Club Racing — news

TCR Italy restructured for 2027 with five-round calendar
ilT·20 September
TCR Italy restructured for 2027 with five-round calendar
WSC and ACI Sport have announced a strengthened partnership for the TCR Italy Championship beginning in 2027. The Italian series will continue to operate within the ACI Racing Weekend framework, but with a revised structure featuring a five-round calendar—a decision informed by feedback from the majority of competing teams. The new format aims to consolidate the national championship while creating space for competitors to participate in other TCR events across Europe. WSC will maintain a direct presence at all championship rounds through a dedicated Championship Coordinator, a role designed to strengthen operational and sporting links between the TCR concept promoter and the Italian series. TCR Italy remains one of the longest-running championships under the TCR regulations, having adopted the format since its inception in 2015, and continues to serve as a key platform for drivers, teams and manufacturers competing with production-based vehicles. International pathway opportunities begin in 2026. WSC will award prizes to top performers in the 2026 TCR Italy season, creating a direct connection to the 2027 international landscape. The 2026 Italian champion will receive entry and tyre supply to compete in the Italian round of the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour 2027. Additionally, the driver who best embodies the TCR spirit during 2026 and the Under 25 class winner will receive entry and tyres for the Italian round of the TCR Europe Championship 2027. WSC president Marcello Lotti described TCR Italy as "one of the most precious jewels in the TCR crown" and thanked ACI Sport general director Mario Isola and the new management for their collaborative effort. Isola emphasised the importance of building a stronger structure while listening to teams and drivers, and highlighted the series' identity through its connection to production-based vehicles available in dealerships. The 2027 calendar comprises five rounds across Italian circuits: Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli (7–9 May and 6–8 August), Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi (25–27 June), Mugello Circuit (23–25 July), and Autodromo Nazionale Monza (15–17 October). The compact schedule is intended to improve sustainability for teams and drivers while maintaining opportunities for participation in other European TCR competitions.
Wira claims GT3 victory in Polish championship penultimate round
RandR·20 September
Wira claims GT3 victory in Polish championship penultimate round
Piotr Wira secured victory in the opening race of the final day of the 2026 Polish Automobile Racing Championship season at Poznań circuit, finishing ahead of Przemysław Bieńkowski. The result marked Wira's first outing of the year at the venue and his debut behind the wheel of an Aston Martin Vantage GT3. Wira claimed pole position after championship leader Tomasz Dyszkiewicz was unable to start, his prototype having been damaged in a Saturday endurance championship race. Bieńkowski, piloting a Mercedes-AMG GT3, applied consistent pressure throughout the opening laps, maintaining a gap of less than one car length. However, Wira managed the lead effectively, and the margin gradually increased over the second half of the race, eventually crossing the line with a winning margin of just over 3.5 seconds after 12 laps. In the 992 Cup class, Maciej Bernacik recovered from a pit-lane incident that dropped him to the rear of the field to claim victory, regaining the lead within four laps and finishing more than half a minute clear of Amuno Pelette and Artur Pazewski. Jacek Zielonka secured his second consecutive prototype victory in a Radical SR3, while Paweł Kiepura won the GT4 category in a Porsche Cayman and Paweł Gwidon Wydrzyński topped the 3.5-litre class in a Honda Civic. The two-litre category race took place on a wet track and was largely run behind the safety car following an incident involving Katarzyna Balawejder and Sven Karuse. Przemysław Wrona claimed the win ahead of Krzysztof Bogusz and Zbigniew Łazar, with Maciej Zawadzki victorious in the 1.6-litre division. In the National 6 class, Filip Nowicki won decisively, while Jakub Święch edged Alan Pytlak by just over half a second in the RN2 category. One race remains on the 2026 calendar.
Bieńkowski and Lisowski clinch Polish Endurance title at Poznań
RandR·19 September
Bieńkowski and Lisowski clinch Polish Endurance title at Poznań
Przemysław Bieńkowski and Mateusz Lisowski secured the individual championship in Poland's 2026 Endurance Championship with victory in the season finale at Tor Poznań. The pair's win marked their third triumph of the season and ended a two-race winning streak by their title rivals. Bieńkowski started from pole position and initially held the lead against championship contender Filip Sterczewski, but the Ligier LMP3 driver moved ahead on the second lap and began to build an advantage of a full lap before handing over to Maciej Marcinkiewicz at the first pit stop. Both Sterczewski and Bieńkowski pitted during a safety car period triggered by a collision involving Konrad Miler, whose prototype ended up in the gravel. A faster driver change by the PTT team allowed Lisowski to rejoin on the lead lap, and he capitalised on another safety car deployment early in the second hour following an accident involving Jacek Zielonka in an LMP3. When racing resumed, Lisowski trailed Marcinkiewicz by just 18 seconds. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 driver steadily closed the gap through consistent lap times and overtook Marcinkiewicz with 19 minutes remaining, holding the lead to the chequered flag. Fabian Dybionka and Igor Klaja finished third overall and claimed the 992 Cup class title. Further class victories went to Jerzy Kufel and Rafał Rulski (up to 3.5 litres), Przemysław Silski and Zbigniew Kaźmierczak (up to 2 litres), Szymon Nowak and Michał Całek (325i Cup), Tomasz Urbański and Damian Lempart (BULL RUSH Super S Cup), Jan Kurowski and Tomasz Strozik (RN2), and Maksym and Michał Guranowscy (R-Sport Cup). Marek Zmysłowski and Michał Ratajczyk won the GT4 class in an Audi R8 LMS.