The organizer of the championship is SIMmark, with the support of the Croatian Auto and Karting Federation, and this is the official national championship that this season brings a return to Assetto Corsa, an attractive TCR class, and a format designed for as much direct action on the track as possible.
Sachsenring opens the season
The first stop on the calendar is Sachsenring Circuit, a technical and rhythmic track where it will be immediately evident who has adapted the fastest to the TCR cars and the demands of the championship.
The competition day will not bring just one race. According to the regulations, each event consists of free practice, qualifying, and two scoring races held on the same day.
Free practice starts at 19:00, while qualifying begins at 21:10 and lasts for 20 minutes. They determine the starting order for the first race, which starts at 21:30 and lasts for 25 minutes.
After the first race, there will be a short organizational break, followed by the second race, also lasting 25 minutes. The second race will be particularly interesting as it will be run with a reverse-grid system for the top 15 finishers from the first race. This means that the winner of the first race will start fifteenth in the second, while the fifteenth-placed driver will get pole position.
In other words, pure speed will not be enough. One will need to have pace, nerves, a sense for overtaking, and the ability to survive in traffic.
TCR cars and Assetto Corsa
The season is run in Assetto Corsa on the PC platform, and competitors can choose from three TCR cars from 2024:
Audi RS3 LMS 2024
Cupra Leon Competición 2024
Hyundai Elantra N TCR 2024
All three cars have a balanced Balance of Performance according to the regulations, which should ensure equal conditions for all drivers. The TCR class is known for front-wheel drive, close racing, and aggressive duels, so a lot of wheel-to-wheel fighting can be expected already at Sachsenring.
24 drivers at the start
The list of registered drivers for the start of the championship includes 24 drivers:
Nikola Močibob, Mario Načinović, Luka Klepac, Marin Fabijanić, Matija Beluhan, Karlo Posavec, Zvonimir Kranjčec, Alvin Smijulj, Marko Đurin, Marin Boras, Dubravko Bumbar, Adrian Šantić, Matej Miksic, Borjan Pačak, Renato Simić, Boris Krizmanić, Mario Đurina, Damijan Horvatin, Zvonimir Panian, Dino Tušek, Dražen Šušnjara, Nino Korent, Nenad Volarević, and Igor Krstinić.
The competition is numerous, and the format with two races and reverse order in the second could completely shuffle the cards right at the season opener. It will be especially important to avoid incidents, as points are awarded only up to 15th place, and every mistake can be costly.
Points, penalties, and discipline
The race winner earns 25 points, the second place 20, the third place 16, and points are distributed further down to 15th place. Since two scoring races are held during each event, one good day can lead to a significant jump in the standings, but likewise, one poor performance can immediately create a deficit.
The regulations clearly emphasize fair play, sportsmanship, and the responsibility of drivers for their own equipment and internet connection. Participation is mandatory under full name and surname, with an active pTracker, while the use of exploits, external tools, and unsportsmanlike methods is strictly prohibited.
It is particularly interesting to note the rule regarding incidents: reports must be submitted via the official form on Discord, no earlier than 12 hours and no later than 24 hours after the race ends. This means that the battle will continue even after the finish line, at least for those situations that end under the scrutiny of the judging committee.
Where to watch?
The broadcast of the first round of the TCR Championship of Croatia 2026 will be available on the SIMmark YouTube channel.
If the format, grid, and rules are anything to go by, we have a championship ahead that will not reward just the fastest lap, but the complete driver: one who knows how to qualify, attack, defend, conserve the car, and keep a cool head in the chaos of a reverse-grid race.
Tomorrow at Sachsenring, the battle for the title of champion of Croatia in digital motorsport begins. The season is long, but the first points often reveal more than expected.
