Reinhard Kofler triumphed with KTM, Petr Fulín enjoyed a victorious debut with Audi

Reinhard Kofler triumphed with KTM, Petr Fulín enjoyed a victorious debut with Audi

The opening sprint of the ESET Cup at Racing Journal SpeedFest was marked by an accident in the first chicane right after the start. Following the restart, Reinhard Kofler with his KTM GT2 took the lead and secured victory in the GTX category.

Miro Konopka started from the front row with a Ligier LMP3, alongside Reinhard Kofler with the KTM GT2. Kofler took the lead at the waving of the green flags, but a mass collision occurred in the first chicane. Dennis Waszek braked at the last moment and hit Kofler, followed by Antal Zsigo who crashed into Waszek at high speed.

Kofler returned to the track, but the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and BMW M4 GT3 cars remained damaged in the run-off area, leading to the retirements of Waszek and Zsigo. The race had to be stopped, and the rest of the field returned to the starting grid.

The race was restarted a few minutes later. Kofler remained in the lead, with his KTM adorned with black duct tape on the damaged bonnet. This temporary fix did not affect his pace. Petr Fulín started second with the Audi LMS GT3, followed by Adam Konopka in the Lamborghini Huracán and Miro Konopka in the Ligier LMP3.

The restart behind the safety car went smoothly, with drivers navigating the first corner without any battles. The order stabilized in the opening laps; Kofler led the GTX category and held first place overall. Petr Fulín led the GT3 category, with Josef Záruba leading GTC and Petr Brecka leading GTC1.

Miro Konopka pushed hard against leader Kofler and managed to take the overall lead three and a half minutes before the end. Konopka won the D5 category, while Kofler triumphed in GTX ahead of Adam Konopka in the Lamborghini Huracán and Antonín Herbeck in the Pagani Zonda. Petr Koukola finished fourth, followed by Gábor Tim and Roland Andraczek.

In the GT3 category, Petr Fulín won on his debut behind the wheel of the Audi LMS GT3. Second finished Martin Hudes with older generation Audi R8 LMS GT3.

Josef Záruba won the GTC category with the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, as his main rival, Dennis Waszek, retired due to the crash right after the start.

A fierce battle for victory in GTC1 occurred between leader Petr Brecka and Hubert Darmetek. With just three laps to go, they collided at the Orlen bend, leaving their Porsche 911s stranded off track. Bob Bau clinched the victory, followed by Andrew Kunitsa and Radim Adámek on the podium.

Rudolf Beňo won the GT4 category with a BMW M4 GT4, Pavel Sovička finished second on his debut with the Lotus Emira GT4, and Ivan Hrženjak took third with the Porsche Cayman GT4.

Race results