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From 12 to 14 June 2026, thousands of motorsport fans flocked to Germany’s longest and most modern hillclimb circuit to experience the fifth round of the FIA European Hillclimb Championship (EHC) up close. In changeable conditions that were extremely demanding for the drivers, the 135 drivers delivered top-class racing on the legendary, over 5-kilometre-long track up to the Rennsteig.
Category 2 (Racing Cars): Christian Merli remains the king of Glasbach
In the category for open racing cars and sports prototypes (Category 2), the reigning and multiple European champion secured an impressive victory. The close competition at the top of the prototype class produced some spectacular lap times.
The top three in the racing cars (Category 2): Merli underlined his exceptional status in European hillclimbing with a flawless performance and secured overall victory on the Thuringian tarmac.
- Christian Merli (Italy) – Nova Proto NP01
- Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta (Spain) – Nova Proto NP01
- Kevin Petit (France) – Nova Proto NP01
Category 1 (Touring Cars): Swiss driver Reto Meisel triumphs in the premier touring car class
An equally thrilling spectacle unfolded in the high-calibre field of closed-top cars (Category 1). Fans witnessed a spectacular battle between the touring car giants.
The top three finishers in the touring cars (Category 1):
- Reto Meisel (Switzerland) – Mercedes-Benz SLK 340 Judd
- Thomas Strasser (Austria) – VW Minichberger Corrado R Turbo
- Javier Villa García (Spain) – BRC 2056
Swiss veteran Reto Meisel celebrated a well-deserved overall touring car victory following a consistent and masterful driving performance.
The European Hillclimb Championship bids farewell to Germany and travels on to the next continental showdown: in two weeks’ time, the paddock will set up camp for the Coppa Paolino Teodori in Ascoli, Italy.
Ranking EHC Overall Glasbachrennen
At the fourth round of the 2026 FIA European Hillclimb Championship in Šternberk, Czech Republic, spectators were treated to a sporting case of déjà vu, but with the results reversed. Whilst Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta had triumphed ahead of Petr Trnka and Christian Merli in the previous European Championship round, the same three protagonists stood on the podium at the historic “Ecce Homo” hill climb – though this time in a different order.
In a thrilling battle, Italian Christian Merli secured overall victory. He was followed in second and third places by local hero Petr Trnka and Spaniard Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta.
Fans were also treated to spectacular motorsport in the closed-top Category 1 class. Here, Switzerland’s Reto Meisel celebrated a well deserved victory in his powerful Mercedes-Benz SLK 340. He relegated the Czech Dan Michl, who lined up in a Lotus Elise, and North Macedonian Igor Stefanovski in his visibly battered Ferrari to second and third places respectively.
Ranking EHC Overall Ecce Homo
The day’s victory in Braga, Portugal, went to the Spaniard Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta, who finished 0.26 seconds ahead of the Czech Petr Trinka and 0.32 seconds ahead of Christian Merli (ITA). Kevin Petit (FRA) and Alexander Hin (GER) followed in the remaining places in the sports car category. In the touring car category, the Swiss driver Reto Meisel won in his Mercedes SLK340, setting a new track record, ahead of the two Spaniards Javier VILLA Garcia and Jose Antonio Lopez Fombona.
FIA Overall Ranking Rampa del Falperra
In the second race of the 2026 EHC season – the Subida al Fito – which took place in the Spanish province of Asturias, Italian driver Christian Merli once again came out on top, securing overall victory ahead of Alexander Hin (GER) and local driver Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta, and thus also victory in the Prototype class. In the Category 1 production cars, Spaniard Javier Villa Garcia was unbeatable, finishing ahead of Switzerland’s Reto Meisel and Austria’s Kevin Raith.
FIA Ranking Overall Subida al Fito
Christian Merli (ITA) claimed victory in the overall standings at the season opener on the Rechberg in Austria. He finished ahead of last year’s winner Kevin Petit (FRA) and Petr Trnka (CZE). In the touring car category, Ronnie Bratschi (CZE) won the overall classification in commanding fashion, setting a new track record ahead of Austrian Niki Zlatkov and last year’s winner Reto Meisel (SUI).
Results EHC Overall Rechberg
2026 FIA approved
The following ten events are scheduled in the 2026 calendar and approved by the organisers:
| Date | Race Track | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 25 - 26 April 2026 | Hill Climb Rechberg | Austria |
| 09 - 10 May 2026 | Subida al Fito | Spain |
| 16 - 17 May 2026 | Rampa International da Falperra | Portugal |
| 06 - 07 June 2026 | Ecce Homo Sternberk | Czech Republic |
| 13 - 14 June 2026 | Internationales Glasbachrennen | Deutschland |
| 27 - 28 June 2026 | Coppa Paolini Teodori | Italy |
| 18 - 19 July 2026 | Hill Climb Limanowa | Poland |
| 15 - 16 August 2026 | Course de côte St. Ursanne - Les Rangiers | Switzerland |
| 29 - 30 August 2026 | GHD Ilirska Bistrica | Slovenia |
| 19 - 20 September 2026 | Buzetski Dani | Croatia |
The organiser reserves the right to modify unilaterally the calendar in case of necessity.