According to statistics, the most successful Slovak rider in terms of the number of victories in major international races gained pole position and the highest percentage chance of winning the race. In his career, he won the prestigious Formula F3 Eurocup series and also tried out the special Formula GP2, GP3 and Indy-lights. Since 2017, he has been a pilot in GT3 category races for Šenkýř Motorsport team.
Birthday: 14.03.1994 Nationality: SK Inverted Name: Gonda, Richard (SK)
2018-19 International GT Open, Senkyr Motorsport, BMW M6 GT3 2017 International GT Open/FIA CEZ, Senkyr Motorsport, BMW Z4 GT3/ BMW M6 GT3 2016 GP 3 Series, Jenzer Motorsport 2015 World Series by Renault, R.S.01, ART Junior team – 2. overall 2014 Formula Acceleration 1, team Ghinzani – 3. overall 2013 European F3 Open Cup, team Drivex – 1. overall 2012 Northern European Cup, Formula Renault 2.0, team Křenek Motorsport 2011 World Series by Renault, FR 2.0, Eurocup, teamKřenek Motorsport 2010 Carpathian Cup, Formula Renault 2.0 – 2. overall 2009 Závody do vrchu, Škoda Fabia – vicemister Slovenska v třídě A-1400 2003 – 2008 Minikáry – 4x mistr Slovenska a Evropského poháru, 3x vítěz Slovenského poháru 2001 Debut in motorsport
Race cars driven
Minikarts
Škoda Fabia
Formula Renault 2.0
Formula 3 Dallara F308
Renault R.S.01
Formula GP3
Formula 2
Formula GP2
Formula Indy-Lights
Formula Renault 3.5
Auto GP
Porsche Carrera Cup
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10
Škoda Fabia R5
BMW M3 E92 GTR
BMW Z4 GT3
BMW M6 GT3
BMW M4 GT3
AMG GT3
Volvo 240i Turbo
Porsche 992 GT3 Cup
Gallery
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The 100-Mile Endurance Race in Hungary Has Begun
The 100-mile Hungary Endurance Race will last 60 minutes.
We entered two cars in the race, with the following driver lineups:
#9 | Matyáš Faiereisl (CZ) and Richard Gonda (SK), category: ePro
#7 | Pavel Bouška (CZ) and Jaroslav Janiš (CZ), category: eProAM
A total of 9 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup race cars took the track.
The Šenkýř Motorsport team coaches, J. Janiš and R. Gonda, are in good spirits on Sunday morning as they fine-tune their strategies together ahead of today’s two races. In the background, you can see our pit area at the Hungaroring.
M. Faiereisl is pulling into the pits again during the first session of Friday's practice at the 2026 PSCCE: Hungaroring. Will R. Gonda take over behind the wheel?
We also monitored the entire course of the second practice sessions at our data center so that we could analyze them
We’re analyzing the practice sessions at the Hungaroring as part of the PSCCE 2026 in detail and coming up with a strategy for what to focus on during our next run.
The e Endurance Race 100-Miles of the Czech Republic Has Begun
Today’s final race is here.
The 100-Mile Endurance Race of the Czech Republic started at 4:50 p.m., and the drivers have one hour of racing ahead of them. At least one pit stop is mandatory, whether the car is shared by two drivers or driven by a single driver.
Šenkýř Motorsport has entered three cars:
#9 Matyáš Faiereisl (CZ) and Richard Gonda (SK), Row 1, Position P2
#7 Pavel Bouška (CZ) and Erik Janiš (CZ), Row 4, Position P7
#5 Radek Kolařík (CZ), Row 5, P10
The weather is ideal. Almost clear, 19 degrees, and perfect conditions for the race.
Richard Gonda and Matyáš Faiereisl on a bike ride together as part of the PSCCE Track Walk
Richard Gonda and Matyáš Faiereisl went for a bike ride together and rode the Brno Autodrom circuit. It was the perfect way to cover every meter of the track ahead of the race weekend and get a little exercise at the same time.
Knowing the track from the driver’s seat of a Porsche 992 GT3 Cup is one thing. Riding it on a bike is quite another.
R. Gonda is swapping places with M. Faiereisl in car #9 during the final practice run
During the final practice run, there was a driver change in car #9, with Radek Gonda replacing Matyáš Faiereisl. The crew then continued their preparations for Saturday’s qualifying and races.
