Club Racing — news

NLS double-header at Nürburgring: title fight intensifies
NLS·10 September
NLS double-header at Nürburgring: title fight intensifies
The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie reaches its climax this weekend with a back-to-back double-header on the Nordschleife. Races eight and nine—the 65th ADAC Reinoldus Endurance Race on Saturday and the 66th ADAC ACAS Cup on Sunday—will each run for four hours, with both starting at 12:00 p.m. The format means every point counts in the championship battle, as this season's standings carry no dropped results. Spectators can attend for 25 euros per day (free for children up to age 14), with tickets available at VLN.de/tickets. A free livestream will be broadcast on VLN.de from 8:15 a.m. both days. The entry list comprises 136 vehicles from 14 manufacturers, with 26 genuine contenders for overall victory across the SP9 GT3 class and AT 1 alternative-fuel category. The grid features seven brands in the premier class: Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin, Ford, and Lamborghini. Notable entries include Schubert Motorsport's BMW M4 GT3 EVO, the Haupt Racing Team's Ford Mustang GT3, Team KCMG's Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Le Mans winner Kamui Kobayashi, and Max Kruse Racing's three Audi R8 LMS GT3s in the AT 1 class. Dutch driver Loek Hartog, who recently gained international recognition for rescuing rival Ollie Millroy from a burning car during a China GT race in Shanghai, will compete for Dinamic GT in the No. 54 Porsche 911 GT3 R alongside Danish driver Michael Klitgaard Christensen. In the overall championship standings, the trio of Edoardo Bugane, Yannick Fübrich, and Sven Markert lead with 79 points, having won every race in their BMW M240i Racing Cup class. Alexander Fielenbach and Oskar Sandberg sit second with 64 points in their Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS, while the PROsport trio of Anton Abée, Yannik Himmels, and Jörg Viebahn hold third with 56 points. In the NLS Speed Trophy, Schubert Motorsport commands a 121-point lead ahead of 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON (75 points) and Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol (60 points). The Junior Trophy sees Raphael Rennhofer (Team LIQUI MOLY by BLACK FALCON, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) leading with 55 points, with Santiago Baztarrica positioned as the main challenger at 40 points. Qualifying sessions run from 08:30 to 10:00 on both mornings, followed by pit walks at 10:20 a.m. and grid walks at 11:10 a.m. Those unable to attend can follow proceedings via the official livestream or "Radio Nürburgring" on rpr1.de and the RPR1 app.
Marszałkowski targets Brno podium before Spa-Francorchamps debut
RandR·10 September
Marszałkowski targets Brno podium before Spa-Francorchamps debut
Polish driver Oskar Marszałkowski faces a demanding month ahead, with back-to-back commitments in both the Clio Cup Bohemia domestic series and the international Clio Cup Series. The 18-year-old will contest this weekend's Brno round before heading directly to Spa-Francorchamps for his first outing with JTS Racing Team in the European championship. Marszałkowski arrives at Autodrom Brno seeking to recover from a difficult Slovakia Ring round, where contact with a rival and a mechanical failure left him pointless. Despite that setback, he remains in contention for fourth place in the Clio Cup Bohemia standings and a junior podium finish. His previous visit to the Czech circuit yielded second place, a result that has boosted his confidence heading into the weekend. "After Slovakia, there's frustration because we had the pace for a strong result, but we came away empty-handed," Marszałkowski said. "Now the priority is to run a clean weekend in Brno and make the most of the car's potential. I feel comfortable in the Czech Republic, which my Most result proved, so I'm targeting a strong performance and a return to the fight for top positions." The Brno round will adopt a compressed format, with both races held on the same day rather than spread across the weekend. Immediately after, Marszałkowski and his team will travel to Belgium for the Spa-Francorchamps round of the Clio Cup Series—one of Europe's most demanding circuits. The driver has previous experience in the European series through guest appearances last season. A second international outing is scheduled for November in Portimão, Portugal, after the Clio Cup Bohemia season concludes.
