The ULTRA4 Europe – King of Germany 2026 marked the first event of a new era for the championship. Hosted at the Armin Schwarz Driving Center in Gröningen, Germany, the event ran from 26–28 March 2026 and welcomed around 40 teams across five competitive classes. With temperatures hovering around 1°C, overcast skies, and rain on the final day turning sections of the course into thick mud, conditions ensured a true Ultra4 challenge.

As the Media Co-Ordinator for Ultra4 Europe, my goal at this event was not only to document the racing, but also to support the wider mission of rebuilding the brand, elevating media quality, and increasing exposure ahead of a full relaunch in 2027. This included producing high-quality photography, capturing compelling footage for the upcoming event video, and preparing visual assets suitable for manufacturer and partner pitches — including Nikon.

A New Venue, A New Chapter

2026 introduced a completely new venue for King of Germany. The Armin Schwarz Driving Center offered a mix of fast rally-style sections, deep ruts, wooded lanes, and muddy technical zones — especially after Saturday’s rainfall. The combination of cold weather, slippery terrain, and a fresh course layout created an intense challenge for both seasoned teams and newcomers.

A major talking point of the weekend came early:
2025 King of Germany winner, Jim Marsden, suffered an engine failure during Qualifying, preventing him from defending his title.

King of Germany 2026 – Official Class Results

Below are the confirmed winners from each class:

4900 UTV

• 1st: #444 DBAC Racing
• 2nd: #022 Beecroff’s Tyres
• 3rd: #312 J&D Offroad

4800 Legend

• 1st: #311 J&D Offroad
• 2nd: #21 Frejtag Racing
• 3rd: #84 Team Krol

4400 Unlimited

• 1st: #934 Schmidt 4×4
• 2nd: #777 Korpysa Motorsport
• 3rd: #2812 The Crazy Germans

Trophy Extrem

• 1st: #3 Offroader 24
• 2nd: #0815 Erdnuckel
• 3rd: #7 Oldschool Division

Trophy Proto

• 1st: #137 Woldstaagangster
• 2nd: #166 Meier Racing
• 3rd: #710 Team Nemo

Congratulations to every podium finisher, and respect to all competitors who braved the cold, the rain, and the mud to put on an incredible show.

Photography Highlights — Gallery Now Live

The photo gallery is now live, showcasing a selection of my favourite images from throughout the weekend. These include:

• High-speed action shots
• Mud-covered machines battling through the course
• Rock and technical sections
• Driver portraits and candid paddock moments
• Atmospheric wide-angle images of the new venue
• Night and low-light captures
• Team interactions and behind-the-scenes coverage

This collection is designed not only for fans and competitors, but also as part of the broader media upgrade for Ultra4 Europe — providing strong, high-impact visuals that support the championship’s redevelopment and future partnerships.

Event Video Coming Soon

I am currently editing the official event highlight video, which will include:

• Multi-camera race coverage
• Aerial shots
• Qualifying and race-day sequences
• Mud, rain, and low-light conditions
• Paddock atmosphere
• Narrative-driven motorsport cinematics

The video will be added to this page as soon as it is complete.

Rebuilding Ultra4 Europe — Looking Ahead to 2027

King of Germany 2026 represents a key step in rebuilding Ultra4 Europe from the ground up. With a refreshed media strategy, stronger visual identity, and improved digital presence — including a new website being developed for the 2027 season — the goal is to elevate the championship to the premium off-road level it deserves.

High-quality imagery and video are central to this plan, helping:

• Attract new partners and manufacturers
• Provide better value to sponsors
• Give teams professional assets for promotion
• Increase fan engagement
• Strengthen the Ultra4 brand across Europe

Next Event: King of Nations 2026

The journey continues with King of Nations, the next round in the championship. I will again be providing complete Ultra4 Europe media coverage — photography, video production, social content, and official storytelling.

Work With Me

If you are a manufacturer, team, sponsor, brand, or event organiser looking for professional motorsport media — including photography, cinematics, brand storytelling, or long-form documentary content — please get in touch.

This project is part of a broader initiative to elevate Ultra4 Europe’s visual identity and rebuild the championship ahead of the 2027 relaunch. I welcome partnership discussions and media collaborations.

📩 Contact: darren@darrenwoolway.co.uk +44 7849 385 331

Day 1 – Set up and Layout of the track

It takes more than just the drivers, without the plethora of volunteers; events like this just wouldn’t take place.