The new DONUT season is almost here.

Four events, three completely different locations and several months of competition for the title of regional drift champion lie ahead. Familiar names from Croatia and across the region will return to the track, new cars will make their debuts, and for the first time, audiences will be able to watch selected rounds live on VOYO.

The season begins on 18 and 19 April at the Bugatti Rimac test track, followed by events in Split and at Westgate City. After the summer break, we will return to the place where the season began and conclude the championship on 19 and 20 September with the milestone tenth DONUT event.

Whether you are attending DONUT for the first time or simply want all the essential information in one place, here is your complete guide to the 2026 season.

FOUR EVENTS ACROSS THE 2026 SEASON

This year’s DONUT International Cup consists of four rounds.

Each event brings a different track layout, different conditions and its own distinct character, but every result contributes to the same championship battle.

DONUT 7 — BUGATTI RIMAC TEST TRACK

Date: 18–19 April 2026
Location: Bugatti Rimac test track, Mičevec

The new season opens at the largest venue on this year’s calendar.

The Bugatti Rimac test track provides enough space for high speeds, technically demanding drifting and a layout that will immediately test how well prepared the drivers are.

Alongside the first championship points of the year, DONUT 7 will offer the first real look at the new cars, teams and competitive order for the 2026 season.

After the winter break and months of preparation, the opening round will reveal who has made the greatest step forward.

DONUT 8 — STINICE, SPLIT

Date: 2–3 May 2026
Location: Stinice, Split

Just two weeks after the opening round, DONUT heads south.

Stinice offers a completely different setting from the Bugatti Rimac test track. Its industrial waterfront environment, compact layout and spectators positioned close to the action give the Split event a character of its own.

The drivers will have little time to rest or make major changes to their cars. Everything learned during the first round will need to be applied quickly before the championship battle continues in Split.

DONUT 9 — WESTGATE CITY

Date: 30–31 May 2026
Location: Westgate City, Zaprešić

The third round of the season takes place at Westgate City at the end of May.

This will be the final DONUT weekend before the summer break and the point at which the championship standings may begin to take a more definite shape.

For some drivers, it will be an opportunity to confirm a strong start to the season. For others, it may be the final chance to reduce the gap before the championship finale.

Westgate offers a large open space, an attractive track configuration and a completely different event experience from the first two locations.

DONUT 10 — THE SEASON FINALE

Date: 19–20 September 2026
Location: Bugatti Rimac test track, Mičevec

Following the summer break, the season returns to the Bugatti Rimac test track for the final round of the championship.

DONUT 10 will be more than the season finale. It will also mark the tenth DONUT event.

After four rounds, a new regional champion will be crowned, and every point, victory and mistake from the previous events will take on its final significance.

Returning to the venue used for the opening round will also allow for a direct comparison between the beginning and end of the season. By September, the drivers will have completed three competitive weekends, had time to develop their cars and gained a clear understanding of what will be required in the final title battle.

WHAT DOES A DONUT WEEKEND LOOK LIKE?

Each DONUT event takes place over two days, although the exact schedule may vary depending on the venue and programme of each round.

The first day is generally reserved for registration, technical inspections, practice and qualifying.

Drivers have the opportunity to learn the track configuration, identify the ideal line and prepare their cars for the competitive part of the weekend.

During qualifying, each driver completes the course individually. The judges assess line, angle, speed and the overall impression of the run. Qualifying results determine the rankings and the entry order for the tandem elimination battles.

Tandem runs deliver the type of action that brings most spectators to a drift event.

Two cars enter the track together. The lead driver sets the run, while the chase driver attempts to follow as closely as possible while maintaining angle, speed and control. Once the positions have been reversed, the judges decide which driver advances to the next stage.

The battles continue until the final and the winner of each individual round is decided.

WHO IS COMPETING FOR THE TITLE?

Over the previous seasons, DONUT has grown from a local drift event into a regional competition bringing together drivers and teams from Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and the rest of Europe.

Drivers from 14 countries competed at DONUT events during the previous season, including current and former national champions.

Adrian Petričević enters the 2026 season as the defending champion. His closest challengers in last year’s standings were Slovenia’s Erik Janković and Serbia’s Nikola Ilić, which clearly demonstrates how regional the competition has become.

Alongside them, we expect the return of familiar drivers, as well as new names and cars appearing in front of the DONUT audience for the first time.

The final entry list will be published separately before each round, as the number of participants and the competitive field may vary between locations.

WHAT IS NEW FOR THE 2026 SEASON?

The biggest change is the expansion of the calendar to four rounds.

Three events will take place during an intense opening phase of the season, running from mid-April until the end of May. The championship will then pause for the summer before the title is decided at the milestone DONUT 10 event in September.

The season will also gain a stronger regional presence through our partnership with RTL.

Selected DONUT rounds will be broadcast live on VOYO, giving drift an opportunity to reach audiences who cannot attend the events in person.

This represents an important step for the entire scene. Drivers, teams and partners will gain greater visibility, while viewers will be able to follow the development of the competition, qualifying sessions and key tandem battles through a professionally produced live broadcast.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE DONUT EVENTS

The best way to experience drifting is still from beside the track.

A DONUT event is about more than qualifying and tandem battles. Visitors can see the cars up close, meet the drivers, walk through the paddock and experience the sound, speed and energy that cannot be fully reproduced through a screen.

Tickets for each round will be available through our official ticketing partners. Prices, ticket categories, detailed schedules and all visitor information will be announced separately for each event.

Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended to secure entry and avoid waiting at the venue.

For those unable to attend, selected rounds will be available to watch live on VOYO. Broadcast information will be announced ahead of each individual event.

All current updates, schedule changes, visitor information and driver entry lists will be available on the DONUT website and official social media channels.

THE SEASON BEGINS IN MIČEVEC, ZAGREB

Four rounds may sound like enough time to recover from mistakes, but the DONUT calendar leaves little room for a poor weekend.

The first three events will take place within just six weeks. Car reliability, team preparation and driver consistency will therefore be just as important as speed and spectacular driving.

The first championship points will be awarded on 18 and 19 April at the Bugatti Rimac test track. Split and Westgate City will follow, before the season concludes with the major September finale where the 2026 DONUT champion will be crowned.

The new season is almost here.

See you trackside.

Novosti

Drift to Survive: priče vozača koji stvaraju regionalnu drift scenu