By There is less than three months before the 2026 Austrian Hill Climb Championship season opener, inter-twined with European Road Race Hill Climb Championship for action at Landshaag and the second, final round at Julbach in June.
2024 national Austrian Superstock 1000 Hill Climb Champion, rising road racing star (fastest Austrian Stare Mesto, Dymokury exponent plus second fastest racer from his home nation behind Florian Astner at Horice, thanks to new PB lap-time set last August – 2.18.938) Thomas ‘Uccio’ Altendorfer announced during the past week, confirmation of his invitation to this year’s Manx Grand Prix, as a newcomer.
This was revealed by his good friend, team-mate, Landshaag track record holder, Germany’s quickest TT racer David ‘Datziii’ Datzer within a road’s scene themed, evening chat event with Horst Saiger, John McGuinness MBE and famous German TT fan, Konrad ‘Wheelie-Konni’ Ammenhauser.
If we delve deeper into the connection between Austria and the Isle of Man, Austrian TT racers after the 2000 millennium year include the already showcased, 2017 Privateers Champion Horst Saiger, Julian Trummer, Toni Rechberger, the late great Martin Loicht (multiple winner of classic races in the Czech Republic, always a fans favourite at Horice) and Sidecar pilots Michael Grabmuller, former World Champion, three times TT winner Klaus ‘Klaffi’ Klaffenbock.
IRRC races competitors from Austria (including IRRC wildcard starts), to have tackled Austrian Hill Climbs in recent years are for example, the afore-mentioned Julian Trummer, Toni Rechberger, Thomas Altendorfer.
Plus, Jochen Rotter, Andreas Gangl, Thomas Altenhuber, Christian Wiesinger-Mayr, Daniel Wiesinger, Thomas Mitgutsch, Thomas Berghammer, Robert Heitzinger, Dominik Haslinger, Jurgen Plattner, Mario Grunwald, Stefan Schorgendorfer and Markus Mitterbauer.
Various times 250cc Austrian Hill Climb Champion, German racer Henrik Voit, is another TT, IRRC experienced racer.
Austrian legend Karl Truchsess, showed below amongst the list of leading riders per Austrian Hill Climbs in 1000/600cc categories, has Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix experience, the same as previously highlighted Austrian aces Julian Trummer and Horst Saiger.
Just for reminder 2026 rounds of Austrian Hill Climb Road Race Championship, will be at:
11th-12th April – Landshaag – Austria
13th-14th June – Julbach – Austria
An added bonus the compiled unofficial list of top Superbike/Superstock 1000/Supersport/Superstock 600 category riders, of each season in this millennium, at Austrian hill climbs (including National Champions and Austrian Motorsport Federation Cup winners etc.):
2025: Maurizio Bottalico (SBK) / Alexander Kastenhuber (SSP) / Markus Mitterbauer (STK 1000) / Alexander Kastenhuber (STK 600)
2024: Thomas Altendorfer (STK 1000) / Martin Hintringer (STK 600) / Thomas Altenhuber (SBK) / Alexander Kastenhuber (SSP)
2023: Andreas Gangl (STK 1000) / Maurizio Bottalico (STK 600) / Andreas Gangl (SBK) / Philipp Fuchs (SSP)
2022: Wolgang Gammer (STK 1000) / Emanuel Reisinger (SSP) / Andreas Gangl (SBK) / Emanuel Reisinger (STK 600)
2021: Andreas Gangl (STK 1000) / Tiziano Rosati (STK 600) / Jean-Luc David (SBK) / Mauro Poncini (SSP)
2020: was not held
2019: Andreas Gangl (STK 1000) / Rafael Neuner (STK 600) / Thomas Berghammer (SBK) / Rafael Neuner (SSP)
2018: Wolgang Gammer (STK 1000) / Emanuel Reisinger (STK 600) / Wolgang Gammer (SBK) / Mario Gastinger (SSP)
2017: Andreas Gangl (STK 1000) / Thomas Anderl (STK 600) / Andreas Gangl (SBK) / Thomas Anderl (SSP)
2016: Wolgang Gammer (STK 1000) / Thomas Anderl (STK 600) / Wolgang Gammer (SBK) / Thomas Anderl (SSP)
2015: Jean-Luc David (SBK) / Francesco Curinga (SSP) / Klaus Kaltenbacher (STK 1000) / Christian Lobmayr (STK 600)
2014: Stefano Bonetti (SBK) / John Pilloud (SSP) / Klaus Kaltenbacher (STK 1000) / Elodie Coronado (STK 600)
2013: Klaus Kaltenbacher (SBK) / Christian Lobmayr (STK 600) / Chris Zaiser (STK 1000) / Rene Pointinger (SSP)
2012: Christian Zimmermann (STK 1000) / Harald Jungwirth (STK 600) / Helmut Schleindlhuber (SBK) / Thomas Berghammer (SSP) /
2011: Helmut Schleindlhuber (SBK) / Rene Pointinger (SSP) / Helmut Schleindlhuber (STK 1000) / Thomas Hortler (STK 600)
2010: Gerhard Mairhofer (SBK) / Gunther Landertshamer (SSP) / Toni Rechberger (STK 1000) / Ralf Kemetmuller (STK 600)
2009: August Laus (SBK) / Gunther Landertshamer (SSP) / Helmut Schleindlhuber (STK 1000) / Thomas Hintersteininger (STK 600)
2008: Helmut Schleindlhuber (SBK) / Mario Klepatsch (SSP) / August Laus (STK 1000) / Thomas Hintersteininger (STK 600)
2007: Friedrich Gahleitner (SBK) / Roland Kellner (SSP) / Friedrich Gahleitner (STK 1000) / Thomas Hartl (STK 600)
2006: Helmut Schleindlhuber (SBK) / Peter Gastinger (SSP) / Friedrich Gahleitner (STK)
2005: Karl Truchsess (SBK) / Mario Klepatsch (SSP) / Helmut Schleindlhuber (STK)
2004: Helmut Schleindlhuber (SBK) / Roland Kellner (SSP) / Friedrich Gaihleitner (STK)
2003: Karl Truchsess (SBK) / Alfred Grossauer (SSP) / Karl Truchsess (STK)
2002: Gunter Strasser (SBK) / Hans Ommer (SSP) / Karl Truchsess (STK)
2001: Gunter Strasser (SBK) / Michael Witzeneder (SSP) / Karl Truchsess (STK)
2000: Gunter Strasser (SBK) / Christian Zaiser (SSP) / Karl Truchsess (STK)
Photo credit: Jan Vavra
Words by Jan Vavra
