also announced significant changes for the 2027 season. An endurance format will be introduced to the European Ferrari Challenge, with 40-minute races plus one lap held at three of seven rounds—Misano, Hockenheim, and Valencia. Each endurance race will include a mandatory pit stop between laps 15 and 25, with driver changes permitted. The remaining rounds will retain the traditional sprint format at Donington, Spa-Francorchamps, Misano, and Finali Mondiali. Endurance rounds will carry increased championship weight to emphasise strategy and pit-stop management. Similar changes are planned for the North American Ferrari Challenge from 2027 onwards.

The Italian Super Hillclimb Championship reaches its conclusion this weekend with the 71st Coppa Nissena in Sicily. Organised by the Automobile Club Caltanissetta, the event takes place on the historic 5.450-kilometre course that runs from Ponte Capodarso to Villaggio. The final round will determine the season's championship verdicts across the various categories competing in Italy's premier hillclimb series.

The 2026 Drift Masters season concludes this weekend at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw, with the championship decider accompanied by an expanded entertainment programme. Organisers have arranged a multi-faceted event featuring two Formula 1 cars, a high-powered drift machine, paddock access for spectators, and the finale of a build-and-drive project by Kuba Przygońskiego and Natan Czyżewski. The headline attraction will be two Red Bull RB7 cars from the 2011 F1 season, when Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber combined for 18 pole positions and 12 victories across 19 races. Vettel claimed his second world championship that year, and Red Bull secured their second consecutive constructors' title. On the Warsaw circuit, former F1 driver Christian Klien and long-time Red Bull test driver Patrick Friesacher will pilot the RB7s in a specially prepared show run format. The cars retain their original V8 engines producing approximately 750 horsepower and functional blown diffuser systems. Rather than simple demonstration laps, Klien and Friesacher will compete in a pursuit-style race, starting simultaneously from opposite ends of the circuit and battling for advantage over successive laps. This unusual fusion of Formula 1 machinery and drift series infrastructure will test how the high-downforce cars perform on the tight layout. The programme will also feature a "Donut Show" — a 15-second contest between an F1 car and a drift machine to execute the most spins in place. New Zealand drifter Michael Brandon Whiddett, known as Mad Mike, will bring his Mazda MX-3 Bullet, a machine built for Pikes Peak competition. The car features rear-wheel drive and a twin-turbocharged four-rotor Wankel engine producing around 1,400 horsepower, with the radiator relocated to the boot to accommodate the extreme cooling demands. The Bullet holds the Pikes Peak record for Wankel-engined vehicles and is the fastest Mazda ever to compete there. Whiddett will demonstrate the car's capabilities during track runs and the donut contest. Spectators with appropriate tickets will access the paddock to view both the RB7s and the drift cars up close, alongside partner zones, team merchandise stands, and Red Bull activations on the main promenade. Fans can try sim racing simulators and a Formula 1 pit-stop wheel-change simulator. Saturday will also see the finale of Przygońskiego and Czyżewski's "From Stock Exchange to PGE Narodowy" project, in which a used BMW E46 was purchased, prepared, and driven by Czyżewski under Przygońskiego's tuition throughout the summer. The championship battle itself remains the centrepiece. Five-time Drift Masters champion Piotr Więcek leads the standings with 436 points, holding a 22-point advantage over Paweł Korpuliński, who seeks his first title. Conor Shanahan and James Deane from Ireland remain in contention with 370 and 337 points respectively.

Siena-based driver Mirko Torsellini will compete this weekend at the 71st Coppa Nissena in Caltanissetta, Sicily, the final and decisive round of the 2026 Italian Hillclimb Championship. Torsellini will pilot a Norma M20 FC in the 3000cc class on Pirelli tyres, representing Best Lap. The event, organised by the Automobile Club Caltanissetta, marks the championship decider for the season.

The penultimate round of the 2026 Clio Cup Bohemia season took place at Brno Autodrom this weekend, with Friday qualifying held in persistent rain that kept track and air temperatures below 15°C throughout the morning and into the 20-minute session. Miha Primožič set the pace in the closing stages after a red flag interruption caused by Ivan Prantner's off-track excursion. Series leader Bartłomiej Mirecki, the Polish driver who can clinch the championship this weekend, initially set the benchmark with a 2:34.974 lap. After the session resumed following the brief stoppage, conditions improved noticeably as rain eased. Mirecki improved to 2:34.818, but Matic Preša and Primožič proved faster, with Primožič securing pole position on 2:34.224. Among Polish competitors, Mirecki's third-place finish was the best result. Filip Dziwok claimed the next-best Polish qualifying position inside the top ten, ahead of teammates Rafał Paprotą, Alan Kluza and Paweł Wysmyk. Piotr Ławski qualified 17th, followed by Oskar Marszałkowski and Dawid Babraj, with Krzysztof Dudek 23rd. Last year's champion Tomáš Pekař will start from sixth, while Julian Śmiechowski retains mathematical title chances from 22nd on the grid. Both races of the Brno round are scheduled for Saturday and are expected to take place in dry conditions.

