Highs, Lows, and a Podium Finish: 147 Endurance Battles the Slovakiaring 8h

Motorsport is a game of extreme contrasts, and the ARC Endurance 8-hour race at the Slovakiaring on June 24th proved exactly that. With an impressive grid of 34 cars and stellar track organization, the stage was set for an epic battle. For 147 Endurance, the weekend brought both technical heartbreak and a brilliant podium celebration.

The weekend marked the highly anticipated premiere of our new 2-liter Superproduction car. Noricum Factory driver Tom Day (UK) took the wheel for the opening stint, but the gremlins struck immediately. A disrupted engine fan connector triggered critical cooling issues right from the start.

Despite the persistent issues, the car’s raw pace left the drivers in absolute awe of its power and speed—even while running well below its full potential. A standout moment came courtesy of our Greek driver, Manos Voulgaris. In a masterclass of racecraft, Manos overtook two Porsche Caymans on the outside line in a single corner, perfectly demonstrating the car’s superior cornering speed and exceptional chassis capabilities.

Our new British driver from Bermuda, Donovan Dyer, stepped in for the third stint. Just as he began finding his rhythm and bonding with the machine, the technical issues proved too severe to overcome. For safety and mechanical preservation, the car had to be retired just an hour and a half into the race.

While the 2.0L car’s race was cut short, our 1.6-liter car ran absolutely flawlessly. The race started with a bang thanks to our new Austrian talent, Eric Tobler. Showing unbelievable adaptation, Eric set the fastest race lap of the class on only his fifth ever lap in the car.

Following the retirement of the 2.0L car, the crews joined forces. For most of the drivers, this was their very first time seeing the challenging Slovakiaring, but teamwork carried the day. Special praise goes to Ioannis Lyssaios (Greece), who put in a massive physical effort, enduring two brutal, extended stints in extremely hot weather conditions to bring the car home.

Thanks to a collective, relentless effort, the team crossed the line to secure an incredible 3rd place in class and a well-deserved spot on the podium!

We win as a team, we learn as a team. The data from the new 2.0L car is already being analyzed, the fixes are underway, and the 1.6L crew has proven what our endurance mindset can achieve. Our focus is now locked entirely on the second round of the series—the upcoming 6-hour race at Most.