This coming weekend, 25–26 April 2026, marks the start of the new European Hillclimb Championship season. Over 250 competitors from 18 nations have registered for this event (https://www.rechbergrennen.co.at/).

Among the favourites in the racing car category are certainly last year’s winners, such as Christian Merli and Kevin Petit, but also the Spaniard Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta. With their new cars, the Czech Petr Trnka and the German Alexander Hin are among the wider circle of favourites, as is the fastest Austrian, Christoph Lampert. The comparison between the two experienced Italians, Fausto Bormolini and O’Play, should also prove interesting, as both are competing in completely new types of car.

In the touring car category, familiar faces such as the Czechs Dan Michl and Ronnie Bratschi are likely to be right up there with the front-runners, as is the Pole Grzegorz Rozalski. One must always keep an eye on former EHC winner Igor Stefanovski from Macedonia. The Swiss driver Reto Meisel will not be competing in all the EHC races, but he is sure to demonstrate his speed on this occasion.

We wish all participants – including, of course, those not specifically mentioned here – a successful start to the new season and accident-free racing!