EMAX podium at the first C1 Racing Club event in 2026

Emax had two cars out for the first race of the 2026 season at the iconic brands hatch Indy circuit.

Arran and Thanassi were racing car 563 and Alex and Matt were out in 343.

Qualifying was a mixed bag with the weather changeable and although both cars started on a wet set up we changed drivers and also tyres for the end of the qualifying session.

The race started at 3pm and both cars made places during the first hour of the race. Thanassi was flat out at the one hour point and with other cars pitting and taking penalties he was upto 2nd overall. Alex in the 343 car was lapping consistently also making headway into the top ten.

With plenty of pit stop practice during the day 563 did their first stop and Thanassi did a quick dummy stop and continued to lap well.

At the midway point 343 and 563 were looking good, both cars just outside the top ten and looking poised for a good result.

The team were monitoring safety cars and calculating pit stops and fuel usage as the race progressed. Both cars were due their last stop and with fuel calculations complete we were heading for the last 30 minutes set for a top ten result.

At the end of the race Arran completed the last lap achieving a career best of p10 and third placed in the Am class with his new race partner Thanassi. Alex and Matt followed them home in p11 and fourth in the Am class.

With the second and third fastest pit stops the team and drivers attended the post race podium to collect their trophies.

A cracking race and a real showcase for the Citroen C1 Racing series.

The results were as follows for the team:
343 - 3rd in Am Class - 10th overall
563 - 4th in Am Class - 11th overall