DONUT 8: Ivo Znaor Claims Victory in Front of His Home Crowd in Split
Just two weeks after the season opener in Mičevec, the DONUT series moved south to Split.
DONUT 8 took place on 2 and 3 May at Stinice, a venue that differs from the Bugatti Rimac test track in almost every respect. Instead of a large open space and high-speed transitions, the drivers faced a compact and technically demanding layout bordered by concrete barriers.
The close proximity of the spectators and the distinctive industrial setting once again created one of the most intense atmospheres on the calendar.
PRECISION MATTERED MORE THAN OUTRIGHT POWER
There is very little room for error at Stinice.
Drivers needed to execute their initiation precisely, keep the car within the required line and reach the designated zones without making contact with the concrete barriers. On a circuit like this, additional power did not automatically result in a better performance.
Saturday’s practice sessions and qualifying runs were therefore crucial for finding the right rhythm ahead of Sunday’s tandem battles.
Qualifying results — Top 3
Toma Ostojić
Karlo Kusić
Ivo Znaor
Ivo Znaor, Toma Ostojić and Adrian Petričević were among the drivers who made the strongest impression throughout the weekend.
Each approached the track differently, but all three demonstrated the speed and control required to reach the closing stages of the competition.
TOMA OSTOJIĆ REACHES THE GRAND FINAL
One of the main stories of DONUT 8 was the performance of Toma Ostojić.
The youngest driver in the field progressed through the elimination battles with an aggressive but controlled approach. On the narrow circuit, he remained close to the lead car without making unnecessary contact and earned his place in the grand final.
There, he faced the experienced Ivo Znaor, whose knowledge of the venue, composure and precision in the decisive moments secured the victory.
Znaor celebrated in front of his home crowd and recovered a significant part of the points deficit from the opening round. Ostojić confirmed with second place that his arrival among the leading drivers was no coincidence, while Adrian Petričević completed the podium in third.
Final results — DONUT 8
Ivo Znaor
Toma Ostojić
Adrian Petričević
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OF THE SPLIT WEEKEND
Stinice presented the drivers and teams with a completely different set of challenges from the opening round.
The narrow circuit, bordered by concrete barriers, punished even the smallest mistake. The available space for servicing the cars, team movement and event operations was also considerably more limited than in Mičevec.
The two-week gap between the first and second rounds created an additional challenge. Teams that had suffered mechanical problems or damage at DONUT 7 had very little time to complete repairs, test their cars and prepare for an entirely different layout.
For the drivers, the greatest test was finding the right balance between aggression and control.
An overly cautious run would not create a strong enough impression, while taking too much risk could result in contact with the barriers and an early end to the competition.
BRDEK RETAINS THE LEAD AS THE FIELD CLOSES IN
Although he did not reach the podium in Split, Marko Brdek retained the lead in the overall championship standings.
After two of the four rounds, the top three were:
Marko Brdek — 165 points
Ivo Znaor — 155 points
Toma Ostojić — 141 points
Only 24 points separated the leading three drivers, meaning that DONUT 9 at Westgate City had the potential to completely change the championship order.
Victory in Split moved Znaor to within ten points of Brdek, while Ostojić’s second-place finish established him as a serious title contender in his first full-season battle against the most experienced drivers in the series.
