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GT Cup Series Endurance Challenge delivers three hours of racing at Slovakia Ring
The GT Cup Series successfully completed one of the highlights of the 2026 season during the FIA European Truck Racing Championship weekend at Slovakia Ring. Despite several teams being unable to attend the event due to conflicting commitments, 7 teams, 10 cars and 23 drivers ultimately lined up for a unique three-hour endurance challenge.
While the original entry list was expected to feature up to 18 cars, the quality of the field more than compensated for the reduced numbers. The paddock was buzzing throughout the weekend, with thousands of spectators filling the venue and enjoying a packed programme of international motorsport. Under clear blue skies and summer temperatures, the stage was perfectly set for an unforgettable endurance race.
Qualifying delivers a close battle
Friday’s qualifying session immediately demonstrated the competitiveness of the field. Danish driver Mads Kijelde Larsen, sharing the Duqueine D-08 prototype with Thomas Ambiel, secured pole position with an impressive lap time of 1:56.119.
What made the result even more interesting was the fact that the first four cars were separated by just seven tenths of a second.
Day turns into night during 3-hour endurance challenge
Unlike the regular one-hour endurance races that form the core of the GT Cup Series calendar, the Slovakia Ring event featured a special three-hour format. Teams therefore faced a much broader range of strategic decisions, including tyre management, driver changes, refuelling windows and adapting to changing track conditions.
The race started in bright afternoon sunshine and concluded under darkness, creating a unique challenge for many competitors who experienced such a transition for the first time. Consistency, patience and precise execution proved just as important as outright speed.
BMW battle captivates spectators
One of the defining stories of the beginning race unfolded at the front of the field between the two BMW entries of Gamota Racing and Racing Trevor.
The BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Gamota Racing, driven by Antal Zsigo, Moricz Kranz and David Jahn, engaged in a fight with the Racing Trevor BMW driven by Dennis Waszek for the 3rd place. Both teams pushed to establish control of the race.
After three demanding hours, it was Gamota Racing that emerged victorious, combining pace, consistency and flawless execution to secure overall victory.
Setbacks and recoveries
Endurance racing rarely unfolds without drama and the Slovakia Ring race was no exception.
The ARC Bratislava Ligier JS P320 of Miro Konopka and Mato Konopka suffered technical problems during the race, forcing the team into the pits for repairs. Despite losing valuable time, the experienced squad managed to solve the issue and return to the track, demonstrating the determination that has become synonymous with the Konopka name.
Meanwhile, Thomas Ambiel and Mads Kijelde Larsen looked set for a strong result before an unplanned visit into the gravel trap in one of the circuit’s most demanding technical sections. The incident cost the Duqueine crew second position and allowed the KTM X-BOW GTX of Viktor Mráz and Jaroslav Honzik to move ahead.
However, the Duqueine crew refused to give up. Ambiel and Larsen fought back and eventually reclaimed second position with an overtake later in the race.
A race with triple championship significance
The Slovakia Ring event carried exceptional importance within the regional motorsport landscape.
As a special three-hour endurance race, competitors scored double points in the GT Cup Series standings. In addition, the opening hour of the race counted towards the FIA Central European Zone Championship (FIA CEZ) and to their respective national championships, creating a unique opportunity for teams and drivers to score valuable points in multiple championships during a single event.
Final Results
The complete classification is available here: https://www.gtcupseries.com/slovakia-ring-2026-3h-endurance/
Overall winners: Gamota Racing / Antal Zsigo SVK), Moricz Kranz DEU), David Jahn (DEU) / BMW M4 GT3 EVO
Second place: ARC Bratislava / Thomas Ambiel (DEU), Mads K. Larsen (DNK) / Duqueine D-08
Third place: RTR Projects / Viktor Mráz (SVK), Jaroslav Honzik (CZE) / KTM X-BOW GTX
Race Archive: Race Stream (Youtube)
Summer break before the challenge of Most
Following the successful Slovakia Ring event, the GT Cup Series now enters its traditional summer break before returning to action in late summer at the famous Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic.
After the intensity of Slovakia Ring, competitors can now recharge before the championship battle resumes at the next stop on the calendar.