Jennen Dominates in Slovenia: A Tactical Masterclass at the World Virtual SGP Final Opener
Slovenia, 24/01/2026 – The 3rd FAI World Virtual Sailplane Grand Prix Final has officially begun yesterday evening, bringing together the world’s elite virtual pilots who qualified from Asia, Africa, the Americas, Oceania, and Europe. The opening race took the fleet to the stunning, mountainous terrain of Slovenia, where speed, strategy, and nerve were tested over a grueling 217km course.
The Start: Discipline at the Gate
The atmosphere around the city of Postojna was tense as the pilots formed up for the Regatta start. With a strict start speed limit of 170 km/h and a maximum altitude of 1600m MSL, the grid had to bleed energy carefully before diving across the line. There is no waiting game in Virtual SGP; as the clock hit zero, the gaggle surged forward, immediately looking to connect with the first energy lines towards Turnpoint 1 at Mrtvice.
The Route: Hunting Energy in the Blue?
The first leg was a tactical dogleg, forcing pilots to navigate a crosswind component from the 168° wind. A distinct split in strategy emerged early. A northern group, including Witold Rozak and Frank Schwerdtfeger, gambled on the terrain, hoping the southerly wind would energize the ridges better on the north side of the track.
However, the day belonged to those who could read the airmass. Belgian 2025 World Champion Jeroen Jennen opted for a more disciplined line. Ignoring the temptation to ridge-run aggressively where the lift was inconsistent, he threaded his way through the "blue holes" areas… by avoiding them! The fleet followed the leader’s choice to fly towards TP2 at high-speed. A 45 degrees off track under splendid cumulus streets helped them to stay high before breaking towards the TP. Jennen maintained a superior energy state before reaching TP2, and put himself in a good position for the Race Win, seventy kilometers away from the finish line.
The Crucial Split: Survival Mode at Cepovan
As the race pivoted back towards the southwest for the 29 km leg to Cepovan, the technical difficulty spiked. The low cloud base and weak lift forced pilots to dial back their McCready settings. We saw heavy 'leeching' in the gaggle behind the leader, with pilots desperately trying to use the lift generated by the low ridges to stay afloat.
It was here that the race was won. While the reigning VSGP World Champion (Arne Martin Güettler) and CN (Norbert Kiss) took the lead approaching TP3 - and fought to climb out of the turbulent air near the relief - Jennen found a solid climb and stayed high, transitioning seamlessly into the final sector. His decision-making was clinical, avoiding the "conflict points" near the terrain that trapped lower pilots.
The Climax: A Drag Race to Divaca
The Final Glide into Divaca was a heart-stopping affair. With a Minimum Safe Arrival Altitude (MSAA) of 454m AMSL - only 30m Above Ground Level - there was no margin for error. Jeroen Jennen (BEL), having managed his potential energy perfectly, crossed the finish line with altitude to spare, securing the first 10 points of the championship.
Behind him, the battle for the podium erupted. Witold Rozak (POL) and Nico Bianchi (ARG) came screaming into the finish sector in a near-dead heat. Rozak, recovering from a lower position, executed a daring pull-up just meters above the penalty floor, crossing the line milliseconds ahead of Bianchi to snatch 2nd place. It was a textbook example of flying to the very edge of the VNE and altitude limits without incurring penalties.
Next Up: Can the Grid Catch Jennen?
Jeroen Jennen has set a blistering pace, proving that tactical intelligence beats raw aggression. But with the championship just beginning, the "monster" of virtual gliding has a target on his back. The reigning champion Arne-Martin Güttler will be looking to bounce back in Race 2.
Don’t miss the action. Watch the full replay of Race 1 on our YouTube channel and tune in today at 19:00 UTC for Race 2, where the conditions (and the pressure) will only increase.
