Over the past five years, one of the most popular and exciting classes in Baltic motorsport has been the Baltic Touring Car Championship “BMW 325 CUP”, where the fight for the championship title promises to be intense once again this season. At the same time, the “BMW TURBO CUP” class will see significant growth this year, with both last season’s winners and several former “BMW 325 CUP” frontrunners competing for the title.
Let’s start with the “BMW TURBO CUP” class, which made its debut in Baltic circuit racing last year. Competitors race with the modern and visually appealing BMW 330i of the G20 generation, equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine and an 8-speed automatic gearbox. In 2025, 5–7 cars were on the grid, but this season the number of participants is expected to exceed 10.
A strong and impressive driver lineup in the “BMW TURBO CUP” class will be fielded by the Lithuanian team “LIK Racing by KTK”, which will enter at least five drivers at the season-opening event “WashCar Riga Summer Race 2026” in early May. Among them are last season’s competitors Tadas Kaminskas and vice-champion Algirdas Gelžinis, as well as well-known names from the “BMW 325 CUP” such as Julius Kiršis (3rd overall in 2024) and Aurimas Mištautas (2025 vice-champion).
“I drove the G20 in last year’s 1006 km Palanga race, and that experience encouraged me to switch to the new class, as the car left a very positive impression. My goal for 2026 is to finish in the overall top three. I think it will be a difficult task considering the level of drivers planning to compete in this class. My favorite track? Nemuno Žiedas! It’s a unique circuit because of its elevation changes, and of course, it’s also my home track,” says two-time “BTC2” class champion and “BMW 325 CUP” vice-champion Aurimas Mištautas.
Determined to defend his title is the first-ever “BMW TURBO CUP” champion Artjoms Kočlamazšvili (Viptuning), who describes last season as follows: “A perfect team performance, as we did what we do best – prepared the car according to technical regulations and used the experience gained in the “BMW 325 CUP” class.”
Speaking about both BMW classes in the Baltic championship, Kočlamazšvili adds: “This is what motorsport should look like – close racing and predictable costs. I switched to the “BMW TURBO CUP” class because it was a new challenge, and when you put all the costs together, it became clear that they are very close to “BMW 325 CUP”, but with a faster car, because every driver always wants to go faster.”
When asked about the upcoming season, the Latvian driver says: “Like any athlete, I enjoy winning, but what motivates me most is competition. We are eagerly waiting for more drivers to join the class.” Interestingly, Kočlamazšvili’s favorite track is also Nemuno Žiedas, where he has not yet managed to win. Also ready to fight for top positions will be 16-year-old Rolands Arnis Alfredsons (Rode Racing), who competed in two rounds last season and made an impressive debut with a 3rd place finish in his very first motorsport race.
An intense season is also expected in the “BMW 325 CUP” class, which is known for its strong and competitive grid. Although the number of participants has slightly decreased in recent years, each round last season still featured 15–20 drivers, delivering some of the most exciting battles in the championship. Previous champions in this class include standout drivers such as Matīss Mežaks, Karolis Jovaiša, Valters Zviedris, Leo Messenger, Ričards Šubeckis, and Ragnar Simuland – so the question remains: who will join this impressive list this season?
One of the potential favorites is Latvian driver Matīss Maļinovskis (Jūrmala/Papas Racing Team), who has finished in the overall top three in the past two seasons. “For the 2026 season, the goal is definitely to finally win the championship title. I’m preparing for the new season by training with racing karts and a professional simulator, as well as doing a lot of strength and cardio training,” says Maļinovskis about his ambitions and preparation.
The Latvian driver explains: “In my opinion, “BMW 325 CUP” is currently the most interesting class in the Baltics, as I personally support racing with equal power. Compared to the turbo class, we have more participants, which means more on-track battles for positions – something that is very exciting for spectators.” When asked about his favorite track, Maļinovskis adds: “My favorite track is definitely my home circuit. Biķernieki offers both fast straights and technically demanding, high-speed corners that require great precision from drivers. The track is also relatively narrow and winds through the forest, adding extra adrenaline during the drive.”
Another driver to watch in the fight for podium positions this season is multiple Polish circuit racing champion Karol Wyka, who has already competed in the Baltic championship’s most popular class for two years. “The 2025 season was successful, and I am very happy with my collaboration with the Šubeckis team. Securing 1st place in the Master class and 4th overall gives me strong confidence that a TOP3 finish in the overall standings is within reach next year. With a bit of luck, fighting for 1st overall is definitely possible,” says the experienced Polish driver.
Speaking about the “BMW 325 CUP” class, Karol Wyka is full of praise: “This class is the most competitive not just in the Baltics, but one of the toughest in Europe. Equal cars, up to 10 drivers within a single second in qualifying, an affordable entry level, and rear-wheel drive – all of this makes it one of the best racing cups in Europe.”
The Baltic Touring Car Championship season will kick off at the beginning of May in Riga, Latvia, when the “WashCar Riga Summer Race 2026” takes place at the Biķernieki circuit from May 1 to 3. Over three days, not only the BMW classes mentioned above will take to the track, but also many other cars – from powerful Lamborghinis and Porsches to historic yet impressively fast formula cars. More information about the championship and events can be found at www.balticracingseries.eu, and updates are also available on the “Baltic Racing Series” and “Riga Summer Race” social media channels.