Pure excitement: Long Track World Championships start in Mühldorf – Smolinski in focus!

Pure excitement: Long Track World Championships start in Mühldorf – Smolinski in focus!

The 2025 Long Track World Championship season begins on July 6th in the sand track stadium in Mühldorf am Inn. 15 participants from six nations, many of them German drivers, will compete on the 1000 meter long high-speed track, which is particularly suitable for German drift pilots. A third of the World Cup participants come from Germany, including the reigning world champion, Martin Smolinski from Olching, who is aiming for his fourth title. Smolinski celebrated his first world title in Mühldorf in 2018 and now wants to continue his success story there. But the competition doesn't sleep: Erik Riss, two-time world champion (2014 and 2016), and Lukas Fienhage, 2020 world champion and 2023 runner-up, stand in Smolinski's way. In addition, Daniel Spiller, 27 years old, is contesting his first full World Championship season, while the oldest pilot, Stephan Katt from Schleswig-Holstein, is already 45 years old. The local “wildcard” goes to Mario Niedermaier, while Jörg Tebbe and Fabian Wachs are available as reserve drivers.

On the day of the event, the racing action begins early in the morning. The schedule stipulates that training for the B-license solo and A-license sidecar starts at 9:00 a.m. Things get serious with the first races from 10:25 a.m., followed by training for the world championship drivers at 12:30 p.m. The opening ceremony of the World Championship begins at 1:40 p.m., while the main races of the World Championship start at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the stadium on the day of the event, with both seating and standing room available.

Preparation and past successes

A look back: In May 2024, the first Grand Prix of the Long Track World Championship took place in Herxheim, where 12,300 spectators watched an exciting race. Martin Smolinski, the defending champion, triumphed in the final, followed by Zach Wajtknecht and Lukas Fienhage. Erik Riss, who was also fighting for the lead, had to retire due to technical problems. The competition in Herxheim impressively showed how close the races are in this discipline and how much technology can decide between victory and defeat.

The Long Track World Championship has existed since 1971 and is enjoying increasing popularity - especially in Germany, where many of the best drivers come from. The races take place on special tracks, which are usually sandy and have a minimum length of 400 meters. Gerd Riss holds the record for the most titles with a total of eight successes. This championship, which grew out of the European Dirt Track Championship, has evolved over the years to provide a stage for more international riders. This year's races will show whether German drivers, long a dominant force in the sport, can continue to maintain the upper hand.

July's race is highly anticipated by many fans and the world's best drivers are ready to show off their skills. Preparations have already begun at the sand track stadium and the atmosphere will be one of enthusiasm and competitive spirit. It remains to be seen whether Martin Smolinski can defend his title or whether one of his challengers will dethrone him. Fans can expect a spectacular event!

For all information and details about the event, we recommend taking a look at the official pages: DMV Motorsport, Railway sports Germany, and Wikipedia.