07 July 2025, Ronalds

The fifth round of the 2025 FIA European Autocross Championship delivered an electrifying weekend at the legendary Nova Paka circuit, where high-speed duels, surprise upsets, and dramatic twists reshaped the championship landscape. As the season reaches its midpoint, tensions are rising and the title fights in every category are tighter than ever.

Super Buggy: Theuil Rebounds, Antony Grabs the Lead

After a disappointing outing in Matschenberg, Frenchman Robert Theuil made a spectacular comeback, seizing victory in Nova Paka and reminding everyone of his elite pace. Behind him, Czech stars Zdenek Antony and Petr Nikodem battled fiercely for the remaining podium spots in what is shaping up to be a repeat of last year’s title rivalry. This time, Antony came out ahead in second place, pushing him into the overall championship lead, while Nikodem settled for third.
Meanwhile, 10-time European Champion Bernd Stubbe faced another difficult weekend. For the second event in a row, he failed to make the final, casting further doubt on his 2025 title hopes.

Buggy 1600: Hartman Shines at Home, Mandel’s Nightmare Opens Door for Novotny

Home hero Filip Hartman delivered a flawless performance to claim a commanding victory in Buggy 1600, much to the delight of the Czech crowd. But the real drama unfolded around former championship leader Rene Mandel. After winning the first two heats, his weekend spiraled downward—a disqualification in heat three followed by a crash in the semi-final ended his hopes for a strong result.
Capitalizing on Mandel’s misfortune, Czech driver Jakub Novotny finished second and snatched the championship lead by a single point. Dutchman Bart van der Putten rounded out the podium in third.

Junior Buggy: Eliska Plna Triumphs in Chaotic Final, Hanak Moves into the Lead

The Junior Buggy final was packed with drama after Malone Feuillade’s dramatic rollover triggered a red flag. However, race control decided not to restart the race, confirming the results at the time of interruption. Czech rising star Eliska Plna took a sensational victory after a strong and fearless performance.
Ladislav Hanak finished second, which elevated him to the top of the championship standings. Ondrej Pospisil secured a well-earned third place. Meanwhile, former championship leader Martin Kolomy suffered a similar fate to Mandel—after two strong heats, a disqualification and a semi-final retirement meant he missed the final entirely and dropped down the standings.

CrossCar: Gillouin Wins, Chinchilla’s Engine Woes Shake Up the Standings

In the CrossCar class, Frenchman Yoann Gillouin stormed to victory, outpacing category expert David Meat, who settled for second. One of the biggest surprises of the weekend came from Bob Schanen of Luxembourg, who secured a brilliant third-place finish—his first podium of the season.
Championship leader Ivan Pina Chinchilla suffered a devastating engine failure in the final, costing him the top spot in the standings. The title race remains wide open, with several contenders now within striking distance.
Thank You, Nova Paka – Next Stop: Přerov!

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the organizers and passionate fans of Nova Paka for delivering an unforgettable fifth round of the 2025 European Autocross Championship. The atmosphere was electric, the racing was spectacular, and the historic Czech track once again proved why it holds a legendary status in the autocross world.

Next, the championship heads to Přerov, Czech Republic, on August 23–24, for Round 6. Expect high-speed thrills, relentless rivalries, and another adrenaline-fueled weekend of European autocross at its best!