Super Lap Battle 2026

When I first heard about the Super Lap Battle, I immediately knew it wasn't just another track day. The atmosphere, the care put into selecting the lineup, a short but technical track: all the ingredients for an epic weekend were brought together. Discussing it with the rest of the team, it became obvious: MTK had to be a part of this 2026 edition. And to mark the occasion, we decided to debut our booth at this event.

So, everyone got to work on the preparations. While some fine-tuned their cars, others handled the logistics or prepared the booth. With a custom canopy, a CRT TV playing cult tapes, carefully selected magazines, and a variety of merch, the goal was to get our name out there and share our vision.

But the heart of the event is, of course, the driving, and no fewer than three drivers made the trip to represent MTK with carefully tuned cars. And they will soon be able to show what they're made of, because the long-awaited weekend is coming.

Saturday, 7 AM, the alarm goes off. I would have liked a more restful night, as the previous day's 8-hour drive in a stripped-out Civic wiped me out. But never mind that, we get ready and head out for the traditional drivers' briefing. We say hi to our internet friends, warm up the engines, and by 9 AM, the first eager drivers are already on the track.

The asphalt is dry, the temperature is good, I adjust my tire pressures and head out for a few sessions. Very quickly, I improve my time from last year. The A052s live up to their promise, the car positions itself perfectly, I can get back on the throttle very early, and I gain confidence very quickly.

For our other two drivers, the start of the day is all about discovering the track. Both made a few modifications to their machines shortly before the event, and the initial runs seem promising: the pace is gradually increasing.

And unfortunately, the troubles didn't take long to show up. In the morning, one of the two MX-5s cracked its exhaust manifold, which had just been re-welded the day before. We didn't let it get us down, and we found a welder who fixed it the very same day. The stage is set for Sunday for the rematch.

After a well-deserved lunch break, the afternoon goes by and the qualifying sessions arrive. The premise is simple: three flying laps, and the best time is kept. I qualify in the middle of the pack with a 45.16, which is a one-second improvement over my time from last year. Things don't go quite as well for our other competing drivers. With one car not running and another where the telemetry app failed to work, they end up at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Despite these setbacks, the sunshine and the friends who were there allowed everyone to have an excellent day. The booth attracted a good crowd, helping to liven up the paddocks and giving us the chance to meet new people.

End of the day, we leave the cars in the paddocks and head back to get some rest, making sure to grab a bite thanks to the delicious smash burgers prepared by the chef. Because tomorrow, things get serious.

After some free practice in the morning, and the traditional group photo at noon, the afternoon is dedicated to the races. All participants are divided into three groups, and the podium finishers of each race advance to the final. The pressure mounts; I start third in my race. I secure a podium spot and move on to the final. As for the other MTK drivers starting from the back of the grid, they put on a great show with some beautiful overtakes, despite tires that were severely lacking in grip.

Finally, the final gets underway. I start 7th, with two cars behind me. My goal is to maintain my position while trying to stick as close to the pack ahead as possible. I manage to do so as best I can, though the lack of a limited-slip differential really makes itself felt exiting the corners. Towards the end of the race, the dirty air causes my engine to overheat. Despite it all, I hold my position and set my best time of the weekend, a solid 45.03.

All in all, this Super Lap Battle lived up to our expectations, both on and off the track. We learned a great deal from it, both in terms of driving and managing a booth. See you at the next edition!