The 17th Subida Estepona–Peñas Blancas 2026 delivered a dramatic and at times challenging weekend of motorsport in Estepona, with more than 110 drivers tackling the demanding 7.7 km mountain course on the MA-8301 in Sierra Bermeja.
Held from Friday to Sunday, the event once again combined the Campeonato de España de Montaña and the Campeonato de Andalucía de Montaña, reinforcing its status as one of the standout fixtures in the national calendar.
A challenging weekend on the mountain
The weekend did not run entirely smoothly. Early reports from the opening day described a “very complicated” first stage of competition, with incidents and interruptions affecting the flow of the event and limiting running time for some competitors.
Combined with the usual demands of the technical mountain route—steep gradients, changing grip levels and tight margins—the conditions ensured that consistency across the four competitive runs proved just as important as outright speed.
Winners and standout performances
At the front of the field, the overall (scratch) victory went to Jordi Vilardell, who also topped Category 2, confirming his status as one of the leading specialists in Spanish hill climb racing.
In the remaining main categories:
Category 1 (production / GT / touring cars) was won by Ignacio Cabezas, delivering a strong performance in the closed-body class.
Category 3 (prototypes and silhouette cars) was won by Adrián Artidiello, who maintained a consistent pace across the weekend to secure the category win.
These results reflected the typical structure of the championship, where cars are split broadly into three categories based on vehicle type and performance—from production-based machines through to high-performance prototypes.
A strong spectacle despite setbacks
Despite the disruptions, the 2026 edition once again showcased why the Peñas Blancas climb is considered one of the most demanding and visually spectacular events in the region. With large crowds lining the route and a high-quality entry list, the event delivered both excitement and unpredictability from start to finish.
In the end, it was a weekend defined by resilience—both from organisers managing difficult conditions and from drivers adapting to a challenging course—culminating in a competitive and memorable edition of one of Andalucía’s premier motorsport events.
