Rennsport R1 Fall Season: TC Esports draw first blood in opening round

What the report says

Add us as your preferred news source on Google Add Traxion to your "Preferred Sources" on Google to make sure you get your sim racing news always from a trusted source ← Esports • News 2 September 2026 — 3 minute read By Ewan O'LearyThe format for the Rennsport R1 Fall Season was unchanged from the Spring competition, with four online rounds followed by a final for the top six drivers on the Rennsport game.This time around, though, the Final will take place live at the SimRacing Expo in October. On each night, the 12 teams are split into two groups, and for the opening round Group B was the stronger of the two, with MOUZ the only established R1 team in the other group.They kicked off the evening, but Max Benecke was not able to take pole at Spa as expected; instead, it was Nico Nunninghoff from the Rennsport Grandmasters team, the surprise package of last season, getting off to a very strong start.

The long run up the Kemmel Straight on the opening lap always opens up the leader to early challenges, but Nunninghoff was able to keep his lead and stay there until the race’s conclusion after eight laps. The battles behind were few and far between; only Benecke’s teammate Moritz Lohner was able to make up significant places, up to fourth place by the end. Group B would have much more drama on offer. Josh Rogers started off where he left off last season, getting pole position, but was mobbed on the back straight on the opening lap.

After side-to-side contact through Les Combes, he spun to the driver’s left before Malmedy, dropping him down the field. Jack Keithley would step through the madness to lead for TC Esports, while Rogers recovered to sixth, still ahead of his struggling teammate Dayne Warren, behind him in seventh. The evening moved onto Road Atlanta for Race 2, where Nunninghoff again took pole in Group A ahead of Benecke. They’d follow one another all the way home, while Benecke’s teammate Lohner had more trouble, spinning on the kerb at turn one on lap four. This would drop the German to ninth, and he was only able to regain one of these places in the next eight laps, resigning MOUZ to just 46 points in what could be their easiest group throughout the competition.Back in Group B, 2023 Spring Season champion Marcell Csincsik was able to roll back the years and take pole in a TC Esports one-two, and they would hold these positions on the start until Race 1 winner Keithley made a mistake, dropping him to fifth.

Key details

One lap later, Marko Pejic had his own spin for BS+ Competition, putting Keithley back to fourth and Pejic down closer to his teammate Robbie Stapleford, who’d spun earlier in the race. Those positions would hold to the end, and Csincsik was able to help TCE to 62 points on the opening day.The surprise package of the day, Rennsport Grandmasters, were up to second with 55 points, while it was a slow start for Porsche Coanda, who are down in eighth with only 32 points and with lots of work to do to defend their title, beginning next week with Round 2.

Gran Turismo 7 • News Every car in Gran Turismo 7’s Spec IV update 3 days ago Forza Horizon 6 • News McLaren W1 hypercar hits Forza Horizon 6 10th September 4 days ago Assetto Corsa Rally • News Assetto Corsa Rally trailer showcases Audi Quattro, Peugeot 206 WRC and VW Polo R5 2 days ago iRacing • News All iRacing content will be available in career mode at ‘zero extra cost’ 1 week ago Assetto Corsa Evo • News Latest Assetto Corsa EVO update adds official TrackIR support 5 days ago Latest news Assetto Corsa Rally • News Assetto Corsa Rally trailer showcases Audi Quattro, Peugeot 206 WRC and VW Polo R5 2 days ago Various • News Glenda Studio: The crucial, woman-led racing game studio you’ve never heard of.

2 days ago Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown • News Updated: Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Season 7 adds six new cars 2 days ago Gran Turismo 7 • News Every car in Gran Turismo 7’s Spec IV update 3 days ago Forza Horizon 6 • Guide Where to find the Mascot Party Minamino Edamame area in Forza Horizon 6 3 days ago View all