The first Friday practice session in Brno is behind us
The first Friday practice session—and the fifth overall—of the 2026 Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe at the Brno Autodrom is behind us! Our drivers have completed more laps on a dry track, and the team continues to work intensively on setting up the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup cars ahead of Saturday’s qualifying sessions and races.
In addition to our race drivers, the coaches—who will serve as co-drivers in this weekend’s endurance race—also took to the track for practice. This allowed the team to use the extra track time to prepare both the crews and the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup race cars.
#9 Matyáš Faiereisl (CZ), PRO / Rookies category, fastest time: 2:02.414, number of laps: 15
#7 Pavel Bouška (CZ), Masters category, fastest time: 2:03.543, number of laps: 12
#5 Radek Kolařík (CZ), Masters category, fastest time: 2:05.657, number of laps: 20
#7 Erik Janiš (CZ), fastest time: 2:02.108, number of laps: 6
#9 Richard Gonda (SK), fastest time: 2:03.402, number of laps: 4
🏁 We’ve just completed the ADAC 24h-Classic race on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife
It was a race full of emotion, tension and sheer determination.
The trio of drivers – Pavel Bouška, Richard Gonda and Tomáš Erdélyi – handled their stints and the entire gruelling race brilliantly in their BMW M3 E30. They finished 1st in their class and took 55th place overall out of 194 entrants.
The second team car, driven by Henry Walkenhorst and Robert Šenkýř, did not start the race after suffering two engine failures in both qualifying sessions.
🤝Congratulations to the whole team, and we look forward to further successes together under the Šenkýř Motorsport banner!
"So I'm done with the start and run-up of this race. I'm oozing adrenaline, sweat and everything. Besides the fact that it's hot, there's no servo, so you're going to get soaked. The formation lap was long in the first place. It's gonna be hell in there. We ended up moving, I don't know, thirty or forty positions up during the stint. Every corner I was passing some groups. I managed to avoid a lot of accidents. Well, it was interesting. Honestly, neither the GT Open, nor the ADAC, nor the long GT3 race was as thrilling in the early laps as this one here. We've got everything well underway. Pavel's in the car now, Tomas will be in the car at the end. So keep your fingers crossed."
Richard Gonda reflects on his stint at the ADAC 24H Classic Rennen 2025
“So I’ve got the start and the early stages of this race behind me. I’m buzzing with adrenaline, sweat and everything. Apart from the fact that it’s hot out there and there’s no power steering, you really work a sweat. Even the formation lap was a long one. It’s going to be hell out there. In the end, we moved up – I don’t know, thirty or forty places – during the stint. I was overtaking groups of cars at every corner. I managed to avoid a lot of incidents. Well, it was quite a ride. Honestly, neither the GT Open, nor the ADAC, nor even a long GT3 race was as thrilling in the opening laps as this one here. We’ve got everything off to a good start. Pavel’s in the car now, and Tomáš will be driving the final stint. So keep your fingers crossed.”
First pit stop: R. Gonda completed his first stint
Richard Gonda has just completed his opening stint in the Classic Rennen, during which he fought his way up dozens of places through heavy traffic. Back in the pits, he is quickly exchanging impressions with Robert Šenkýř and the technician ahead of the next phase of the 2025 ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring.
Driver changes at the Classic Rennen: Pavel Bouška replaces Richard Gonda
Driver change in the BMW M3 E30 (#464) during the ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring 2025: Pavel Bouška takes the wheel, whilst Richard Gonda steps out in the pits.
Richard Gonda is ready in the BMW cockpit before the start of the warm-up lap
The final minutes before the track opens. Richard Gonda is strapped into the cockpit of the BMW M3 E30 (#464), whilst the team’s mechanics carry out their final checks before the formation lap.
The Šenkýř Motorsport team is ready on the starting straight for the start
The Šenkýř Motorsport team and the crew of Pavel Bouška, Richard Gonda, Tomáš Erdélyi and Robert Šenkýř on the start straight of the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.
Team Bouška - Gonda - Erdélyi and a summary of feelings before the start of the race
21.06.2025
Gonda: "More than 220 cars lined up for the start here on the Nordschleife. The whole procedure starts. The first thing we have to do is the formation lap - the warm-up lap - which will take about 15-20 minutes, because we're doing the 80. We're soaking up the atmosphere of all the 10,000 spectators that are around the track and that we're looking forward to. And also to drive this BMW M3 E30. We have everything ready and we are well trained with the guys."