Dybionka scores podium on ADAC GT Masters debut
RandR·10 September
Dybionka scores podium on ADAC GT Masters debut
Polish driver Fabian Dybionka marked his maiden appearance in the ADAC GT Masters with an immediate podium finish at Salzburg. The 17-year-old claimed second place in the opening race of the weekend, finishing just under half a second behind the winner. Dybionka joined Haupt Racing Team for the penultimate round of the season, making his first start in a Ford Mustang GT3. He shared the car with 19-year-old Norwegian Emil Gjerdrum. The pairing started from ninth on the grid, but Gjerdrum moved into third position early in the race. After the driver change, Dybionka continued climbing the order, reaching second place and challenging for the lead before crossing the line in runner-up position. The second race at Salzburg ended in sixth place for the Dybionka–Gjerdrum pairing. The result could have been significantly stronger, as the team lost over 20 seconds due to a penalty stemming from a mechanic error during the pit stop. Dybionka demonstrated strong pace throughout his stint and was the fastest driver on track during his time in the car. The Salzburg weekend served as a significant test for Dybionka in a new environment. ADAC GT Masters functions as a direct stepping stone to DTM and represents the highest level of the "Road to DTM" programme. At 17, Dybionka was the second-youngest driver in the field and showed pace competitive with more experienced rivals. "It was almost a dream debut for me in ADAC GT Masters," Dybionka reflected. "Both the new car and the new team made a strong impression, and from the first practice sessions I had very competitive pace and knew we could fight for top positions." Dybionka acknowledged that his crew also assisted the second HRT entry in its championship fight during the opening race, yet still managed to secure second place. In the second race, he demonstrated pace that suggested another podium was possible before the penalty ended those hopes. "I'm pleased to have shown competitive pace in every car I've driven this year, and I hope this will pay dividends and allow me to take the next step in my career in the 2027 season," the Poznań-based driver added.
47th Rally Città di Pistoia opens entries for October showdown
ilT·10 September
47th Rally Città di Pistoia opens entries for October showdown
The 47th Rally Città di Pistoia has opened its entry list, with registrations running until 5 October ahead of the event scheduled for 10–11 October. Organised by Pistoia Corse and Automobile Club Pistoia, the rally will serve as the final round of the Coppa Rally Zona 7 and offers crews competing in the regional championship a final opportunity to secure qualification for the national Coppa Italia final, set for Lucca in November. The 2026 edition introduces several technical changes to enhance the competitive experience. The rally will feature nine special stages totalling 69.69 kilometres of timed running across a total distance of 277.47 kilometres. Saturday 10 October will host four stages, while Sunday 11 October will feature five. Notable additions include a new stage, "Serravalle" (1.69 km), set in the industrial zone near Casalguidi, and a revised layout for the "Casore" stage (14.68 km), which will follow a configuration unseen since 2013. The classic "Montevettolini" (7.33 km) and "San Baronto" (7.48 km) stages return, with the latter shortened from its traditional length. Start and finish remain in Piazza Duomo at the heart of Pistoia's historic centre, with the opening stage beginning at 17:00 on Saturday. Overnight parking will take place in the main square from 22:05, with the rally resuming at 08:30 on Sunday and concluding at 17:00. The event is also valid for the ACI Pistoia Social Championship–Memorial Roberto Misseri, the Trofeo Rally Toscano, and Michelin and Pirelli Accademia trophies. Historic vehicles will compete in the eighth edition of the Coppa Città di Pistoia, while 2026 marks the debut of the 1st Rally Classic Città di Pistoia, reserved for cars built between 1993 and 2000. The official presentation of the rally will take place on 27 September at La Cattedrale venue, coinciding with "BimbiRally", a road safety education initiative for children aged 4–10. Participants will navigate a mini circuit on pedal-powered vehicles, with support from the Misericordia di Pistoia and the Polizia Stradale. The winning child will receive a prize during the official closing ceremony on 11 October.
71st Coppa Nissena hillclimb draws 176 entries for Italian championship finale
ilT·10 September
71st Coppa Nissena hillclimb draws 176 entries for Italian championship finale
The 71st Coppa Nissena, organised by the Automobile Club Caltanissetta, has closed entries with 176 competitors registered for the event scheduled for 11–13 September. The hillclimb serves as the seventh and final round of the Italian Supersalita Championship, the eighth round of the Bicilindriche Tricolour series, and the fourteenth round of the Italian Mountain Speed Championship South. The 5.45-kilometre course runs along the Strada Statale 122 between Ponte Capodarso and Villaggio Santa Barbara. The championship battle in the top Supersalita class features defending Italian champion Simone Faggioli in a Nova Proto NP 01, alongside fellow contenders Stefano Di Fulvio (supercharged Nova Proto), Mirko Torsellini (Zytek 3000cc prototype), Achille Lombardi (Osella), Fabien Bouduban (Norma M20FC), and Mario Massaglia (Nova Proto). Among Sicilian drivers competing for both the national and regional titles are Samuele Cassibba (Nova Proto NP 01, fresh from a win at Sila), Franco Caruso (Nova Proto), Luigi Fazzino (Nova Proto), Michele Puglisi (Nova Proto NP 03), and Francesco Conticelli (Nova Proto). Other title fights include the E2SH group duel between Marco Gramenzi (Alfa 4C with Judd engine) and Manuel Dondi (Fiat X1/9), the Ladies Cup challenge from Selina Prantl (Volkswagen Golf TCR), and the E1 group battle between Giuseppe Aragona (Volkswagen Golf Audi) and Alessandro Tortora (Peugeot 106 turbo). The GT Cup features Ferrari 458 entries from Gabrydriver and Stefano Artuso. A formal presentation of participants and the event programme will take place on Thursday, 10 September at 11:00 in the Yellow Hall of Caltanissetta Town Hall.