The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie (NLS) has released its provisional calendar for 2027, marking a landmark year for European club endurance racing. The eight-race schedule coincides with two major anniversaries: the 50th year of the NLS itself and the 100th anniversary of the Nürburgring circuit. Early publication of the dates is intended to provide teams, drivers, and partners with planning certainty ahead of the milestone season. VLN Managing Director Mike Jäger commented: "Half a century of endurance racing on the Nordschleife is a historic milestone of which we are extremely proud—especially since we get to celebrate this anniversary alongside the Nürburgring's centenary. Since its inception in 1977, the series has retained its unique character on this iconic circuit while continuously evolving." The 2027 NLS season will run from March through October, with races scheduled on 20 March, 17 April, 3 July, 7 August, 11–12 September (double-header), 25 September, and 9 October. The 7 August round will be contested over six hours. The 2026 season has already demonstrated strong audience engagement, with the series recording 23.99 million livestream viewers and nearly 214 million video views across social media platforms through the first seven races. The official YouTube channel has attracted more than 180,000 subscribers.

Nearly 170 teams competed in the sixth round of the 2026 Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring (RCN) series, held under ideal conditions on the legendary Nordschleife. The event, dubbed "Rhein-Ruhr," saw a change at the top of the championship standings as Sven Markert and Lars Harbeck (both Berlin, BMW 320i) claimed the series lead. The pair benefited from a fortunate day when their confirmation lap was disrupted by an unexpected Code-60 zone, costing them 250 penalty seconds. However, their rivals faced identical difficulties, allowing the Berliners to secure their fifth H3-class victory of the season. "We simply had luck," Markert explained. "We were quick as usual, but the confirmation time was just not achievable. As new leaders, we're under pressure now, but we'll handle it." The overall victory went to Michael Luther and Markus Schmickler (Barsbüttel/Bad Neuenahr, BMW M4 GT4), who dominated proceedings to claim their third win of the season. David Vogt and Marc Basseng (Waldfeucht/Rosenbach, Opel Astra TCR) finished second and set a new lap record in the RS3A class. Third place fell to Reinhold Renger and Marc Andreas Riedl (Rothenburg/Hamburg, Porsche Cayman GT4 CS). RCN series manager Willi Hillebrand praised the event: "A successful gathering. This was excellent promotion for motorsport. We now trust that the final rounds will prove equally positive and exciting." The series continues to attract family teams, with father-son and father-daughter pairings becoming increasingly common. Notable entries included Guido Witz and his sons Benjamin and Niclas (all Switzerland) in the BMW M240i class, with the family trio aiming to compete in the traditional 24-hour race. The event also saw the return of familiar faces to the Nordschleife, including Marco Schelp (Berlin), who competed before emigrating to New Zealand. In the RCN Light category, Andrea Heim (Gronau, Renault Clio) assumed the championship lead after claiming victory in class 29. Maximilian Weissermel (Oberursel, Porsche Cayman) posted the fastest time of the day in class 30 and moved to second in the standings, while Nikolas Reihsner (Wittlich, BMW M3) dropped to third after encountering difficulties during his confirmation lap.

The FIA Central European Zone Rallycross Championship and Polish Rallycross and Autocross Championships will take place at Autodrom Słomczyn on 12–13 September 2026 as a two-day event. The venue offers comprehensive facilities including a restaurant, spectator viewing areas, and restrooms, allowing visitors to attend without bringing supplies. Saturday's schedule begins with the competition office opening at 08:00, followed by a warm-up session from 09:45 to 09:45. Three qualifying heats run across the day: the first from 10:00 to 12:00, the second from 12:20 to 14:20, and the third from 15:00 to 17:00, with technical breaks between sessions. Sunday features a fourth qualifying heat from 09:30 to 11:30, semi-finals in categories A and B from 12:00 to 13:15, and finals beginning at 14:00. Final classifications will be published at 16:00, with prize presentations at 16:10. Spectators can purchase day tickets for 50 PLN per person at the gate, with children under 12 admitted free. Tickets grant access to the Machine Park and all available viewing points. Payment is accepted in cash and by card. Organisers note that the nearby Słomczyn market operates on Sunday and may cause traffic congestion on the shared access road to the circuit.

