Club Racing — news

Salvatore Tortora has secured a standout 2026 campaign, clinching two major Italian hillclimb championships in a single season. The driver from Cava de' Tirreni won both the RS CUP group title in the Italian Hillclimb Championship and the CIVM NORD series, bringing his career tally of Italian national championships to three. Competing in a Peugeot 308, Tortora maintained consistent pace throughout an intensive season to deliver what he described as a prestigious double. The achievements cap a year built on steady progression and reliability across the calendar. This marks his third Italian title overall, following two previous championships in the TCR group. Tortora credited his success to the collective effort of his team, naming Scuderia Ateneo for support, AC Racing (Francesco and Maurizio Abate) for car preparation, Tecno Suspension (Ferdinando Capaldo) for technical work, and Gabibbo Motorsport (Nunzio Lorenza) for ongoing collaboration. He also highlighted Imperial Racing Division as instrumental to the results, alongside backing from family and friends throughout the season. The double title reinforces Tortora's standing among Italy's leading hillclimb competitors as the 2026 season concludes.

The 43rd Coppa del Chianti Classico hillclimb will take place 18–20 September in Tuscany, featuring a competitive entry of 132 drivers across historic and modern categories. The event, organised by Targa Racing Club with support from Siena Racing Driver and the Automobile Club Siena, counts as the eighth and penultimate round of the Italian Historic Hillclimb Championship and will run over the Chiantigiana 222 route, a technically demanding stretch through the Chianti Classico region. The field comprises 113 historic cars and 19 modern vehicles, distributed across five groupings. The largest contingent is Group 4, with 38 entries, which will include championship leader and event organiser Salvatore Riolo alongside notable drivers such as Denny Zardo (Giada T118) and Piero Lottini (Osella PA 9/90). The National Sports category will feature several Lucchini prototypes and an Osella PA 10 piloted by Angela Grasso. Group 3 will showcase classic sports and touring cars, led by Giuliano Peroni (Osella PA 8/9), while Group 2 combines sports prototypes and touring machinery, including Salvatore Mannino (Dallara SP 20) and category leader Fosco Zambelli (Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAm). Group 1 highlights include Angelo De Angelis (Lola T212), Tiberio Nocentini (Chevron B19), and Georg Prugger with his Lea Francis Sport Hyper. The Classics category features three Osella PA 20s: one driven by historic hillclimb protagonist Giovanni Cassibba, another by Stefano Peroni, and a third by young Sienese driver Mirko Torsellini, fresh from victory at the Trento Bondone. Practice and technical scrutineering begin Friday 18 September, with two reconnaissance runs scheduled for Saturday 19 September. Official timed runs take place Sunday 20 September.

Gaetani Racing is preparing two entries for the Pedavena Croce D'Aune hillclimb, a round of the Italian Speed Mountain Championship (CIVM) taking place near the team's base in Altivole, Veneto. The event counts as the final northern CIVM round and also features in the IRS Cup. Rosario Iaquinta, a driver from Calabria, will return to the wheel of a Ferrari 458 Challenge Evo following a successful debut at Gubbio. He will tackle the approximately 4.4-kilometre course from Pedavena to Croce D'Aune pass in the GT category. Teammate Fabrizio Vettorel, based in Pedavena, will make his official debut in the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo, the twin-turbocharged machine fielded by Gaetani Racing. Vettorel will also compete in the GT class. Technical and sporting checks begin Friday 18 September. Two reconnaissance runs are scheduled for Saturday 19 September from 09:00, with official timed runs taking place on Sunday 20 September, also starting at 09:00.

Michele Mancin will return to competitive action this weekend after more than a month away from his Citroën Saxo Group A, with the Pedavena–Croce d'Aune hillclimb holding particular significance for his 2026 campaign. The event, scheduled for 19–20 September, represents a critical juncture for the Rivà-based driver, who competes under the Gaetani Racing banner. Mancin currently sits third in the Group A-S standings of the Italian Mountain Speed Championship (northern zone) and third in the Group A-S1600 class of the International Race Salita (IRS Cup), with both championships still offering opportunities for a strong finish. The driver acknowledged a difficult period marked by significant technical changes that have complicated his season, though he remains determined to fight for a competitive result in both series. The 4.5-kilometre Pedavena course holds personal significance for Mancin, who secured a double title—CIVM and TIVM—at the same venue in 2013. He finished third in the GT category at last year's edition. The hillclimb will feature two practice runs on Saturday, with two timed runs scheduled for Sunday. The course begins on Via Trento in Pedavena and finishes at Pian d'Avena along provincial road 473. Mancin expressed cautious optimism about his technical preparation while emphasising the need for everything to function perfectly if he is to achieve a prestigious result. He indicated that the coming practice sessions will be crucial in confirming whether all systems are operating as intended.

