13th Series Opener in Varese: Gatfield Conquers Task B to Claim Race 1
24/05/2026, VARESE, ITALY - The 13th Series of the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix is officially underway, and Race 1 immediately reminded the fleet why the skies over Lombardy are considered one of the most tactically demanding arenas in the sport. Hosted by the legendary Aero Club Adele Orsi (ACAO) at Calcinate del Pesce, the opening day tested the 16-pilot grid with grueling thermal conditions and high-stakes navigational puzzles through the Pre-Alps.
Stable Skies Force a Tactical Pivot
The day began with an unexpected meteorological curveball. With the weather proving far more stable than initially anticipated, race organizers opted to pivot away from the original routing to guarantee high-quality racing. Take-offs were delayed until 14:00 LT, and the fleet was tasked with a rapid, 205 km "Task B" route: Varese – San Pellegrino – M Ceneri – Lasnigo – Varese. This shorter track was designed to instantly separate the pure tacticians from the rest of the pack in trickier, weaker conditions. The start gate officially opened at 15:15 LT (13:15 UTC), and the 16-pilot grid launched into what would soon become a exhausting sprint.
The Race Unfolds: High Drama and Heavy Attrition
The energy along the route was electric, but the terrain was unforgiving. The dash out to San Pellegrino saw pilots struggling with the stable air mass. Slovenia's Jernej Lokovsek (NL) set an incredibly aggressive early pace with a start speed of 155 km/h, but the weak conditions forced him dangerously low, rounding Turnpoint 1 at a nerve-wracking 397m.The long, cross-border leg to Turnpoint 2 (M Ceneri) became the day's great filter. The massive gaps between competitors began to form as pilots fought for every meter of altitude. The high attrition rate ultimately claimed several favorites, including Lokovsek and Luka Žnidaršič (LZ), who both registered DNFs in the complex Italian terrain.
Gatfield’s Masterclass: A Decisive Final Glide
While others faltered, Jon Gatfield (YO) thrived. Piloting his AS33Es, Gatfield navigated the complex Pre-Alps topography with great skills. The defining moment of Race 1 occurred late in the task when Gatfield managed to connect with a critical energy line, allowing him to escape the struggling pack before the final glide. He crossed the finish line flawlessly, completing the 205 km task in just 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 38 seconds, averaging 94.2 km/h without incurring a single penalty point. The rest of the field had to fight for every single kilometer to make it home. Germany's David Bauder finished second, crossing the line a commanding 7 minutes and 46 seconds behind Gatfield. Local favorite Stefano Ghiringhelli rounded out the podium, arriving nearly 13 minutes off the lead pace.
Official Results – Race 1 (Task B: 205 km)
The final scores are locked in, confirming massive time gaps and highlighting just how demanding today's sky really was.
With the first day's brutal reality check behind them, the fleet will look to regroup, repair, and recalibrate for Race 2. If today was any indication, the 13th Series in Varese will be a fiercely contested battle of endurance and meteorological mastery.
Follow all the live action, daily tracking, and official results at sgp.aero.