Bouška: “So there's definitely some nervousness here before the start, but hopefully the car will hold up and we'll finish.”
Erdélyi: "So far, the strategy is that Richard starts, then Palo takes over and I bring the car to the finish. So keep your fingers crossed that everything will be fine, we will make it to the finish line in one piece and be as successful as possible."
The Bouška–Gonda–Erdélyi team and a summary of their thoughts ahead of the race
Gonda:“More than 220 cars lined up on the starting grid here on the Nordschleife. The whole procedure is about to begin. The first thing ahead of us is the formation lap – the warm-up lap – which will take about 15–20 minutes, as we’re driving at 80 km/h. We’re soaking up the atmosphere created by all 10,000 spectators lining the track, whom we’re really looking forward to seeing. And we’re just as excited about driving this BMW M3 E30. We’ve got everything ready and the lads and I are well prepared.”
Bouška:“Well, there’s definitely some nerves here before the start, but let’s hope the car holds out and that we make it to the finish.”
Erdélyi:“So far, the strategy is for Richard to start, then Palo takes over, and I’ll drive the car to the finish. So keep your fingers crossed for us that everything goes smoothly, that we make it to the finish in one piece, and that we’re as successful as possible.”
Total focus from the early hours of the morning at the ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring 2025
The driver trio of Richard Gonda, Pavel Bouška and Tomáš Erdélyi are discussing the final details by the BMW M3 E30 (#464) before setting off. The entire Šenkýř Motorsport team is 100 per cent ready for the 2.5-hour Classic Rennen endurance race, where they face a battle against a large field of competitors on the demanding Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.
Richard Gonda consults with a technician before entering the track
Tactical briefing ahead of the start of the 2025 ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring: Racing driver Richard Gonda in conversation with a team technician before entering the pit lane.
Morning strategy for the Classic Rennen: T. Erdélyi, R. Gonda and P. Bouška are planning their race tactics
By seven o’clock on Saturday morning, there is already a sense of intense concentration around the table. Tomáš Erdélyi, Richard Gonda and Pavel Bouška are discussing tactics and the allocation of stints together, and preparing for the Classic Rennen endurance race.
Joint analysis of qualifying data and preparations for tomorrow’s 2025 ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring race
All four of them are gathered together at the Walkenhorst Motorsport team’s base, reviewing the footage from Friday’s qualifying sessions. Robert Šenkýř, Richard Gonda, Pavel Bouška and Tomáš Erdélyi are sitting around a table, analysing in detail the ideal racing line, braking points and the handling of the BMW M3 E30 ahead of the start of the race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Pavel Bouška and Richard Gonda discuss their feelings about the second qualification
20.06.2025
Pavel Bouška and Richard Gonda discuss their feelings following the second Classic Rennen qualifying session
Pavel Bouška: “A good run, rather than if I’d just panicked or braked too much, yeah. Well, yes, it was a bit of a mess, but given the mistake, it was still… better this way, right… yeah, yeah, I’m fine now.”
Pavel Bouška and Richard Gonda discuss their impressions of the second qualifying round
First-hand impressions straight after returning from the track. Pavel Bouška has just arrived in front of the team’s pit box, where, still in his full racing gear, he is discussing the course of events and his feelings about the second qualifying session with Richard Gonda.
Richard Gonda briefly describes the second qualifying session for the ADAC 24H Classic Rennen 2025
20.06.2025
"A hectic start to Friday. The brakes on our car locked up after a few metres, luckily we managed to sort it out in time. But we still lost half of the practice. I tried to give one full test lap to see if everything was OK, also for the guys to drive later when they are in the car. And yes, when I found out it was OK, I started pushing it and right away there were intermediate times into the top 10. That's good for us. Now the boys are in the car. Huge bad luck on the other car, unfortunately. It looks like an irreparable problem. So keep your fingers crossed and best regards to everyone!"
Richard Gonda briefly describes how the second qualifying session for the ADAC 24H Classic Rennen 2025 unfolded
“A hectic start to Friday. Our car’s brakes locked up after just a few metres, but luckily we managed to sort it out in time. Even so, we lost half the practice session. I tried to do one full test lap to check everything was OK, also for the lads’ run later on when they’re in the car. And yes, once I realised it was OK, I started pushing it and straight away we were clocking split times in the top 10. We’re delighted about that. The lads are in the car now. Unfortunately, the second car has had some terrible bad luck. It looks like an irreparable problem. So keep your fingers crossed and best wishes to everyone!”
