HILL CLIMB RACE OPEN: Experience Hill Climb Racing for Yourself
Orechová Potôň, September 23, 2026 - Do you have a driving licence, your own car, and a desire to try something new? SLOVAKIA RING is bringing an exciting combination of professional and amateur motorsport to the weekend of October 10–11, 2026. In the morning, the circuit will host the official Slovak Championship hill climb races, while the afternoon will bring a brand-new event – HILL CLIMB RACE OPEN, where ordinary motorists can also take to the starting line.
Hill climb racing is one of the most exciting disciplines in motorsport. The driver is alone on the track, racing against the clock, with the result determined by precision, courage, and the ability to find the ideal racing line.
During the weekend of October 10–11, 2026, you will not only be able to watch this discipline at SLOVAKIA RING performed by experienced racers, but for the first time, you will also be able to experience it yourself.
Professionals in the Morning, You Can Race in the Afternoon
On both days, the morning hours at SLOVAKIA RING will feature the official Slovak Championship hill climb races. Licensed drivers and purpose-built race cars will compete as part of the Slovak championship.
And it is these official races that will be followed by this year's new event.
After the morning programme ends, the track will open to participants of HILL CLIMB RACE OPEN. The idea is simple: to bring the exciting discipline of hill climb racing closer to a wider motoring audience and allow ordinary drivers to experience the atmosphere of a timed competitive run behind the wheel of their own car.
So in the morning, you can watch experienced racers tackle the track, and in the afternoon, you can line up at the start yourself. The stopwatch will show you how you measure up.
Almost Anyone Can Be a Racer for a Day
The word OPEN is the key here. The starting grid is not limited to holders of racing licences.
The new category opens the track to amateur drivers and ordinary motorists who want to experience what it is like to take part in a timed run in a controlled environment.
To participate, all you need is a valid Category B driving licence and your own vehicle in good technical condition. Alternatively, participants may hold a valid national SAMŠ licence, excluding a karting licence.
HILL CLIMB RACE OPEN is therefore an ideal opportunity for those who already know SLOVAKIA RING from track days or other circuit activities. This time, they will experience a completely different format – an individual start, a timed section of the track, and a single opponent: the stopwatch.
It is also an exciting opportunity to compare your performance with other participants or experienced drivers.
3.3 Kilometres and 12 Corners
For HILL CLIMB RACE OPEN, a special track configuration will be prepared, measuring 3,300 metres in length and at least 12 metres wide. Drivers will tackle a total of 12 corners.
The start will be located at the exit of the pit lane, and each participant will complete the course individually. Times will be professionally measured using photocell timing systems positioned at the start and finish.
That is precisely the appeal of hill climb racing – no fight for position into the first corner and no overtaking. Just you, your car, the track, and the clock.
Two Practice Runs and Two Competitive Runs
HILL CLIMB RACE OPEN will take place on both Saturday and Sunday, with each day counting as a separate competition.
Drivers will first complete two practice runs, allowing them to familiarise themselves with the track and gradually explore their limits. These will be followed by two competitive runs.
The fastest time from the two competitive runs will count towards the final results. If a driver fails to finish the first competitive run, they can still take part in the second one.
The fastest drivers in each category will be awarded at the end of the day. Categories will be determined according to the number of registered participants and the performance parameters of their vehicles, ensuring the fairest and most interesting comparisons possible.
You Don't Need a Race Car
The idea behind the OPEN category is not to bring only professionally prepared racing cars to the starting line. Quite the opposite.
We want to make the experience of a timed run available to motorists who own a sports car or an ordinary road car and who have so far only watched similar races from behind the barriers.
The vehicle must be in good technical condition and must have a towing eye fitted at the front. Vehicles with technical defects, such as fluid leaks or a damaged windscreen, will not be allowed onto the track for safety reasons.
A protective helmet is mandatory for all drivers. If you do not have your own, you will be able to rent one during registration at the RACE OFFICE.
And if you want to share the experience with someone, a passenger aged at least 18 may also take part. The passenger must also wear a protective helmet and sign the participant declaration.
Find Out What It's Like to Be a Racer
HILL CLIMB RACE OPEN is designed for everyone who enjoys driving. Sports car owners, regular visitors to SLOVAKIA RING track days, members of automotive clubs, hobby drivers, and motorists who have never tried a timed run before are all welcome.
The combination with the official Slovak Championship gives the entire weekend a special dimension. In the morning, you can watch professional drivers in action; in the afternoon, you can put on your helmet, get behind the wheel of your own car, and line up at the start yourself.
You don't have to be a professional racer. All you need is a driving licence, your own car, and the desire to take the start.
You may discover that covering 3.3 kilometres as quickly as possible is a much bigger challenge than it seems. And perhaps this will be where you complete your first real timed competitive run.
HILL CLIMB RACE OPEN SLOVAKIA RING 2026
The races will take place on October 10 and 11, 2026. OPEN participant registration will take place on both days from 10:00 to 11:30 at the RACE OFFICE on the ground floor of the control tower building.
The afternoon OPEN programme will begin with the first practice run at 14:00, followed by the second at 14:30. The competitive runs are scheduled for 15:00 and 15:30, with the winners' ceremony and prize presentation taking place at 16:10.
The entry fee is €150 per day, with a maximum capacity of 60 participants.
Registration is open until October 7, 2026 at 24:00 (midnight).
Do you have a car, a driving licence, and the desire to find out what time you can achieve? This time, you don't have to remain just a spectator. Watch the professionals in the morning and take the start yourself in HILL CLIMB RACE OPEN in the afternoon.
You don't have to be a racer. All you need is a driving licence, your own car, and the desire to take the start.
