The Sinaia round of the National Hill Climb Championship will feature no fewer than 89 top drivers at the start, according to a statement from the Romanian Motor Sport Federation sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.

'As it does every year, the event transforms the town at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains into a true arena of speed, where thousands of spectators gather to see some of the most impressive race cars from Romania and abroad in action; Sinaia is the only round of the championship featuring an exclusively urban course. The public will be able to admire spectacular models such as the Ferrari 488 Challenge, a 1,000-horsepower Tesla, and a Porsche 911 Turbo, alongside numerous other unique automobiles in Romanian motorsport. Over 15,000 spectators are expected across the two days of competition,' the press release reads.

The Sinaia Trophy is one of the oldest and most prestigious competitions of its kind in Romania. The first editions of the races on the Royal Road date back to the interwar period—the era of King Carol—when Sinaia was already a magnet for automotive enthusiasts, with legends such as Marin Dumitrescu and Petre Cristea making history on this course.

One of the key names at this year's event is Jerome France, a driver originally from France who has been based in Romania for over two decades. He has the chance to make history in the competition, standing on the verge of a unique achievement: three consecutive victories at the Sinaia Trophy.

Following his successes in the last two editions, France—driving a Nova Proto prototype—once again starts as the favorite; however, the competition is extremely fierce, and margins on such a technical course are typically razor-thin. Another victory would make him the first driver in the competition's history to achieve this feat. Drivers such as Emil Ghinea, Elias Raduta, Dragos Savloschi, and Octavian Ciovica are also vying for the top spot in the Open standings.

Category I—dedicated exclusively to touring cars and boasting the largest field in the championship—will also see fierce competition. Radu Benea, the reigning champion and record-holder, is aiming for a victory on the Prahova Valley course. Driving a Ferrari 488 Challenge, the Timisoara native has secured three wins out of four races so far; a victory this weekend would bring him a step closer to the second title of his career.

'The Sinaia Trophy is one of the most spectacular and beloved rounds of the National Hill Climb Championship. The 89 registered drivers and the exceptional cars at the starting line guarantee a high-level spectacle, and I am convinced that the audience will enjoy a memorable weekend on the Royal Road,' said Norris Mageanu, President of the Romanian Motor Sport Federation.

The Sinaia Trophy is scheduled to kick off on Friday evening at the Casino with the presentation of the drivers, followed by a special screening of the biographical documentary 'The Race of My Life' (*Cursa vietii mele*), dedicated to the legendary Marin Dumitrescu. In fact, the weekend's race is being organized in his memory. Practice sessions—comprising a total of five runs—will take place on Saturday, while the two competitive race heats are scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 PM. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Adrian Tone;EN - writing by: Catalin Cristian Trandafir)

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