The 2024 Clio Cup season saw Czech racer Tomáš Pekař once again claim the championship, bouncing back after missing two key races to secure his title with a strong finish. Polish contender Bartek Mirecki provided tough competition until the last event, while Slovenian driver Nik Štefančič delivered strong performance at Slovakia Ring. Despite their efforts, Pekař’s experience and dominance kept him ahead in the race for the championship.
Tomáš Pekař
Mělník-based racer and Carpek Racing team boss, Tomáš Pekař, continues to prove he’s at the top of the Clio Cup scene. This multi-champion added another title to his collection this season, despite skipping the third round at Slovakia Ring, which left him without points from two races. At that point, he dropped from the overall lead to fourth place, trailing David Dziwok by 23 points. Although the gap wasn’t small, it was not insurmountable with three rounds (six races) remaining in the season. Upon his return in his signature orange Clio, Pekař was back in dominant form. He won both races at his home circuit in Most and regained the championship lead, which he confidently held until the end of the season.
Bartek Mirecki
Polish driver Bartek Mirecki bid farewell to single-seater racing this year and switched to the Renault Clio, a car with which he had plenty of previous experience. He immediately proved to be a title contender in the Clio Cup at the opening event in Balaton Park, being the only one to keep pace with Tomáš Pekař. The two battled hard but cleanly for victory, with Mirecki besting the eventual champion in Sunday’s race, leaving him optimistic about the rest of the season. Despite finishing third in both races at the following round in Austria, Mirecki was not entirely satisfied with either his performance or the car. A relentless competitor, Mirecki hates losing. A string of further podium finishes kept him in the title fight until the final round in Brno, but he ultimately lost out to Pekař. Nevertheless, he ended the season on a high with a win in Sunday’s sprint.
Nik Štefančič
The former two-time Twingo Cup champion stepped into the Clio Cup in 2023, showcasing consistent performances and finishing on the podium with one win in the season. This year, he aimed to improve his results. His best race weekend was at Slovakia Ring in June, where he won both races after a fierce battle with Julian Smiechowski and David Dziwok. He became one of the title contenders, but despite continuing to finish in the top 3, his title chances slipped away before the final event, leaving him to finish third in the standings.
COMMENTS