Janik Pletscher, Coque López, Enrique Maranon, Alejandro Sánchez and Angelo Michel – spot the missing name in that list.
Each of these five drivers won at least a round of the 2025 Racing Unleashed Racer league, and in the case of Sánchez, two and López, a staggering three. But the champion, for a fifth time no less, Michal Šmídl, didn’t win once.
A model of consistency, the Czech driver made the most of this season’s race format. The first round of the season featured single-lap qualifying to set the grid, then the second a partially reversed grid based on championship standings. The third reverted back to one-lap qualifying, the fourth a reverse grid and so on for the season.
Šmídl was a master of fighting back through in the reverse grid rounds, avoiding drama and keeping it clean – the approach delivered consistent finishes. His worst result of the season was sixth, and that came in the frenetic season finale. Every other result was fifth or higher, scoring five podiums in eight races.
Not that he wasn’t quick, too, far from it. In fact, in the early season happenings, he was only just bested by Sánchez. The two scored a one-two in the first and third rounds, and it looked like the Spaniard would take the challenge all season long.
Unfortunately for the Apex Racing Team driver, a mid-season slump (after being caught up in several reverse grid melees) put paid to any real shot at the title come Race 8 – although mathematically, he was still in with a shout.
A third-place finish, however, was not enough to secure a second Racing Unleashed crown to go with 2021’s triumph.
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