Tomáš Erdélyi receives information about the condition of the track from Richard Gonda
Immediately after finishing his race, Richard Gonda passes on the latest information about the track conditions to Tomáš Erdélyi ahead of his second qualifying session.
Richard Gonda’s preparations for Q2 of the ADAC 24H Classic Rennen 2025
Preparation down to the last detail. Richard Gonda is carefully jotting down key notes at his desk ahead of Friday’s second qualifying session. On the treacherous tarmac of the unforgiving Green Hell and amidst the packed schedule of the Classic Rennen, every detail will determine the final result for the Šenkýř Motorsport team.
Checking the set-up for the 2025 ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring: Richard Gonda fine-tunes the details on #464 (M3 E30 2.3-litre Gr.A)
A final check of the driving position and the car’s handling right in the cockpit. Richard Gonda is sitting in the BMW M3 E30 2.3-litre Gr.A racing car (#464) and is fine-tuning the final details with the team’s mechanics before heading out onto the track.
The team from car number #464 are inspecting the engine of car number #463
Team spirit at its best. Three members of the #464 team gathered around the open bonnet of their sister car, the BMW M3 E30 2.5-litre Evo DTM (#463), to examine the engine bay in detail and help identify the causes of the technical issues.
👍 Satisfaction, smiles and a brilliant start to the 2025 ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring. Pavel Bouška, Richard Gonda and Tomáš Erdélyi have completed an excellent first qualifying session, and there is well-deserved optimism surrounding the white BMW M3 E30 2.3-litre Gr.A (#464). Team #464 finished 1st in its class and 57th out of 206 in the overall qualifying standings.
😞 Unfortunately, car #463 experienced technical issues, which are currently being rectified.
The final group photo shoot before the start of the first qualifying session for the ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring 2025
A team photo taken next to the #464 team’s BMW M3 E30 2.3-litre Gr.A racing car before the start of the first qualifying session at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Technical and tactical meeting ahead of the qualifiers, held behind closed doors
Behind closed doors, away from the hustle and bustle of the pit lane and the camera lenses. It is here, in the tranquillity of the Walkenhorst Motorsport team’s base, that a crucial technical and tactical briefing is taking place ahead of the first qualifying session.
Technical and tactical briefing ahead of the qualifiers
Tyre pressures, tyre rotation schedules and strategies for a clean lap in a field of over 200 cars. Ahead of the start of the Classic Rennen at the 2025 ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring, we’re leaving nothing to chance – a good strategy is half the battle.
Drivers’ briefing – a view of the starting grid / home straight
A view that gets the heart racing every time. The drivers from the Šenkýř Motorsport team watch the home straight and the starting grid at the Nürburgring Nordschleife from the official drivers’ briefing area.
The full line-up for Šenkýř Motorsport and Walkenhorst Motorsport at this year’s ADAC 24H Classic Rennen 2025
The Šenkýř Motorsport team – comprising Robert Šenkýř, Pavel Bouška, Richard Gonda and Tomáš Erdélyi – is joined by a big name in German motorsport: Henry Walkenhorst, founder of the partner team.
ADAC 24H Classic Race 2025: the Šenkýř Motorsport team recharges its batteries by the barbecue at the end of Wednesday’s preparations
Sausages instead of petrol, a barbecue instead of the pits. Richard Gonda, Robert Šenkýř, Tomáš Erdélyi and Pavel Bouška fine-tune team chemistry and fuel up ahead of the Green Hell of the ADAC 24H Classic Rennen 2025.
Thumbs up from the team tent! Pavel Bouška and Richard Gonda are testing the BMW M3 E30 for the first time ahead of the Classic Rennen race
On the unpredictable ‘Green Hell’ of the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, it’s not just speed that counts, but also mental resilience and team spirit – and you can feel that in our garage at every turn.
Inspection of the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit
After a short lunch break and a brief rest, we set off for the Nürburgring circuit itself and walked along some of its key sections. The weather has been kind to us so far – mostly sunny, with the occasional cloud. And the forecast for the weekend is similar (unlike last year, when we had more than our fair share of rain).
Morning drivers’ briefing for the ADAC 24H Classic Rennen 2025
This morning we attended a drivers’ briefing on obtaining a licence (Permit C) to race youngtimers on the Nordschleife. And now we can slowly start preparing for the race weekend. It officially begins tomorrow, Thursday, at 5.15 pm with the first qualifying session.
