Club Racing — news

Faustini claims third consecutive Swiss hillclimb title at Oberhallau
HCF·1 September
Faustini claims third consecutive Swiss hillclimb title at Oberhallau
Robin Faustini secured his third consecutive Swiss hillclimb championship title with victory at the 2026 Bergrennen Oberhallau in canton Schaffhausen. Piloting his Nova NP 01-2 Honda Turbo, the defending champion delivered a commanding performance on the 3 km course in ideal weather conditions, though the event was marked by several incidents that forced organisers to cancel the third scheduled run. Only two races counted toward the final classification, meaning every mistake proved costly. Benjamin Noll of Germany finished second overall in his Osella FA30 Zytek LRM, also claiming victory in the 3-litre E2-SS formula class. Simon Hugentobler completed the overall podium in his Osella PA30 Zytek, taking second place in the 3-litre E2-SC sports prototype category. Bastian Voss secured fourth overall with his Tatuus Formula Master S2000 Honda, winning the 2-litre E2-SS class, while Roland Bossy rounded out the top five, finishing just 0.03 seconds behind in his Tatuus F3 T-318 Alpine and taking second in the 3-litre E2-SS category. Roger Schnellmann dominated the touring car category in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 Helftec, with Thomas Strasser of Tyrol second in a VW Minichberger Corrado R Turbo and Ludovic Monnier third in a VW Golf 2 R1170T 4×4. Several drivers encountered misfortune: Marco Lorig and Jürgen Frommknecht both had their times deleted due to excessive rear wing heights, while Michel Zemp retired with a damaged air box and multiple-time Swiss champion Marcel Steiner suffered crankshaft failure in his Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo. Other notable results included Jean-Jacques Maitre winning the 2-litre E2-SC sports prototype class in his Nova NP 01-2 C Honda, Ursanne Salomon taking second in the 2-litre E2-SS formula class with his Dallara F305-07 Mercedes, and Peter Amann securing second in the 2-litre E2-SC category in his Osella PA30/2000 Evo Honda. In the touring car field, Bernhard Permetinger won the E1 over-4-litre class in his BMW Z4 GT3, while Patrick Orth finished sixth overall in a Porsche 997.2 GT3 Cup, missing second place in the E1 over-4-litre class by just 0.4 seconds.
Monte Erice hillclimb sets historic entry record for 2026
ilT·1 September
Monte Erice hillclimb sets historic entry record for 2026
The 2026 edition of the Monte Erice hillclimb has attracted 260 registered competitors, underscoring the enduring appeal of the event organised by the Automobile Club Trapani. The entry list comprises 153 modern cars and 107 historic vehicles, with the latter figure marking a milestone: the first time the historic category has exceeded 100 entries, surpassing the previous record of 97 competitors. The Monte Erice event counts towards three Italian national championships: the Italian Historic Car Speed Hillclimb Championship (CIVSA), the Italian Mountain Speed Championship (CIVM), and the Italian Classic Car Speed Hillclimb Championship (CIVSAC). The 5.7-kilometre course climbs 410 metres from the base to the summit at Erice, demanding precision and advanced driving technique through every corner. Automobile Club Trapani president Giovanni Pellegrino commented on the milestone: "We are proud of these extraordinary numbers, which reward the teamwork and commitment of the Automobile Club Trapani. Breaking the 100-entry barrier for historic vehicles and reaching a total of 260 participants is an achievement that reflects the dedication of our team and demonstrates how deeply Monte Erice resonates with drivers across Italy. This record is more than a statistic—it is tangible proof that our event remains a benchmark in Italian motorsport. We thank all the drivers, mechanics and others who make this spectacle possible."
Hołowczyc claims record 11th Baja Poland victory
RandR·30 August
Hołowczyc claims record 11th Baja Poland victory
Krzysztof Hołowczyc and Łukasz Kurzeja won the 18th edition of AKPOL Baja Poland, extending the Polish driver's record tally in the event to eleven victories. Competing in an X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i, the crew dominated the special stages around Szczecin and Drawski Polygon to secure first place ahead of Michał and Julita Małuszyńscy in a Toyota Hilux EVO, with Adam Kuś and Maciej Giemza rounding out the podium in a Taurus EVO MAX. The 2024 edition served as the fourth round of the FIA Baja Europe Cup, the sixth round of the FIA Central Europe Zone Championship, the fifth round of the Polish Cross Country Rally Championship, and the third round of the Czech championship. A total of 194 competitors from 13 nations started the event, with 81 vehicles and 150 drivers reaching the finish. The FIA Baja Europe Cup round covered 646.23 kilometres, including five special stages totalling 366.60 kilometres. Kuś and Giemza won Friday's prologue in Szczecin, completing the 8.85-kilometre stage in 7:23.2, with Hołowczyc and Kurzeja 2.3 seconds adrift. However, the prologue determined starting order rather than contributing to the overall classification. Saturday's three special stages on Drawski Polygon proved decisive, covering 314.44 kilometres combined. Despite a wheel change that cost approximately three minutes, Hołowczyc moved into the lead by the second pass through the polygon, winning that stage by over four minutes and never relinquishing top spot. He won four of the five special stages overall and finished with a margin of 6:36.1 over the Małuszyńskis, with Kuś and Giemza a further 7:27.7 back. In the Polish Cross Country Rally Championship, the podium remained unchanged, with Hołowczyc and Kurzeja also topping the FIA Central Europe Zone Championship and Czech championship classifications. Benediktas Vanagas and Aisvydas Paliukenas finished fourth overall and were the highest-classified regular FIA Baja Europe Cup participants, though their Toyota caught fire immediately after the final stage due to a hydraulic line failure near the exhaust; the crew extinguished the blaze and saved the vehicle. In the motorcycle category, Kamil Piątek overcame a 54.2-second deficit to Marcin Talaga on Sunday's final stage, ultimately winning by 1:36.2.
