EJ Automotive driver masters treacherous conditions for Race 1 win, then digs in for a battling fourth place as the rain intensified in Race 2

EJ Automotive driver Kristoff Cox delivered a standout weekend at the Zolder Truck GP round of the Belcar Sprint Cup, taking his first class victory of the season in a rain-soaked Race 1 before following it up with a hard-earned fourth-place finish as conditions worsened further in Race 2.

Driving the team’s Renault Clio Cup 5 (#214) in Class 2, Cox faced difficult, changeable conditions from the start of the weekend. In Race 1, with rain falling steadily and grip levels dropping throughout the field, Cox kept his composure and put in a controlled, well-judged drive from start to finish. While others struggled to find grip on the wet Zolder circuit, Cox’s measured pace and clean racecraft carried him to the front of his class — securing his and EJ Automotive’s first victory of their 2026 Belcar Sprint Cup campaign.

Race 2 offered no let-up. Rain returned even heavier than in the first race, making conditions on track among the most challenging of the season so far. With visibility and grip at a premium, Cox adjusted his approach to bring the Clio home safely, converting a difficult situation into a solid fourth-place finish — a result that reflected the sheer difficulty of the conditions as much as it did the strength of the field.

“It was a weekend of two very different challenges,” said Kristoff Cox. “In Race 1 everything clicked — the car felt good in the wet and I could really push where it counted, so to come away with the win means a lot. Race 2 was just brutal, the rain got worse and worse, and in those conditions it’s about survival and picking up every point you can. Fourth is a good result given how tricky it was out there.”The weekend marks a strong step forward for both Cox and EJ Automotive as the team continues to build its presence in the Belcar Sprint Cup Class 2 field.

Picture; (C) D. Noels

Kristoff Cox will contest the Belcar Sprint Cup once more this weekend, joining the grid at Zolder as part of the Truck GP meeting weekend. Racing for EJ Automotive in the team’s Renault Clio Cup 5 (car #214), Cox will once again compete in Class 2, aiming to build on the strong form he showed at the Zolder 24 Hours two weeks ago, where he fought his way into contention for a class podium finish.

Zolder will mark Cox’s final appearance of the season, as business commitments will prevent him from taking part in the championship’s closing round at Assen.

“After the pace we showed at the 24 Hours, I’m looking forward to finishing the season on a high here at Zolder,” said Cox. “It’s disappointing not to be able to make it to Assen, but the team and I will be giving it everything this weekend to end things on a strong note.”

More updates will follow throughout the race weekend.

EJ Automotive team owner Jurgen Evers stepped back behind the wheel this weekend, making his racing debut in the Max5 Mazda Cup after 13 years away from competitive racing. The meeting took place at the TT Circuit in Assen, a track Evers had never driven before — setting the stage for a steep learning curve.

With limited experience of the Max5 racer and an unfamiliar circuit, Evers faced a tough introduction to the series. Rain during the last two races of the day added to the challenge, but he comes away with valuable laps and lessons banked for the future.

“It’s been 13 years since I last raced, so stepping back into a car — and on a track I’d never seen — was always going to be a challenge,” said Evers. “The rain during the last two races of the day didn’t help either, but there’s plenty to work on and I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m already looking ahead to next season.”