Morning drivers’ briefing ahead of the 2025 ADAC 24H Classic Rennen race
The Šenkýř Motorsport team drivers (Robert Šenkýř, Richard Gonda, Tomáš Erdélyi and Pavel Bouška) were in good spirits even during the morning briefing.
Tomáš is a driver who has worked his way up from hobby hillclimb races to the top of the licensed races of the Czech and Slovak Republic circuit and hillclimb championship. He also won the FIA CEZ Championship several times. From his first successes with the BMW M3 E36, he has worked his way up to the GT3 category with regular training and diligence, and rightly belongs to the Šenkýř Motorsport coach group.
According to statistics, the most successful Slovak rider in terms of the number of victories in major international races gained pole position and the highest percentage chance of winning the race. In his career, he won the prestigious Formula F3 Eurocup series and also tried out the special Formula GP2, GP3 and Indy-lights. Since 2017, he has been a pilot in GT3 category races for Šenkýř Motorsport team.
Erik is a multiple Czech Champion and historically one of the two Czech go-kart European champions. The driver who was part of the junior Formula 3 Mercedes Benz team, the Czech national team member in the A1 GP. Since 2014, in addition to his own racing, he has been engaged in engineering activities for GT3 teams. As an engineer, he was also involved in second place for Senkyr Motorpsort in the International GT Masters 2019 at the Red Bull Ring.
Czech race car driver, first Czech driver of the Champ Car World Series and second in Formula 1. In 2003, he was the official test driver of the Jordan F1 team. On October 24, 2004, as the first Czech, he started for the first time in the ChampCar race on the circuit in Surfers Paradise. Still active as a test and racing driver in the GT3 category. Since 2017 he has been cooperating with Šenkýř Motorsport as an engineer in the FIA CEZ and International GT Open series.
Filip is one of the best currently driving pilots in the Central Europe region, with many titles and successes throughout Europe. From his debut in the Alfa Romeo WTCC, through his beginnings with BMW in the various evolutions of the BMW M3 of the Senkyr Motorsport team and his subsequent career in DTM cars, he has returned to the GT category. It doesn't matter where Filip started, he was always one of the fastest drivers on the track, who can analyze his ride and successfully moved himself and the car to the edge.
Two-time European hillclimb champion in the overall classification of touring cars division, multiple champion of the Czech and Slovak Republic in hillclimb and circuit races, long-term official member of the Czech national team and driver with a successful thirty-year racing career. Founder and owner of the Šenkýř Motorsport team, who created the methodology and concept of 1:1 coaching for trackday cars and their drivers.
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The 100-mile Hungary Endurance Race will last 60 minutes.
We entered two cars in the race, with the following driver lineups:
A total of 9 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup race cars took the track.
Live timing is available to you at: livetiming.getraceresults.com
The Šenkýř Motorsport team coaches, J. Janiš and R. Gonda, are in good spirits on Sunday morning as they fine-tune their strategies together ahead of today’s two races.
In the background, you can see our pit area at the Hungaroring.
He was accompanied by coach R. Gonda.
We’re analyzing the practice sessions at the Hungaroring as part of the PSCCE 2026 in detail and coming up with a strategy for what to focus on during our next run.
Today’s final race is here.
The 100-Mile Endurance Race of the Czech Republic started at 4:50 p.m., and the drivers have one hour of racing ahead of them. At least one pit stop is mandatory, whether the car is shared by two drivers or driven by a single driver.
Šenkýř Motorsport has entered three cars:
The weather is ideal. Almost clear, 19 degrees, and perfect conditions for the race.
Let’s do this.
Richard Gonda and Matyáš Faiereisl went for a bike ride together and rode the Brno Autodrom circuit. It was the perfect way to cover every meter of the track ahead of the race weekend and get a little exercise at the same time.
Knowing the track from the driver’s seat of a Porsche 992 GT3 Cup is one thing. Riding it on a bike is quite another.
During the final practice run, there was a driver change in car #9, with Radek Gonda replacing Matyáš Faiereisl. The crew then continued their preparations for Saturday’s qualifying and races.
The first Friday practice session—and the fifth overall—of the 2026 Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe at the Brno Autodrom is behind us! Our drivers have completed more laps on a dry track, and the team continues to work intensively on setting up the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup cars ahead of Saturday’s qualifying sessions and races.