RAAB Rally: Zone 6 title decided on Apennine stages
ilT·10 September
RAAB Rally: Zone 6 title decided on Apennine stages
The 33rd Rally Alto Appennino Bolognese (RAAB) will serve as the decisive final round of the Italian Zone 6 Rally Cup this weekend, with three drivers separated by just three points fighting for the championship and a place in the national final at Lucca in November. Organised by MaremmaCorse 2.0 with support from the local community and Bologna Automobile Club, the event will take place around Castiglione dei Pepoli in the Bologna Apennines. Christian Tiramani from Piacenza leads the Zone 6 standings on 29 points, followed closely by two Reggio Emilia drivers: Antonio Rusce on 28 points and Gianluca Tosi on 26. All three compete in Skoda Fabia RS cars. Tiramani holds a one-point advantage over Rusce, but Tosi—winner of last year's RAAB—remains within striking distance with three points to recover. The championship battle will unfold across ten special stages totalling 63.7 kilometres of timed running on Sunday, after a short opening stage on Saturday evening. The entry list includes 86 competitors overall. Among notable participants is Ville Vatanen, a 19-year-old Finnish driver who was crowned ERC-3 European Champion at the Ceredigion Rally in Wales the previous week. Vatanen, a distant relative of legendary rally driver Ari Vatanen, will contest the RAAB in a Citroën C3 Rally2 on his debut in the car. Other contenders include Roberto Vellani (Skoda Fabia RS), Simone Brusori (Skoda), Giacomo Guglielmini (Renault Clio Rally3), and Lorenzo Grani (Peugeot 208 Rally4). Historic and classic cars will also compete. The classic category—reserved for vehicles built between 1991 and 2000—features Alessandro Bonafè in a Porsche Carrera RS and Ludovico Fassitelli, a prominent Italian rally driver from the 1990s, in a BMW M3. The route repeats the previous year's layout, featuring three stages—Valserena (6.33 km), Sparvo (7.0 km), and Traserra (7.37 km)—each run three times on Sunday. The Traserra is a historic RAAB stage, while Sparvo is known for a distinctive jump that provides one of the event's most spectacular moments. The rally is centred on Castiglione dei Pepoli, which hosts the start, service areas, and finish. Saturday's action begins at 18:01 with the opening stage, followed by an overnight halt. Sunday's nine remaining stages commence at 07:30, with the final results announced from 17:00 onwards in Piazza della Libertà.
Volkov and Barker Shine at Brands Hatch Time Attack Round 6
TA UK·9 September
Volkov and Barker Shine at Brands Hatch Time Attack Round 6
Round 6 of the 2026 Time Attack Championship returned to Brands Hatch Indy circuit for the Go Japan event, the penultimate round of the season. The day produced several standout performances, with Luke Sedzikowski reasserting his dominance in Pro after missing the previous round, while Ryan Barker secured his second consecutive victory in Club and claimed the Club 2WD lap record. Sedzikowski controlled the Pro category from warm-up through to the final Super Attack session in the Tegiwa Racing Honda NSX. His quickest lap came in Attack 2 with a time of 46.232, before recording 46.318 in Super Attack to take the win ahead of Andrew Gallacher (47.350) and Josh Barrett (47.464). In Club Pro, Aleksandr Volkov delivered a decisive performance in the final session, posting 48.694 to edge Dean Taylor (48.842) by 0.148 seconds and establish a new Club Pro lap record. Barker's Club victory came after a tightly contested day. Vincent Fan led through the early sessions in the Toyota GR Supra, setting a Club 2WD lap record of 50.779 in Attack 2. However, Barker produced his fastest lap when it mattered most, recording 50.655 in his K24-powered Renault Megane in Super Attack to take the win and reset the Club 2WD benchmark. Luke Capehorn finished second with 50.867, while Fan took third on 50.919, with just 0.264 seconds separating the top three. Dean Riley extended his perfect record in Classic & Retro to six wins from six rounds, driving the Mickeytoenes Racing Vauxhall VX220. Riley set three lap records across the day, culminating in a 50.813 in Super Attack. Gary Papworth matched Riley's achievement, securing his sixth consecutive Pocket Rocket Forced Induction victory with a 52.893 in the Norfolk Mini Racing Cooper S. In Pocket Rocket Naturally Aspirated, Luke Krassismenou claimed his second consecutive class win with 53.706 in the Honda Civic EP3, just 0.015 seconds ahead of Cameron Allflatt, after championship leader Michael Hume was sidelined by engine trouble. The 2026 Time Attack Championship concludes at Cadwell Park on 20 September for Round 7, where the season titles will be decided.