iRacing announces major career mode included in standard subscription
RandR·30 August
iRacing announces major career mode included in standard subscription
iRacing is preparing its largest single-player feature overhaul to date, with developers revealing details of a long-awaited career mode designed to compete directly with Assetto Corsa and the Gran Turismo series. The centrepiece of the announcement is how content access will be handled: the entire library of cars and tracks available in iRacing will be usable within career mode without requiring separate purchases. Greg Hill, senior vice president and executive producer at iRacing, confirmed that the career mode will be included as part of the standard subscription at no additional cost. Players will gain access to the specific cars and tracks needed at each career stage, even if those items are not owned on their main account. The career progression system will guide drivers from grassroots motorsport through to top-tier categories, with stronger vehicles, tougher AI opponents, longer races, and new championships unlocking as players advance. However, the content model differs from traditional unlocking mechanics. Cars and tracks provided during a career stage will only remain available for that specific phase; once a career stage concludes, access to those items expires unless the player has purchased them separately. Crucially, vehicles and circuits accessed through career mode cannot be transferred to standard online racing. This approach addresses a significant concern for players considering a paid simulator: progression through the developer-designed career path requires no additional spending. The feature set at launch will include seven career types and adjustable difficulty levels, with the option to retry specific objectives. Multiple attempts will negatively impact the career classification score relative to other players. Hill noted that sponsor management, driver-owner mechanics, and team budget systems will not be available at launch, but iRacing intends to expand the career mode post-release with additional career types and features. While the career mode is technically complete, no specific release date has been announced. If delivered as described, the feature could substantially reshape iRacing's market position, transforming it from primarily a competitive online platform into a viable alternative for players seeking a traditional single-player career experience.
44th Coppa Sila hillclimb set for decisive single run
ilT·29 August
44th Coppa Sila hillclimb set for decisive single run
The 44th Coppa Sila hillclimb, organised by the Automobile Club Cosenza, enters its decisive phase with the race scheduled for Sunday, 30 August at 10:00. Competitors will tackle the demanding 9.5-kilometre Silan course in a single timed ascent, with no opportunity for a second attempt. Two reconnaissance runs on Saturday allowed drivers and teams to study the selective Calabrian track and refine their setups ahead of the main event. Low grip conditions during the morning sessions made interpretation of the course particularly challenging, placing emphasis on driving precision, chassis setup and the ability to find the optimal pace quickly. Samuele Cassibba set the day's fastest time of 5'05.16 in the second reconnaissance run, piloting a Nova Proto V8 3000. Francesco Leogrande followed closely in an Osella PA, drawing on his familiarity with the track's most treacherous sections, including the dramatic forest straight. Ettore Bassi in a Nova Proto NP 03 described the course as one of Italy's most selective challenges. The event forms the 12th round of the Italian Mountain Speed Championship South and carries the Domenico Scola Trophy. Competition spans multiple categories: Gabry Driver impressed in the GT class aboard a Ferrari 458, while Antonio Aquila showed strong pace in the Racing Start group in a Seat Leon. Domenico Tomaselli (Peugeot 106 R, E1 class), Felice Romano (Osella PA21, CN group) and Adolfo Eusebio (Audi SR3, TCR) also featured among the standout performers. The Italian Two-Cylinder Championship will see Angelo Mercuri and Mirko Paletta, both in Fiat 500s, competing for honours, while historic cars included Ciro Barbaccia in an Osella PA9 and Luigi Perrotta in a Citroën Saxo. Race start is at 10:00 on Sunday. Prize presentations will take place in the closed park 30 minutes after the final competitor in each class crosses the finish line.
Grygo and Kupiec win Polish Rally Legend after tight battle
RandR·29 August
Grygo and Kupiec win Polish Rally Legend after tight battle
The third edition of the Polish Rally Legend concluded with a single-day competitive format on Saturday, featuring nine special stages divided into three loops across 50 kilometres of racing. Following a parade section on Friday, crews tackled three stages repeatedly: the 5.1-kilometre Polanica Zdrój, the 5.4-kilometre Spalona, and the 6.3-kilometre Duszniki-Zieleniec test. Guest entries Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak in a Citroën C3 WRC set the fastest times across all stages, finishing over a minute ahead of Adam Sroka and Rafał Piotrowski in a Škoda Fabia, but the main competition among registered participants proved far more competitive. Initially, Miklós Kazár and Tamas Begala in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX led the field, building a 20-second advantage by the Duszniki-Zieleniec stage. However, a 30-second penalty for arriving late at a service point shifted momentum. Patrycjusz Grygo and Mariusz Kupiec in a Subaru Impreza WRX STI capitalised on the setback, moving to the front and ultimately securing victory by 5.7 seconds over Kazár and Begala. Bartosz Pawarski and Kamil Kuklewski in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX completed the podium, 10 seconds further back. Grygo's win marked a significant return to rally competition after a nearly two-year absence. In class results, Tomasz Czopik and Małgorzata Kosińska won the C5 4×4 category in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V, while Michał Streer and Jakub Wróbel took the K1 class in a Renault Clio. A total of 72 crews were classified at the finish.