In addition to our race drivers, the coaches—who will serve as co-drivers in this weekend’s endurance race—also took to the track for practice. This allowed the team to use the extra track time to prepare both the crews and the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup race cars.
It was a race full of emotion, tension and sheer determination.
Pavel Bouška, Richard Gonda and Tomáš Erdélyi took home the trophy for 1st place in their class at the ADAC 24H Classic! 🔥
Richard Gonda, Robert Šenkýř, Pavel Bouška and Tomáš Erdélyi in the team tent after completing the gruelling Classic Rennen race.
“So I’ve got the start and the early stages of this race behind me. I’m buzzing with adrenaline, sweat and everything. Apart from the fact that it’s hot out there and there’s no power steering, you really work a sweat. Even the formation lap was a long one. It’s going to be hell out there. In the end, we moved up – I don’t know, thirty or forty places – during the stint. I was overtaking groups of cars at every corner. I managed to avoid a lot of incidents. Well, it was quite a ride. Honestly, neither the GT Open, nor the ADAC, nor even a long GT3 race was as thrilling in the opening laps as this one here. We’ve got everything off to a good start. Pavel’s in the car now, and Tomáš will be driving the final stint. So keep your fingers crossed.”
Richard Gonda has just completed his opening stint in the Classic Rennen, during which he fought his way up dozens of places through heavy traffic. Back in the pits, he is quickly exchanging impressions with Robert Šenkýř and the technician ahead of the next phase of the 2025 ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring.
Driver change in the BMW M3 E30 (#464) during the ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring 2025: Pavel Bouška takes the wheel, whilst Richard Gonda steps out in the pits.
The final minutes before the track opens. Richard Gonda is strapped into the cockpit of the BMW M3 E30 (#464), whilst the team’s mechanics carry out their final checks before the formation lap.
The Šenkýř Motorsport team and the crew of Pavel Bouška, Richard Gonda, Tomáš Erdélyi and Robert Šenkýř on the start straight of the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.
Gonda: “More than 220 cars lined up on the starting grid here on the Nordschleife. The whole procedure is about to begin. The first thing ahead of us is the formation lap – the warm-up lap – which will take about 15–20 minutes, as we’re driving at 80 km/h. We’re soaking up the atmosphere created by all 10,000 spectators lining the track, whom we’re really looking forward to seeing. And we’re just as excited about driving this BMW M3 E30. We’ve got everything ready and the lads and I are well prepared.”
... See moreBouška: “Well, there’s definitely some nerves here before the start, but let’s hope the car holds out and that we make it to the finish.”
Erdélyi: “So far, the strategy is for Richard to start, then Palo takes over, and I’ll drive the car to the finish. So keep your fingers crossed for us that everything goes smoothly, that we make it to the finish in one piece, and that we’re as successful as possible.”
The driver trio of Richard Gonda, Pavel Bouška and Tomáš Erdélyi are discussing the final details by the BMW M3 E30 (#464) before setting off. The entire Šenkýř Motorsport team is 100 per cent ready for the 2.5-hour Classic Rennen endurance race, where they face a battle against a large field of competitors on the demanding Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.
Tactical briefing ahead of the start of the 2025 ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring: Racing driver Richard Gonda in conversation with a team technician before entering the pit lane.
By seven o’clock on Saturday morning, there is already a sense of intense concentration around the table. Tomáš Erdélyi, Richard Gonda and Pavel Bouška are discussing tactics and the allocation of stints together, and preparing for the Classic Rennen endurance race.
All four of them are gathered together at the Walkenhorst Motorsport team’s base, reviewing the footage from Friday’s qualifying sessions. Robert Šenkýř, Richard Gonda, Pavel Bouška and Tomáš Erdélyi are sitting around a table, analysing in detail the ideal racing line, braking points and the handling of the BMW M3 E30 ahead of the start of the race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Pavel Bouška:
“A good run, rather than if I’d just panicked or braked too much, yeah. Well, yes, it was a bit of a mess, but given the mistake, it was still… better this way, right… yeah, yeah, I’m fine now.”
First-hand impressions straight after returning from the track. Pavel Bouška has just arrived in front of the team’s pit box, where, still in his full racing gear, he is discussing the course of events and his feelings about the second qualifying session with Richard Gonda.
