The 2026 Spanish Winter Championship kicked off at the spectacular Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, delivering a high-intensity opening weekend across both Eurocup-4 and Eurocup-3. Over two qualifying sessions and three races per category, the season began with standout performances, breakthrough victories and early championship statements.
Eurocup-4: Tye sets the benchmark in Portugal
Eurocup-4 opened its campaign with a tightly contested Qualifying 1, where Vivek Kanthan edged Nathan Tye and Reno Francot to secure the first Pole Position of the season. The margins were minimal, underlining the competitiveness of the grid from the outset.
Race 1 quickly shifted the momentum. Nathan Tye struck back decisively, converting a strong start into victory after overtaking Kanthan and controlling the pace at the front. Nacho Tuñón completed the podium after a composed drive in demanding conditions.
The Sprint Race brought fresh drama. Andrej Petrović capitalised brilliantly on a restart to take victory, demonstrating sharp race instincts and precision under pressure. One of the highlights of the weekend was the maiden podium for young Fluxá, whose performance confirmed her as a rising contender within the championship.
Qualifying 2 saw Tye reaffirm his authority, securing a second pole position and reinforcing his status as the reference driver at Portimão. In Race 2, he combined tactical intelligence with raw pace to claim another victory, managing tyre degradation and race rhythm to perfection.
By the end of the weekend, Tye emerged as the early championship leader, with Monteiro, Kanthan and Petrović establishing themselves as immediate challengers in what promises to be a fiercely competitive 2026 campaign.
Eurocup-3: Egozi doubles up before Al Azhari takes control
Eurocup-3 delivered equally compelling action. Qualifying 1 saw Ean Eyckmans secure the first Pole of the season, continuing his strong momentum from 2025 and setting the tone for the weekend.
Race 1 produced one of the drives of the meeting. James Egozi surged from fifth on the grid to take victory with an assertive and calculated performance, showcasing both overtaking ability and race management. The result marked an early statement in the championship fight.
The Sprint Race saw Egozi repeat the feat, claiming his second win of the weekend in a race that ended behind the Safety Car. Post-race drama reshuffled the podium after a penalty for Pradel, further highlighting the intensity and fine margins within the category.
Qualifying 2 shifted the narrative once again. Keanu Al Azhari and Hitech secured Pole Position, laying the groundwork for a decisive Race 2 performance. Al Azhari delivered under pressure, converting pole into victory and, with it, taking over the championship lead at the conclusion of the round.
With Egozi’s double victory and Al Azhari’s dominant Race 2 win, Eurocup-3 leaves Portimão with multiple title contenders already in play, setting up a fascinating battle for the rounds ahead.
After an intense opening round at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, both Eurocup-4 and Eurocup-3 already show the first gaps in the standings, although the championship has only just begun and everything remains wide open.
The next round of the Spanish Winter Championship will take place this very week at the historic Circuito de Madrid Jarama-RACE, where the drivers will return to action just days after Portimão. With such a demanding back-to-back schedule, the battle at the top of both championships is set to evolve once again.
In Eurocup-4, Nathan Tye leads the standings with 56 points, ahead of Noah Monteiro on 31, Vivek Kanthan on 30, Andrej Petrovic on 28 and Nacho Tuñón on 26 in the top five. Rocco Coronel is the best rookie so far, sitting sixth overall with 23 points. In the teams’ standings, Griffin Core holds a narrow one-point advantage with 59 points, just ahead of Drivex on 58 and five clear of T-Code on 54 after the opening battle.
In Eurocup-3, Keanu Al Azhari heads the championship with 55 points, followed by James Egozi on 36, René Lammers on 30, the leading rookie, Ean Eyckmans on 28 and Thomas Strauven on 26. In the teams’ classification, Hitech GP leads the Eurocup-3 teams’ standings, tied on 58 points with MP Motorsport.
