FAT Ice Race 2026 – Between tradition and high-speed madness on ice
A frosty morning, fresh powder snow, perfectly groomed slopes. The FAT Ice Race 2026 delivered exactly the scenario that makes this place so special. In Zell am See, an alpine postcard backdrop meets motorsport in its rawest form – sideways, loud and surprisingly accessible.
What happens here is more than a revival of historic races. Between classic Porsche 356s, rugged rally cars, modern high-performance vehicles and curious spectators, a wide arc spans from the past to the very distant future.
Old heroes, new chapters
The mix in the paddock is as diverse as it is harmonious. Air-cooled classics stand alongside the latest performance models, interspersed with skijoring teams, design installations and children with shining eyes. This is precisely where the strength of the event lies: motorsport not as a museum piece, but as a living culture.
In 2026, the Porsche Cayenne Electric attracted particular attention with its first appearance on ice. An electric SUV that doesn’t explain, but demonstrates. Drift runs, taxi rides, lots of snow – and a surprising amount of control. With up to 850 kW of power and 1,500 Nm of torque, the Cayenne Electric showed that traction today no longer comes solely from mechanics, but from software, sensitivity and instantly available power.
The spectacle was accompanied by Timo Bernhard and Jörg Bergmeister, who demonstrated in the legendary 964 Buggy that driving pleasure knows no age limits.
Contrasts that work
“Two generations of Porsche technology together on the track – that’s a powerful image,” summed up Michael Schätzle, Vice President Product Line Cayenne. Combustion engines and electric motors, old and new: opposites that are not mutually exclusive here, but rather complement each other.
And that’s exactly what visitors feel. The FAT Ice Race is not a place for best times or data sheets. It’s about atmosphere, stories, that special thrill when a car drives more sideways than straight ahead on ice – and everyone laughs.
Fun over Speed at FAT Ice Race 2026
Skijoring is not a folkloric event at the FAT Ice Race, but rather a high-performance sport on bare ice. It was here that the Classic Trader Team 2026 continued to write its own history.
Team rider Michael Gross, Director of Auctions at Classic Trader, defended his title in impressive fashion. And he did so in a way that is loved here: at full throttle, with courage to take risks and maximum commitment.
Together with renowned car photographer Máté Boér on skis, firmly connected by the tow rope, they raced around the course at spectacular high speed. This time without kissing the ice wall and without rolling over – but with a clean line, maximum speed and just the right amount of madness that makes skijoring the supreme discipline.
In the end, it wasn’t the stopwatch that decided the outcome, but the audience. High speed, performance and controlled madness won over the spectators – and sealed the title win. Motorsport as an experience, not as a league table position.
More than motorsport
The event has long been a meeting place for modern car culture. Music, cuisine, fashion and social media mingle with the background noise of engines. New for 2026: Porsche Youngsters, a community approach that gently introduces young enthusiasts to the club world. Workshops, exchanges, ice racing in the middle of it all. Motorsport as a gateway, not a hurdle.
Organiser Ferdi Porsche sums it up aptly: ‘Fun over speed.’ Around 8,500 visitors came not to compare stopwatches, but to be part of a story. This is precisely where the relevance of this event lies: historic motorsport remains alive because it is not explained, but experienced.
The FAT Ice Race 2026 was neither a nostalgic look back nor a future laboratory in an ivory tower. It was a rare moment when both met on bare ice – with cross angles, snow dust, high speed and very good stories.
Text Michael Gross Photos Máté Boér, Stefan Bogner, Petra Selbertinger
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