The opening at Sachsenring wrote a script that wasn't drawn in advance: two races, two winners, and a man at the top of the standings who hasn't won once. With those stakes, we head into round number two.
Šantić leads, the hunters are already breathing down his neck
In the first race at Sachsenring, Renato Simić drove like on a string: pole position with a time of 1:24.4, leading from start to finish, and the first trophy of the season. The second race, driven on a reverse starting grid, was marked by the powerback of Zvonimir Kranjčec, who, after a turbulent first race, fought through the entire field, set the fastest lap, and drove to a sovereign victory.
But the biggest winner of the evening was the one without a victory. Adrian Šantić enters the championship lead with two second places and immediately establishes himself as the top candidate for the title. Behind him lurks a dense group of fast drivers, and given the equal performance of Audis and Cupra and the reverse-grid format that mixes things up in the second race, the advantage at the top is anything but secure.
It's worth noting that the Elantra has already been on the podium. Dubravko Bumbar fought for third place in the second race, all alone against the fleet of Audis, while Marin Fabijanić led the first three laps with his Hyundai. The question is whether the underdog story will repeat itself on a completely different track.
Zolder: a Belgian classic without mercy
Sachsenring was short, rhythmic, and technical. Zolder is a different kind of challenge. It is a longer Belgian track with a rich touring tradition, where fast, flowing sections are interrupted by hard chicanes and sharp braking zones.
This profile rewards two things: stability under braking and traction on the exit from slow corners, which is where the front-wheel-drive TCR cars tend to shine. The chicanes are also classic overtaking points, so a wheel-to-wheel battle can be expected, but also some contact that will end up under the scrutiny of the judges. The change of layout will almost certainly mix up the order of the fastest, as speed from Sachsenring does not automatically mean speed at Zolder.
Format: two races and a reverse grid
A reminder for those joining: each event consists of free practice, qualifying, and two points races held on the same evening. Qualifying determines the starting order for the first race, while the second is run on a reverse grid for the top 15 finishers. This means that the winner of the first race starts fifteenth in the second, while the fifteenth-placed driver gets pole.
If the schedule from the season opener is maintained, free practice starts at 19:00, qualifying at 21:10 and lasts for 20 minutes, the first race begins at 21:30 and lasts for 25 minutes, and after a short organizational break, the second race of equal duration follows.
Points remain unchanged: the winner takes 25, the second place 20, the third place 16, and points are awarded down to 15th place. Since two races are held in one evening, a good performance can lead to a big jump, but one bad performance can quickly create a deficit. Pure speed will not be enough: it will require pace, nerves, and the ability to survive in traffic.
Who to watch out for
Adrian Šantić comes in as the leader and the most consistent driver from the opener. The only question is when he will turn those two second places into a victory.
Renato Simić has the pace for pole and victory, but the reverse grid in the second race regularly buries him at the back, so breaking through the traffic is key for a big points haul.
Zvonimir Kranjčec arrives in a form of redemption and with the fastest lap of the second race under his belt. If he controls his aggression at the start, he is a serious candidate for the top.
Matej Mikšić showed qualifying speed, but his own mistakes cost him in the races. He needs a cleaner performance in Zolder.
And there are the brave ones in Hyundais, Bumbar and Fabijanić, who have already brought a podium and several leading laps with the Elantra. Zolder is a new opportunity for the small fleet to mix it up again among the Audis and Cupres.
Where to watch
The broadcast of the second round of the TCR Championship of Croatia 2026 will be available live on SIMmark's YouTube channel, with commentary support.
https://www.youtube.com/@SIMmarkCRO/streams
The season has just started, and Zolder, longer and more ruthless than Sachsenring, could already begin to separate title contenders from ordinary travelers in the pack. See you on the track!
Good luck to all competitors!
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