Hillclimbing.org Goes Monster Hunting in Croatia!
Spectacular cars, record-breaking performances and international camaraderie at Bongo Hillclimb Monsters 2026.
What a weekend! Incredible machinery, glorious Croatian sunshine, spectacular racing and a wonderful gathering of the international hillclimbing community. Bongo Hillclimb Monsters 2026 certainly lived up to its name!
The Hillclimbing.org team, powered by Insite Graphics, travelled to the picturesque town of Skradin, Croatia, for the 2026 Bongo Hillclimb Monsters event, held from 16–18 October.
Set against a stunning backdrop of mountains, woodland and the beautiful Croatian landscape, the event brought together an extraordinary collection of hillclimb cars, drivers, teams and enthusiasts for a thrilling weekend of motorsport. Hillclimbing.org was delighted to be there to capture the action and soak up the atmosphere.
Meeting Rodrigo de Oliveira – The Man Behind Hillclimb Monsters
One of the highlights of the weekend was the opportunity for Chris from Hillclimbing.org to meet Rodrigo de Oliveira, founder of Hillclimb Monsters and co-organiser of Bongo Hillclimb Monsters.
Rodrigo has played an important role in promoting the spectacular world of hillclimbing to an international audience, celebrating the extraordinary cars, engineering and personalities that make the sport so exciting.
Bongo Hillclimb Monsters is a wonderful example of that passion brought to life, bringing together competitors and enthusiasts from across Europe for an event that is as much about friendship and community as it is about competition.
Chris was delighted to meet Rodrigo personally and congratulate him on what has become a truly impressive international motorsport gathering.
The dedication and enthusiasm of Rodrigo and the organising team were evident throughout the weekend, creating a fantastic atmosphere for competitors and spectators alike.
An Extraordinary Collection of Hillclimb Machinery
From the moment the team arrived in Skradin, there was plenty to see.
Friday's technical day provided an opportunity to explore the paddock, catch up with competitors and take a closer look at some of the extraordinary engineering on display.
The variety of machinery was remarkable, from heavily modified saloon cars and turbocharged monsters to purpose-built racing machines, all prepared to tackle the challenging Croatian course.
The paddock was buzzing with activity as teams made their final preparations, mechanics worked on their cars and spectators enjoyed the opportunity to get close to some truly spectacular machinery.
Hillclimbing.org shared photographs and videos throughout the weekend, capturing everything from the technical details and paddock preparations to the pre-grid excitement and action on the hill.
Practice wasn't without its challenges, with several incidents interrupting proceedings and limiting competitors to two completed practice runs. An additional session was therefore arranged before the main competition.
But the excitement continued to build as the event headed towards its spectacular finale.
Team Legacy – Determination in the Paddock.
Among the teams featured in Hillclimbing.org's coverage was Team Legacy, whose weekend provided a perfect example of the teamwork and determination that characterise hillclimbing.
With the pressure mounting ahead of the final run, problems with a turbo pipe threatened to disrupt their preparations. However, the team pulled together, worked against the clock and managed to get the Legacy ready just in time for the Top Ten runoff.
It was a brilliant example of the dedication that goes on behind the scenes, and a reminder that motorsport is about far more than the driver and the car.
The commitment of the mechanics, engineers and support crews is every bit as important.
Insite Graphics Celebrates 25 Years – And Looks Ahead to 2027!
There was another reason to celebrate in Croatia, as Insite Graphics, proud supporters of Hillclimbing.org, featured prominently on the front of Team Legacy's car, marking an impressive 25 years in business.
It was fantastic to see the Insite name taking pride of place on such an extraordinary machine at one of Europe's most exciting hillclimbing events.
A fitting way to celebrate 25 years of creativity, innovation and achievement, while looking ahead to an exciting new chapter.
A Spectacular Finish and a New Record
The weekend culminated in the eagerly anticipated Top Ten Shootout, providing a thrilling finale to three days of extraordinary motorsport.
One of the standout achievements came from Reto Meisel, who set a new Tin Top record with a stunning time of 1:30.200.
It was a remarkable performance and a fitting conclusion to a fantastic weekend of competition.
The level of engineering, driving skill and sheer horsepower on display demonstrated why Bongo Hillclimb Monsters has become such an exciting fixture on the European hillclimbing calendar.
Celebrating the International Hillclimbing Community
Perhaps the most memorable aspect of the weekend wasn't simply the machinery or the racing, but the people.
From meeting Rodrigo de Oliveira and catching up with the teams to enjoying the camaraderie in the paddock, Hillclimbing.org experienced first-hand the enthusiasm and friendship that make this sport so special.
The beautiful town of Skradin, magnificent weather and warm welcome added to the experience, making this much more than just another motorsport event.
Bongo Hillclimb Monsters is a celebration of everything that makes hillclimbing great: extraordinary engineering, fearless competitors, dedicated teams and a shared passion that crosses international borders.
A huge congratulations and thank you to Rodrigo de Oliveira, the organising team, competitors, marshals, volunteers and everyone involved in making the 2026 event such a success.
Hillclimbing.org was delighted to be part of it, and we look forward to seeing what the Monsters have in store next!
Hillclimbing.org – Powered by Insite Graphics.
Celebrating the people, passion and extraordinary machinery of hillclimbing around the world.
Comments