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Benea Aims to Defend Hill Climb Title with New 670hp Ferrari
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด Romania /Sports

Benea Aims to Defend Hill Climb Title with New 670hp Ferrari

From Adevฤƒrul · (1h ago) Romanian

Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Romanian race car driver Radu Benea, the reigning national champion in the tourism category, is set to compete in the first round of the National Hill Climb Championship.
  • Benea will pilot a new, more powerful Ferrari 488 Challenge model, aiming to adapt to the car while defending his title.
  • The event, Transalpina Challenge, features over 50 top drivers and marks the beginning of an eight-stage championship, with Benea's club also introducing a junior driver with a new car.

Timiศ™oara's own Radu Benea, the undisputed king of Romanian hill climb racing, is revving up to defend his national championship title this weekend. Last year, Benea dominated the tourism category, leaving over 100 competitors in his dust and setting four track records. Now, as the 2026 season kicks off, he's not just a favorite; he's the benchmark.

I remember with pleasure the first race of my career, which was on this very track, and I'm already excited, especially since I'll be starting with a different car than in previous years.

โ€” Radu BeneaBenea expresses his feelings about returning to the Transalpina Challenge track where he debuted.

Benea is stepping into a brand-new Ferrari 488 Challenge, a 2022 model boasting a formidable 670 horsepower and a blistering 0-100 km/h time of just 2.7 seconds. While his primary goal is to master this new beast, the competitive spirit is undeniable. He's eager to prove his mettle, especially after a third-place finish at this very track last year.

This season isn't just about Radu; his 18-year-old son, Nicolas, a junior champion himself, is also joining the fray in a 450-horsepower Seat Cupra. Though Nicolas will miss the Transalpina Challenge due to exams, his return later in the season signals a strong future for motorsport in Timiศ™.

I hope to get my revenge after finishing third here last year, but obviously, the main objective is to get used to the new competition car.

โ€” Radu BeneaBenea discusses his goals for the upcoming race, balancing the desire for victory with adapting to his new vehicle.

Supported by new partnerships with Corlan Mobility and MaxAgro, Benea and his Canova Racing team are optimistic. They're not just competing; they're building a legacy, aiming for continued success and promoting motorsport in our region. The Transalpina Challenge is more than just a race; it's the start of another thrilling chapter for Romanian speed.

Basically, this season we're starting almost from scratch in terms of racing equipment, but we are optimistic. In addition, two renowned brands, Corlan Mobility and MaxAgro, have joined our project, and we are confident that we will achieve very good results for motorsport in our county in 2026 as well.

โ€” Radu BeneaBenea shares his outlook on the team's new equipment and sponsorships for the upcoming season.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Adevฤƒrul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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