Xmotors Team will field two local drivers at the Pedavena–Croce d'Aune hillclimb this weekend, competing in what serves as the penultimate round of the Italian Mountain Speed Championship (northern zone) and the International Race Salita (IRS Cup). Alex D'Agostini, based in Pedavena, will drive a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo run by Motor Team. The driver has competed in every edition of the event since 2011 and lives just one kilometre from the start line. "It doesn't get more of a home race than this," D'Agostini said. "I'll be using the weekend as preparation for my rally commitments in 2026, and I'm grateful to all my partners and the Motor Team crew for their support." His rival and fellow Belluno-based driver Matteo Magrin, from Limana, will pilot an identical Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, also prepared by Motor Team. Magrin described the event as a tradition and an opportunity to regain confidence with the car ahead of future rally campaigns. "It's an open challenge with D'Agostini," he noted. The hillclimb takes place on 19–20 September, with two practice runs on Saturday and two timed runs on Sunday. The course measures just under 4.5 kilometres, starting from Via Trento in Pedavena and finishing at Pian d'Avena along provincial road 473.

STEAM Racing Future, a new educational initiative from Racing Future—an organisation already running a karting school and supporting young motorsport talent in Poland—has begun operations. Co-created by Marcin Budkowski, the programme aims to demonstrate to children and teenagers that mathematics, physics and engineering extend far beyond classroom theory and can lead directly to the racetrack. The course targets participants aged 10 to 16. Sessions began on 26 September and continue every Saturday for 35 weeks, with enrolment still open. The programme is available in three formats: fully online, in-person at Tor Modlin circuit, or hybrid. Bridging theory and practice The STEAM Racing Future curriculum uses motorsport as an engaging context to develop problem-solving, creativity and engineering thinking. Rather than treating mathematics and physics as abstract concepts, participants apply them directly—calculating go-kart dimensions, understanding vehicle dynamics and making informed decisions on track. The seven-module structure guides learners through go-kart construction step by step, exploring how design choices affect on-track behaviour. Mathematics covers measurement and comparison; physics addresses motion, forces and braking; engineering bridges concept to working solution; and art develops design sensitivity. Instruction is delivered by a mathematics and physics teacher who contextualises theory within the project, supported by video content featuring Budkowski, an experienced Formula 1 engineer and manager. His contributions offer insight into how motorsport success depends on specialists across design, data analysis, technology, mechanics, strategy and continuous refinement—demonstrating that racing involves far more than driving. Learning through iteration The STEAM methodology encourages learners to combine knowledge across disciplines, seek solutions independently and learn from experience. Participants observe, design, build, test and refine—treating mistakes as information rather than failure. This approach mirrors established international motorsport education programmes such as STEM Racing and Britain's STEM On Track, which emphasise problem-solving, communication, collaboration and resilience alongside technical content.

The Brescia-based team AC Racing Technology concluded the Italian hillclimb season with a dominant showing at the 71st Coppa Nissena on 12–13 September in Sicily, securing four national championship titles across different categories. Salvatore Tortora clinched the Italian Racing Start Cup championship in the top RS category, driving a Peugeot 308 for Imperial Racing Division. The Salerno driver completed a flawless season, with a standout performance at Gubbio in the penultimate round. In the GT category, Piero Nappi won the Super Cup Third Division title aboard a Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, while Sebastiano Frijo claimed the Super Cup Second Division crown in a Lamborghini Huracán. The team's success extended beyond the headline winners. Giovanni Angelini had already secured the RS Plus title at Gubbio, bringing the total to four championships. At Coppa Nissena, Angelo Loconte and Giovanni Loffredo both defended third-place finishes in the RSTB categories, each driving a Mini Cooper JCW. In the TCR class, Antonio Scorza narrowly missed victory, finishing second by less than one second. AC Racing Technology fielded five cars across the Sicilian event, spanning the Racing Start Turbo and RSTB2.0 classes alongside the championship-winning entries.

