Luka Žnidaršič winner SGP Italy
SGP Series 13 Italy: Racing, Loss, and Resolve at Varese
FAI Sailplane Grand Prix — Varese, Italy, 22–30 May 2026
The 13th Series of the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix opened at Calcinate del Pesce, home of the Aero Club Adele Orsi (ACAO), with five races over seven days in the skies above Lombardy. What unfolded tested pilots not only as aviators but as people.
Race 1 — 24 May: Gatfield Wins the Opener
The competition began on Sunday 24 May with a 16-pilot grid and conditions that were weaker than forecast. A more stable airmass than forecast forced a tactical revision: the original task was set aside in favour of a compact 205 km "Task B" — Varese to San Pellegrino, then across to M Ceneri in Switzerland, back to Lasnigo, and home.
Slovenia's Jernej Lokovsek set a fast opening pace, crossing the start at 155 kph, but the weak conditions extracted a heavy price — he rounded the first turnpoint at just 397 m and eventually recorded a DNF, as did compatriot Luka Žnidaršič. The cross-border leg to M Ceneri became the day's decisive test, and the field thinned considerably.
Britain's Jon Gatfield, flying an AS 33 Es, navigated the Pre-Alps terrain with good judgement and connected with a useful energy line before the final glide, allowing him to separate cleanly from the struggling pack. He crossed the finish line in 2 hours 10 minutes and 38 seconds, averaging 94.2 kph with no penalty points. Germany's David Bauder finished second, 7 minutes and 46 seconds behind, with Italian local Stefano Ghiringhelli third, nearly 13 minutes off the pace.
Jon Gatfield on th e podium after winning Race 1 SGP Italy. Requiescat in pace
A Tragic Loss — 25 May
On 25 May, during the second race of the competition, Jon Gatfield was involved in a fatal accident. Fellow pilots in the vicinity alerted organisers immediately, and a helicopter and emergency responders reached the site within minutes. Race 2 was cancelled and all remaining gliders directed back to the field. The following day, 26 May, was declared an official day of mourning.
Jon was a respected veteran of multiple SGP events and a highly accomplished pilot. He was widely regarded as generous, warm, and genuinely committed to the sport and its community. His loss cast a long shadow over the rest of the week.
Race 3 — 27 May: A Return to the Sky
After two days of silence, the pilots made a collective decision to return to the grid on 27 May. The atmosphere was quiet and subdued. Eight pilots chose to fly, seven of them electing to complete the designated task — a 227 km route across the ridges of the Lombardy region. Luka Žnidaršič, Michael Reiner, and Steffen Schwarzer completed the race and took the top three positions. The day was understood by all as a tribute rather than a competition, though the points counted.
Race 4 — 29 May: Žnidaršič Takes Control
Racing resumed in earnest on 29 May with a 219 km task threading through the Swiss-Italian lakes — Montevaltra, M Ceneri, Teglio, and Gurone before the return to Varese. It proved to be a highly selective day: only four pilots completed the task.
Luka Žnidaršič (LZ) won with an average speed of 96 kph, his advantage built primarily on the Ceneri-to-Teglio leg. While most of the field managed that section at between 47 and 48 kph, Žnidaršič found lines that allowed him to progress at 65.5 kph, then maintained 142 kph on the following leg to establish a lead the others could not close. Steffen Schwarzer (L7) and Michael Reiner (MR) crossed the line in the same second, exactly 34 minutes and 9 seconds behind, with David Bauder (DC) fourth, just 18 seconds later. Jernej Lokovsek fought hard to become the fifth finisher but fell short of task completion, having circled in 80 thermals at an average speed of 39.9 kph in difficult valley conditions. Ulrich Messmer (LR) and Maciej Walasek (M1) were unable to reach the Teglio turnpoint and did not complete the task.
Race 5 — 30 May: Reiner Closes Out the Week
The final racing day brought a compact 133 km foothill circuit through Lecco, Varese Arcisate, Brunate, and Gurone. A stable morning airmass required patience; the Race Director delayed the planned 13:00 launch and waited for conditions to develop.
Michael Reiner (MR) delivered the cleanest flight of the day, averaging 92.6 kph to take the race win. Žnidaršič was close behind, finishing 1 minute and 47 seconds later at 90.7 kph for second place. Steffen Schwarzer (L7) completed the podium at 87.6 kph.
Competition Result
Through the five races, Luka Žnidaršič accumulated 19 points to win the Varese Grand Prix overall. Michael Reiner's consistent performances, capped by his final-race victory, placed him second with 17 points. Both pilots earned qualification for the SGP World Final, to be held at the Club de Planeadores de Chile in Vitacura.
The Varese event was the first qualifying round of Series 13. Further qualifying events are scheduled across 2025–2027, with the World Final in Chile as the series conclusion.
The SGP Series 13 Italian Grand Prix will be remembered as much for the collective decision to continue as for the racing itself. The pilots, organisers, tow pilots, and support crews chose to complete the competition in the face of genuine grief — a decision that reflected the character of the soaring community. The full series calendar and championship standings are available at sgp.aero