The 53rd Garessio-San Bernardo hillclimb will take place on 12–13 September on the historic SS 582 mountain road in Piedmont, with 95 entries confirmed. Organised by Supergara and counting towards the Trofeo Nord, the event serves as the sixth and decisive round of the ACI Sport Slalom 1st Zone Cup, with multiple category titles still wide open and tight point gaps promising high drama on race day. The Garessio-San Bernardo has deep roots in Italian motorsport history, tracing back to its inaugural edition in 1956 when Piero Campanella won in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta SV. The event transitioned from a timed hillclimb to slalom format and now runs over a 4.18-kilometre section of the mountain pass, starting at km 3.37 and finishing at km 7.55. Luigi Taramazzo holds the record for most victories with eight wins, while the roll of honour includes celebrated drivers such as Ada Pace and more recently Fabio Emanuele and Alessandro Polini. The E2 SC category will again be the headline attraction, with Damiano Furnari (Elia Avrio ST 09, 11 points) and Luca Veldorale (Radical SR4, 13 points) locked in a tight battle for outright honours. Behind them, Stefano Repetto and Giuseppe Scozzafava, both in Radical SR4s, sit at 7 and 5 points respectively and remain in contention. Other categories show similarly compressed standings: in Kart Cross, leader "Bomberos" (17 points) faces pressure from Loris and Ivan Cocino; the E2SH Silhouette class is separated by just one point between Palmiro Strizzi (7 points) and challengers Daniele Patete and Mauro Piana (both 6 points); and in the Special Slalom group, Paolo Bordo leads with 12 points over Fortunato Morabito at 9. Among road-going categories, absences of leading competitors create opportunities: in Group A, local driver Marco Strata (Skoda Fabia Evo, 6 points) can move to the top with a solid result, while in Group RS Plus, Gianfranco Vigo (Renault Clio Williams, 5 points) needs only to finish to claim the zone title. The Historic Cars category will add a museum-quality dimension to the event, featuring entries including an Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6, Ford Sierra Cosworth, BMW 2002 TI, Fiat 124 Abarth, and Innocenti Mini Cooper. Saturday 12 September will host accreditation at Villa Gobbi (15:30–18:30) and technical checks at Piazzale del Peso Pubblico (16:00–19:00). Sunday 13 September begins with additional technical verification, followed by a regularity run at 10:45, official course reconnaissance at 11:00, and three timed runs to determine the winner and award crucial zone championship points.

Słomczyn Autodrome will host the fifth and penultimate round of the Polish Rallycross and Autocross Championships on 12–13 September, drawing over 80 competitors to the circuit. The event will also serve as a qualifying round for the FIA Central European Zone (CEZ) European Championship, adding international significance to the weekend's competition. The SuperCars class alone has attracted nine entries, with multiple championship battles set to reach their decisive phase. In the Seicento Cup, Jakub Kabat holds an eight-point advantage over Maksym Huranowski, while the RWD Cup BMW category promises close racing between young drivers Kacper Sokulski and Krystian Pietraszko, separated by just five points. Łukasz Zoll will attempt to close a seven-point deficit to Czech leader Castorala in another key category. Beyond the Polish championship standings, drivers will also compete for points in the FIA CEZ classification and the Czech Rallycross Cup. Admission is priced at 50 PLN per person per day, with free entry for children under 12. Tickets will be available on-site, with payment accepted in cash or by card.

The Italian Supersalita Championship reaches its conclusion at the 71st Coppa Nissena hillclimb in Caltanissetta, with the season finale set to determine several national titles across multiple classes. GT Racing will field five entries for the decisive weekend, each competing for championship honours or crucial points in their respective categories. Gabry Driver, competing for Best Lap, arrives at the final round still in contention for the GTCUP title. Piloting a Ferrari 458, the driver from Cosenza will contest both runs of the Nissena course with the aim of maximising points in what could prove a decisive battle for the championship. In the TCR category, Selina Prantl from South Tyrol leads the DSG class standings and will seek to secure the title at Caltanissetta. The championship leader is expected to pursue maximum points to confirm her 2026 crown, while also defending her position in the broader group classification. Kristian Fiorucci, racing for Scuderia Città di Gubbio, will continue his development programme in a Peugeot 308 CUP, building on recent progress made at his home event. Salvo Mondino, representing Cosenza Corse, arrives in Sicily with the Racing Start Turbo RS 2.0 TB title within reach. The driver from Lucca will pilot a Seat Leon and faces a critical test to close the gap to the championship lead. Completing the GT Racing lineup is Salvatore Gioè, a local driver who will contest the RS 2.0 TB class in a Mini JCW, aiming to rediscover his rhythm on the challenging Nissena layout.