The Interwetten Sports Car Challenge heads to the Red Bull Ring on Saturday and Sunday, bringing a strong field of sports prototypes to Spielberg. From an Austrian perspective, much of the attention will be focused on Christian Klien and Mathias Lauda, two drivers with extensive international racing experience.
Lauda will contest his first race since 2020. The 45-year-old, who spent several seasons competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and won the 2017 FIA Endurance Trophy for GTE-Am Drivers together with Pedro Lamy and Paul Dalla Lana, will race for Pedrazza Racing Cars.
Lauda and Klien go head-to-head in identical prototypes
The direct comparison with Christian Klien adds another intriguing element to the weekend. The former Formula 1 driver and Interwetten brand ambassador will also compete for Pedrazza Racing Cars, with both Austrians driving a PRC WPR66 powered by a 3.5-litre Cosworth V8.
Klien arrives in Spielberg on the back of a strong result. At the most recent SCC weekend at the Nürburgring, the 43-year-old won the opening race, beating Marco Fink by just 2.388 seconds.
Fink will again be one of the leading contenders at the Red Bull Ring. Driving his Nova Proto NP01 BMW V8, the German won both races at Hockenheim and also claimed victory in the second Nürburgring race following Klien’s time penalty. That gives him three wins from the four races held so far this season.
Sven Barth is another driver expected to challenge near the front in his Ginetta G61-LT-P3. The German has regularly been among the fastest drivers in the Pro Division this season with his LMP3 prototype. Diego Romanini also heads to Spielberg in strong form after taking two class victories at the Nürburgring.
Two sprint races at the Red Bull Ring
The Interwetten Sports Car Challenge brings together a wide range of sports prototypes on the same grid. The field includes powerful open sports prototypes, LMP3 machinery and a selection of historic designs, with competitors classified across several divisions.
The second qualifying session takes place on Saturday from 10:20 to 10:40, before the first 25-minute sprint gets under way at 17:30.
The second race, also lasting 25 minutes, is scheduled for Sunday at 14:05.
A journey through motorsport history in Spielberg
The Sports Car Challenge is one of eight racing series featuring at the Red Bull Ring Classics this weekend. The event combines historic racing machinery with well-known drivers while also giving spectators access to an open paddock.
Alongside the Interwetten Sports Car Challenge, the programme includes BOSS GP, the CLASS ONE Revival and a range of historic single-seater and touring-car categories. Pit lane walks, vehicle displays and driver talks provide additional attractions away from the track.
Klien and Lauda will also appear together in the Fan Zone on Saturday. The two Austrians are scheduled to take part in a Legends Talk and autograph session from 11:20 to 11:35.
After that, the focus will return to the racing. Klien will be looking to build on his strong Nürburgring performance, while Lauda will get his first opportunity in a race since 2020 to show how quickly he can adapt to the PRC WPR66.