“A hectic start to Friday. Our car’s brakes locked up after just a few metres, but luckily we managed to sort it out in time. Even so, we lost half the practice session. I tried to do one full test lap to check everything was OK, also for the lads’ run later on when they’re in the car. And yes, once I realised it was OK, I started pushing it and straight away we were clocking split times in the top 10. We’re delighted about that. The lads are in the car now. Unfortunately, the second car has had some terrible bad luck. It looks like an irreparable problem. So keep your fingers crossed and best wishes to everyone!”
Immediately after finishing his race, Richard Gonda passes on the latest information about the track conditions to Tomáš Erdélyi ahead of his second qualifying session.
Mechanic:
„Yeah, really not following the track, it's like moving on some points, you know?“
Richard Gonda:
„Yeah, and you can feel it's... mostly the rear at high speed. In slow speed, uh, super understeer.“
Preparation down to the last detail. Richard Gonda is carefully jotting down key notes at his desk ahead of Friday’s second qualifying session. On the treacherous tarmac of the unforgiving Green Hell and amidst the packed schedule of the Classic Rennen, every detail will determine the final result for the Šenkýř Motorsport team.
A final check of the driving position and the car’s handling right in the cockpit. Richard Gonda is sitting in the BMW M3 E30 2.3-litre Gr.A racing car (#464) and is fine-tuning the final details with the team’s mechanics before heading out onto the track.
Team spirit at its best. Three members of the #464 team gathered around the open bonnet of their sister car, the BMW M3 E30 2.5-litre Evo DTM (#463), to examine the engine bay in detail and help identify the causes of the technical issues.
👍 Satisfaction, smiles and a brilliant start to the 2025 ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring. Pavel Bouška, Richard Gonda and Tomáš Erdélyi have completed an excellent first qualifying session, and there is well-deserved optimism surrounding the white BMW M3 E30 2.3-litre Gr.A (#464). Team #464 finished 1st in its class and 57th out of 206 in the overall qualifying standings.
😞 Unfortunately, car #463 experienced technical issues, which are currently being rectified.
A team photo taken next to the #464 team’s BMW M3 E30 2.3-litre Gr.A racing car before the start of the first qualifying session at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Behind closed doors, away from the hustle and bustle of the pit lane and the camera lenses. It is here, in the tranquillity of the Walkenhorst Motorsport team’s base, that a crucial technical and tactical briefing is taking place ahead of the first qualifying session.
Tyre pressures, tyre rotation schedules and strategies for a clean lap in a field of over 200 cars. Ahead of the start of the Classic Rennen at the 2025 ADAC 24h Classic Nürburgring, we’re leaving nothing to chance – a good strategy is half the battle.
A view that gets the heart racing every time. The drivers from the Šenkýř Motorsport team watch the home straight and the starting grid at the Nürburgring Nordschleife from the official drivers’ briefing area.
The Šenkýř Motorsport team – comprising Robert Šenkýř, Pavel Bouška, Richard Gonda and Tomáš Erdélyi – is joined by a big name in German motorsport: Henry Walkenhorst, founder of the partner team.
The Czech-Slovak crew are ready for the battle in the Green Hell, where the precise work of the entire trio in every single stint will be decisive.
Sausages instead of petrol, a barbecue instead of the pits. Richard Gonda, Robert Šenkýř, Tomáš Erdélyi and Pavel Bouška fine-tune team chemistry and fuel up ahead of the Green Hell of the ADAC 24H Classic Rennen 2025.
The perfect union between driver and machine. Richard Gonda fine-tunes his seating position and checks the controls in the cockpit of the M3 E30 Gr.A.
On the unpredictable ‘Green Hell’ of the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, it’s not just speed that counts, but also mental resilience and team spirit – and you can feel that in our garage at every turn.
The Šenkýř Motorsport team is moving all their essential equipment to the team tent.
After a short lunch break and a brief rest, we set off for the Nürburgring circuit itself and walked along some of its key sections. The weather has been kind to us so far – mostly sunny, with the occasional cloud. And the forecast for the weekend is similar (unlike last year, when we had more than our fair share of rain).
This morning we attended a drivers’ briefing on obtaining a licence (Permit C) to race youngtimers on the Nordschleife. And now we can slowly start preparing for the race weekend. It officially begins tomorrow, Thursday, at 5.15 pm with the first qualifying session.
The Šenkýř Motorsport team drivers (Robert Šenkýř, Richard Gonda, Tomáš Erdélyi and Pavel Bouška) were in good spirits even during the morning briefing.