The most prestigious race weekend of the season awaits Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra. Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe forms part of the world’s biggest GT racing event: the legendary 24 Hours of Spa. For Bronislav Formánek and Anthony Pretorius, alongside Jakub Knoll and Renaud Kuppens, the weekend will bring a crucial battle at the top of the championship standings.
“On one hand, it’s an incredible atmosphere with tens of thousands of fans. On the other, it’s an extremely demanding circuit and, this year, extreme heat as well,” says team manager Jiří Mičánek Jr., summing up the challenge ahead in a single sentence. At Spa-Francorchamps, his drivers will be looking to build on last year’s outstanding results.
On paper, Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra arrives at the third round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe season with arguably the strongest line-up in the paddock. Bronislav Formánek won both GT2 European Series races here last year. Anthony Pretorius claimed his first overall Lamborghini Super Trofeo victory at Spa. And local driver Renaud Kuppens also spent much of last year’s race leading outright before a team-mate’s accident in the second stint ended his chances.
Now, that trio – joined by the experienced Jakub Knoll – has one objective: to complete the first half of the season at the top of both the Pro-Am and AM standings. Formánek and Pretorius arrive holding the narrowest possible championship lead, while Knoll and Kuppens sit just a single point behind the AM class leaders.
For Mičánek Motorsport, the second most famous 24-hour race in Europe will effectively be a home event this year. New signing Renaud Kuppens lives only a short distance from the circuit and knows it better than anyone in the team. “In more than twenty years of racing, I’ve been here at least once every season. I know this track better than any other,” says the experienced Belgian. He proved exactly that in 2025, when he spent much of the race running at the front of the overall field before a team-mate’s accident brought his challenge to an abrupt end.
This year, Kuppens shares the car with Jakub Knoll, who also brings plenty of Spa experience from other championships. His objective is clear – move into the AM championship lead. “Spa-Francorchamps is the most difficult circuit on the calendar, so it’s going to be a real challenge. I’m preparing intensively, including simulator work before we travel. The goal is simple: perform better than we did at Imola and make full use of the potential that Renaud and I have as a pairing,” says the reigning Czech champion, who switched to Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe this season.
Formánek and Pretorius travel to Spa as Pro-Am favourites. They will be aiming to build on their double victory at the season opener at Paul Ricard and, of course, on last year’s performances at Spa itself. Both drivers have stood on the top step here before, with Formánek doing so twice. “I’m looking forward to it, but I also have a lot of respect for the place. The key is to avoid mistakes, race intelligently and fight where we know we’re strong. It’s going to be a demanding weekend for the cars as well,” predicts Formánek.
Pretorius agrees. “In these temperatures, tyre management will be extremely important. This time I can benefit from knowing the circuit – in fact, it’s the track I know best on this year’s calendar,” says the nineteen-year-old South African, who made his European championship debut only last season and claimed his first victory at Spa. “I’m ready to repeat what we achieved last year. Hopefully we can secure overall pole position again, and my goal is to win at least one race outright,” says the confident youngster, widely regarded as one of the standout talents in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe field.
Because of the event’s integration with the 24 Hours of Spa programme, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe schedule has been brought forward by a day. The first race will take place on Friday, while the second will be held on Saturday, shortly before the start of the 24-hour classic. The action begins even earlier, however, with the traditional parade of race cars through the centre of Spa on Wednesday. “We’re really looking forward to it. Spa is a spectacle. It’s great entertainment for the fans. It’s the most prestigious event of the season and, personally, my favourite race of the year,” concludes Jiří Mičánek.