Simone Faggioli secured his 20th Italian national hillclimb championship title at the 71st Coppa Nissena on Sicily, held at the 5km Caltanissetta circuit. The Italian driver, piloting a Nova NP 01-2 C Judd, delivered an impressive performance in challenging conditions to claim overall victory. The event was marked by a serious accident during the first run that forced a two-hour interruption; the second run was subsequently cancelled due to incoming rain. Faggioli also set a new track record at Caltanissetta, becoming the first driver to break the two-minute barrier on the high-speed course. Stefano di Fulvio finished second overall in his Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo, securing vice-champion status in the Supersalita championship in his first attempt at the demanding circuit. Samuele Cassibba completed the podium in third place, driving a Nova NP 01-2 C Judd and claiming victory in the E2-SC sportprototype class. In the touring car category, Giuseppe Aragona won overall in his VW Golf MK.7 Proto, also setting a new E1 class record. Manuel Dondi finished second in an Alfa Romeo-powered Fiat X1/9, establishing a new E2-SH class record, while Kadija Mourtaji took third place in a Ferrari 296 Challenge on her debut in the car. Mourtaji was involved in a significant accident at the finish line during the first run but escaped with minor injuries; trackside officials were also slightly hurt in the incident. Other notable finishers included Mirko Torsellini in fourth overall (Norma M20FC Zytek, 0.17 seconds behind third), Achille Lombardi fifth (Osella PA30 Judd), and Luigi Fazzino sixth (Osella PA30 Zytek Evo, 0.31 seconds from fifth). Technical retirements affected potential contenders Francesco Conticelli and Michele Puglisi, both Sicilian drivers who had shown strong pace in practice.

The 2026 Clio Cup Bohemia season reached a critical phase at Brno Autodrom, where Polish driver Oskar Marszałkowski of JTS Racing Team scored eight points across the penultimate round. His performance in the second race proved particularly impressive, as he climbed from 16th on the grid to finish sixth—a gain of ten positions. Marszałkowski's weekend began with challenging conditions during Saturday's qualifying session, held in wet weather. The 18-year-old, who celebrated his birthday before the Czech round, initially showed strong pace on the slippery surface and ran near the top ten for JTS Racing Team. However, a red flag caused by a rival's accident cut short his final qualifying attempt. With only one lap remaining and 29 cars on track simultaneously, changeable conditions and heavy traffic worked against him; he was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and qualified 18th. The first race offered little opportunity to demonstrate his pace. Real racing lasted only two and a half laps before the safety car deployed, and a serious accident shortly after the restart brought out the red flag again. Marszałkowski managed one overtake and lined up 16th for the second start. Race two told a different story. Marszałkowski made an excellent start and gained five positions on the opening lap alone, breaking into the points-scoring top ten by lap two. He continued climbing the order consistently thereafter. However, another incident approximately five minutes from the finish brought out the safety car again, neutralising the field to the chequered flag and preventing further attacks. He crossed the line sixth, securing eight points and maintaining sixth place in the championship standings ahead of the season finale. "I'm genuinely proud of my performance in the second race," Marszałkowski said. "Starting from a distant position, I had good pace from the beginning and managed to gain a lot of ground. Five positions on the first lap gave me an excellent foundation, and then I could focus on further attacks. It's a shame about the neutralisation at the end, because I felt we still had a chance to fight for a higher position. Sixth place after starting 17th is definitely a result I can be proud of." The Clio Cup Bohemia season concludes in Budapest on the final weekend of October. Marszałkowski's next outing comes much sooner, however—this week at Spa-Francorchamps, where he will join the Clio Cup Series grid in his first appearance for JTS Racing Team in the European cup. He plans two Clio Cup Series starts this year: after Belgium, he will compete in the November round at Portimão.

