Zeller all but unbeatable ahead of the season finale at Mugello

Round 08: Austria Formula Cup – Mugello (ITA)
The season finale of the Austria Formula Cup is scheduled to take place from 16 to 18 October 2026. As part of the Mugello Racing Weekend, the series will be making a guest appearance at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello in Italy, where the final two races of the season will be held. Sandro Zeller (Jo Zeller Racing) heads into the final race weekend as the clear championship leader. Following his one-two finish in Brno, the Swiss driver has 257 points and has thus built up a comfortable lead. Behind him, several drivers are battling it out for the remaining places in the overall standings: Christof Ledermann (Franz Wöss Racing) is in second place with 99 points, closely followed by Michael Fischer (Red Rose Racing by LRT) and Andrea Benalli (Puresport), who have each collected 92 points. André Petropoulos (Team Hoffmann Racing) follows with 88 points, ahead of Kurt Böhlen (Jo Zeller Racing) on 87 points and Nicolas Löffler (Franz Wöss Racing) on 84 points.

Zeller with a comfortable lead – a close battle for the remaining places
With a 158-point lead over Ledermann, Zeller is in an excellent position to finish the season as champion. The Swiss rider has been in strong form recently, winning both races at Brno. He is therefore one of the riders to beat at Mugello as well. In the battle for the remaining positions, however, the field is much tighter. There are just 15 points separating Ledermann in second place and Löffler in seventh. Fischer and Benalli, both on 92 points, are lying in wait for their chance, whilst Petropoulos and Böhlen are also within striking distance. Böhlen, in particular, heads into the finale on a high after two podium finishes in Brno. Ledermann, for his part, will be looking to defend second place in the overall standings. For his rivals, Mugello thus offers the final opportunity to make a decisive leap up the championship standings.

Mugello – fast corners and challenging elevation changes
With a track length of 5.245 kilometres, the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello is one of the most demanding circuits in international motorsport. The track in Tuscany is known for its flowing layout, fast combinations of corners and significant elevation changes. The long start-finish straight offers drivers a key opportunity to overtake before entering the first corner. Further along the circuit, precise line choice and good set-up are essential to carry as much momentum as possible through the fast sections. For the teams, this means that even at the season finale, the task remains to optimally set up the cars for the track’s characteristics.

Friday – three free practice sessions to kick things off
On Friday, the Topjet F2000 programme begins with three free practice sessions. The first session is scheduled from 09:50 to 10:15, followed by the second from 13:35 to 14:00. In the late afternoon, the drivers will have another opportunity to familiarise themselves with the circuit: The third free practice session takes place from 17:40 to 18:05. This gives the teams ample time to fine-tune their set-up for the final race weekend of the season.

Saturday – Qualifying and first race
On Saturday, the battle for grid positions begins. Qualifying starts at 10:00 and lasts 30 minutes. This is followed in the afternoon by the first race of the weekend, which starts at 2.20 pm and is scheduled to last 20 minutes. For Zeller, this is the first opportunity to kick off the season finale with another victory. His rivals, on the other hand, will be looking to secure the best possible starting position for the final race and pick up vital points in the battle for the championship places.

Sunday – final race of the season
On Sunday, the second and final race of the Austria Formula Cup is on the programme. The race starts at 11.25 am and is scheduled to last 30 minutes. This brings the 2026 season to a close at Mugello, and the Austria Formula Cup heads into the winter break.

All times are subject to change.