Jennen Doubles Down: Belgian Ace Masters the Weak Lift in Race 4
CELJE/NOETSCH, 6 January 2026 – The wait is finally over, and the variometers are screaming. After a two-week hiatus, the 3rd FAI World Virtual Sailplane Grand Prix Final resumed today with Race 4, and the "Spring" weather preset threw a curveball that caught the grid off guard. Gone were the booming ridge runs of Week 1; today was a battle for survival in weak, broken lift where patience was the only fuel.
Jeroen Jennen (Belgium), the winner of Race 1, proved that his opening victory was no fluke. Navigating a treacherous 201 km task from Celje (Slovenia) to Noetsch (Austria), he secured his second win of the championship, vaulting himself back into serious contention for the final title on Sunday. He surely got his ticket for the one-shot race!
The Start: A Struggle for Altitude
The task setter imposed a maximum start altitude of 1400m MSL at Celje, a cruel restriction given the weak thermal conditions and headwind on the first leg. As the gate opened, the high-speed "race to the front" we usually see was replaced by a tense, slow-motion crawl.
The fleet struggled to find proper lift in the first sector. While Yuki Kazama (Japan) managed to scrape into the lead at Turnpoint 1 (Dravograd), the average speeds were plummeting. The gaggle remained tight, not out of strategy, but out of necessity: no one dared to leave a thermal early.
The Route: Ridge Crawling to Tolmin
The 109 km leg to Turnpoint 2 at Tolmin offered some relief. As the pilots connected with the ridges, the "streeting" effect of the cumulus clouds allowed speeds to increase. A split emerged: a group led by Frank Schwerdtfeger tried a high line, waiting for stragglers to mark the air, while Jeroen Jennen and Maciej Cieslak (Poland) pushed aggressively along the slopes.
By the time the fleet reached Tolmin, Jennen had established a commanding position. But the hardest part was yet to come: the final transition into Austria.
The Climax: The "Jump" into Noetsch
The final sector required crossing a significant mountaineous area to reach the finish at Noetsch. With the day turning "blue" (thermals without cloud markers), altitude became precious.
This is where the race was won and lost.
Jeroen Jennen (BEL) managed his energy perfectly, carrying enough speed to "jump" the final ridge without circling. Behind him, the drama unfolded. David Redman (AUS) provided the scare of the day, clearing the granite ridgeline at a terrifying 100 km/h, teetering on the edge of a stall, to barely make it over.
Jennen crossed the line at Noetsch with comfortable energy, securing the 10 points. Maciej Cieslak (POL) flew a brilliant, calculated race to take 2nd, while local knowledge paid off for Frank Schwerdtfeger (GER), who rounded out the podium in 3rd.
Championship Implications
With this victory, Jeroen Jennen moves to 21 points overall, effectively resetting the championship fight. He is now neck-and-neck with Week 1 leader Witold Rozak (Poland), who finished mid-pack in the chaotic final gaggle today. The consistency of David Redman keeps him in the hunt, but the momentum has clearly shifted to the Belgian camp.
What’s Next?
The pressure is mounting. Only two races remain. Tomorrow, the fleet faces Race 5, the penultimate challenge before the Grand Final. Will the weather hold, or will the Alps deliver another storm?
Tune in tomorrow at 19:00 UTC on our YouTube channel to watch the drama unfold live!
