Blog
The TCR Eastern Europe season is approaching its halfway point, and three drivers have emerged as front-runners in the championship standings. The first four races have made one thing clear: the rest of the season will likely revolve around this trio.
The series recently wrapped up back-to-back Austrian weekends at the Red Bull Ring and Salzburgring, two circuits that couldn’t be more different, yet both share an unmistakable charm. The Red Bull Ring, with its ultra-modern facilities and generous run-off areas, is a staple of top-tier motorsport, hosting events like Formula 1 and MotoGP. Salzburgring, on the other hand, is a true old-school challenge. It’s a high-speed track where every mistake can have serious consequences, either a trip into the gravel or a heavy hit with the barriers. We saw plenty of both near Salzburg.
But now, the championship shifts to next familiar territory: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Next up are races at Most, Slovakia Ring, Brno, and the season finale at Balaton Park in Hungary.
Heading into this phase, Adam Kout from Hyundai Janík Motorsport remains the man to beat. He entered the season as the title favorite and so far, he’s living up to the billing, currently leading the standings. But Martin Kadlečík is hot on his heels. The Aditis Racing driver scored a win and a third place at Salzburgring, narrowing the gap to just five points. Not far behind is Kadlečík’s teammate Bartosz Groszek, who has been remarkably consistent with three second-place finishes and trails by only six points.
Kout, Kadlečík and Groszek are steadily pulling away from the rest of the field, but that doesn’t mean the victories have been theirs alone. Far from it. Italian driver Giacomo Ghermandi finally climbed to the top step of the podium at the Red Bull Ring and looked poised to repeat the feat at Salzburgring. But a penalty in Race 1 and a driver error in Race 2 derailed his weekend and cost him valuable points.
Currently fourth in the standings, Ghermandi (MM Motorsport) is in a tight mid-pack fight with Ivars Vallers (LV Racing), Žarko Knego (Auto Klub Dubrovnik), and Jiří Zbožínek (Hyundai Janík Motorsport), all separated by just 11 points. With several races still to go, that’s a razor-thin margin. Any slip-up by the top three Kout, Kadlečík and Groszek could open the door for this chasing pack, and they’re clearly ready to pounce. Sunday races, with reversed-grid starting orders, offer another wildcard. These sessions are not only unpredictable but also a visual treat for the fans, full of action, drama and unexpected twists.
Petr Čížek (Expres Auto Racing), currently eighth in the standings, trails Zbožínek by 14 points—a gap that doesn’t reflect his true pace, but rather a run of bad luck at Salzburgring. Čížek traditionally shines at his home circuit in Most, which happens to be the next stop on the calendar. There, he’ll be joined by teammate Vít Smejkal, who returns to the series after a break and is highly motivated to perform in front of a home crowd.
With all that in mind, there’s plenty to look forward to in the remainder of the season.