Salvatore Tortora has secured a strong finish to the 2026 season, winning both the RS Cup class in the Italian Hillclimb Championship (Campionato Italiano Supersalita) and the CIVM Nord series. The driver from Cava de' Tirreni has now claimed three Italian national titles across his career, adding to two previous championship victories in the same class.

Ferrari has unveiled the 296 GT Modificata, a track-focused machine developed without the constraints of racing regulations, during Ferrari Racing Days at the Hungaroring in Budapest. Built on experience gained from the 296 GT3 Evo, the new model will be produced in strictly limited numbers and offered exclusively to clients in Ferrari's Club Competizioni GT programme. The 296 GT Modificata carries forward Ferrari's "Modificata" naming convention, which denotes specially engineered versions of existing models where performance takes absolute priority. The mid-mounted, turbocharged 2992 cc V6 engine—shared architecture with the 296 GT3 Evo but extensively modified—produces 730 hp at 7500 rpm and 800 Nm of torque at 5000 rpm, representing a 130 hp increase over the GT3 Evo unit. Power is transmitted via a six-speed sequential gearbox with a carbon clutch, with new ratios calibrated for track driving. Aerodynamic enhancements include a redesigned front splitter for improved airflow and downforce, a new bonnet with enlarged primary intake and refined hot-air extraction, and a completely reworked rear wing featuring a single central support, a 5 mm Gurney flap, and endplate designs inspired by the Ferrari 499P. Ferrari claims these modifications deliver approximately three seconds per lap improvement over the 296 GT3 Evo at Fiorano, partly because the Modificata operates free from Balance of Performance restrictions. Unlike single-seat track cars, the 296 GT Modificata seats two occupants, allowing owners to share driving duties with a passenger or instructor. Standard equipment includes data acquisition systems with additional sensors, onboard cameras, tyre pressure and temperature monitoring, professional safety harnesses, and enhanced cabin cooling. The car weighs 1330 kg (dry), measures 5033 mm long, 2230 mm wide (with mirrors), and 1082 mm tall, and features upgraded ventilated steel brake discs. Purchase of the 296 GT Modificata includes two years of participation in Club Competizioni GT, comprising 12 rounds across 2027 venues: Jerez de la Frontera, Misano, Fuji, Indianapolis, Paul Ricard, Spa-Francorchamps, and the Finali Mondiali finale. The model extends Ferrari's family of client-focused cars drawing on motorsport technology, following the 488 GT Modificata and 499P Modificata.

Patrik Zajelsnik secured overall victory at the 57th Bergrennen Eichenbühl hillclimb in challenging conditions, piloting his Nova NP 01-2 Honda Turbo to a commanding performance on the 3km-plus Unterfranken course. The German-Slovenian driver's spectacular pace impressed spectators throughout the weekend and delivered him another significant triumph of the season. Weather played a decisive role in the event's character. The day began under clear skies but a rain shower arrived before the sports car field took to the track, creating treacherous conditions for early runners. After several incidents and stoppages, organisers limited the meeting to two timed runs. The track gradually dried during the second run, allowing later competitors to tackle ideal asphalt. Despite the disruptions, strong crowds lined the circuit and witnessed high-calibre hillclimb racing. Thomas Strasser of Tyrol claimed second overall and dominated the touring car category in his VW Minichberger Corrado R Turbo, delivering a commanding display that earned him one of his career-best hillclimb results. Third overall went to Benjamin Noll (Germany), who impressed in his Osella FA30 Zytek LRM, also taking the E2-SS 3000cc class win. Charles Valentiny (Luxembourg) finished fourth in his Subaru Impreza WRX STI, while Mikko Kataja (Finland) rounded the top five in his Toyota Starlet V8 Hayabusa, just 0.18 seconds behind after two runs. In the E2-SS 2000cc formula class, Marco Lorig (Germany) won decisively in his Tatuus Formel Master S2000 Honda, with Bastian Voss second in an identical car and Patrick Rahn third in a Wolf GB08F1 Mistral PSA Turbo. The E2-SC 2000cc category saw Michael Bodenmüller triumph in his Norma M20FC Honda LRM, ahead of Peter Amann (Austria) in an Osella PA30/2000 Evo Honda and Dino Gebhard (Germany) in a Norma M20F Honda.