3 Seasons, 3 Podiums As CoRe LMP3 Are Vice Champions In IVRA Clubsport – GT4 Entry in P5!
The 2025–2026 IVRA ClubSport Series has come to a close at Laguna Seca, and CoRe SimRacing can look back on another chapter in what has become a consistent run of success in the championship. Three seasons into the ClubSport Series for CoRe SimRacing, three consecutive podiums in the overall standings in LMP3. Despite falling short of a title defender it is a record to be proud of, even if this 25-26′ campaign had its share of frustrating moments that could have made the story even brighter.
The flagship #1 Ligier PS320 LMP3 squad of Pascal Stix, Maik Paluch, Sven Neumann and spotter Carl Winkler, defending champions after claiming the LMP3 title in 2024–25 and finishing runner-up the season before that, brought home P2 overall in the 2025–26 standings, continuing an extraordinary run of podium finishes across all three seasons the team has competed. Meanwhile, CoRe’s Porsche Cayman GT4 effort under the #423 banner with Tom Kunath, Mikko Nurmi, Bennett Parsons and Jan Vollmers, delivered a P5 overall finish in the Sports category, a thoroughly solid result against one of the most hotly contested GT4 fields the series has seen. And rounding out the CoRe effort, the #424 Porsche Cayman GT4 entry competing in the Sportsman Division with Ronald Großmann and Dominik Engel, also end with a P6 result in that dedicated category across a demanding six-round season.
The season opener at the long and technical The Bend circuit in Australia was always going to be a demanding start to the campaign. The track’s combination of high-speed sections and intricate infield complexes made for challenging racing conditions right from the outset, with hard traffic circumstances adding an extra layer of difficulty for all competitors. Maik Paluch delivered an impressive LMP3 debut in qualifying, putting the Ligier on the front row in second position. With multiple safety car periods during the race, strategy became the crucial variable, and unfortunately the LMP3 crew found themselves on the wrong side of the gamble. The result was a sixth-place finish, points on the board, but well short of where the pace had suggested they could be. Over in the GT4 class, the #423 crew put in a composed debut to come home inside the top ten, while Dominik and Ronald collected a Sportsman Division podium in the #424.
Qualifying at Misano took place in damp and drying conditions, making tyre selection and timing a lottery. Maik could only manage a moderate result from the mixed conditions, and the LMP3 found itself further back than hoped heading into the race. The charge through the field was ultimately curtailed by an incident during Sven’s stint in the closing stages. A frustrating end to a weekend that had shown genuine potential. The standout performance of the round came from the #423 GT4 squad, who delivered a magnificent race to finish second overall in class. Tom and Mikko were on brilliant form, and the result injected real confidence into the GT4 programme heading into the North American leg of the season.
If there is one race from the 2025–26 season that will live long in the memory of everyone involved with CoRe SimRacing, it is Mid-Ohio. A weekend of moderate qualifying was swiftly forgotten as the race delivered one of the most dramatic moments the LMP3 team has experienced in the IVRA ClubSport Series. The race leader in LMP3, Delta V Racing, made a critical error while navigating traffic in the penultimate lap, making contact with traffic and falling out of contention. Pascal Stix, in the middle of an extraordinary closing stint after his own earlier comeback drive through the field, was handed the lead – and he did not waste it. He crossed the line to take the race win for CoRe, with two of the title-contending Deletraz Automotive LMP3 cars right behind. The victory was even more remarkable given the harsh traffic conditions that had plagued all teams throughout the race. Pascal’s ability to navigate the chaos while keeping the Ligier clean and quick was a masterclass in controlled aggression. For the #423 GT4 crew, Tom and Mikko added another solid top-five result to their tally, continuing their points-gathering run.
Miami brought wet qualifying conditions, and Maik Paluch rose magnificently to the challenge putting the CoRe LMP3 on pole position in the rain. An early spin while leading the race brought the field back into the picture, but what followed was a superb fightback. Pascal took over the car and drove brilliantly to wrestle the Ligier back into second place after fierce battles throughout the stint. The result moved CoRe into the LMP3 championship lead, ahead of the main title rivals by a slender margin. It was the kind of result that carried the whole team, gutting to lose the lead through the spin, but immensely satisfying to salvage so much from it. The #423 GT4 car continued its consistent run with another fifth-place finish, while the #424 Sportsman crew backed up their opener with a well-executed third place in their category.
Mexico City was a round of what-could-have-been. Maik qualified the LMP3 comfortably inside the top five on a circuit where the car’s overall pace was genuinely competitive, and a podium looked very much on the cards. Sadly, a driving error from Pascal over the kerbs sent the car into the wall and the team had to settle for fifth which was a needless loss of points at a critical stage of the championship. The race ran to the flag with no safety car interventions, which only underlined how much the clean air in the midfield was worth. On a brighter note, the #423 GT4 entry had another fine outing with fourth place, one of their strongest results of the year, while the #424 Sportsman Division crew added another top-five to their tally. Both GT4 cars left Mexico with their heads high.
The finale at Laguna Seca will be remembered as a day to forget for every CoRe car on the grid, even as it confirmed the team’s overall position in the standings. For the LMP3, Sven Neumann stepped in alongside Pascal for the final round, qualifying seventh and sitting in the middle of the grid. An early-race struggle with pace and a string of penalties put the team on the back foot, and despite another determined charge from Pascal in the closing stages, contact with a spinning LMP3 ended any hopes of a stronger finish. The team ended the finale in ninth and with it, any chance of taking the title slipped away. For the #424 GT4 Sportsman entry, the day took an even more brutal turn. Ronald Großmann was involved in a heavy crash down into turn one after one of the safety car restarts. His car was obliterated by a competitor with no fault of his own and the #424 race was over before it had barely begun. The #423 GT4 crew also endured a difficult outing and could only manage 13th, leaving points on the table in a round where the whole team needed a strong showing. All three CoRe entries missed out on valuable points in the season finale, and it is impossible not to wonder what the final standings might have looked like had things gone differently at Laguna Seca.
Three consecutive years in the IVRA ClubSport Series. Three consecutive podium finishes. Champions in 2024–25, runners-up in 2023–24, and now vice champions again in the 2025–26 campaign for the LMP3 team. It is a record that speaks for itself, and one that reflects the commitment and professionalism that every member of the CoRe SimRacing operation brings to each and every race weekend. The frustrations at Mexico and Laguna Seca are real, and the team knows that a slightly cleaner run in those events could have meant a very different conversation at the top of the standings. Nevertheless, a second place in what is an immensely competitive championship is a result CoRe can be proud of. For the GT4 programme, fifth overall in such a fiercely contested class is a genuine achievement. The #423 crew proved their skills and that they belonged at the front of the GT4 Sports class pack, with the Misano podium and a string of top-five finishes demonstrating exactly what the combination of Tom, Mikko, Bennett and Jan is capable of. The #424 Sportsman crew also showed real spirit throughout the season, pushing well in their category before a heartbreaking finale at Laguna Seca. A big thanks to the IVRA organization for another fantastic and well executed season. CoRe is looking forward to tackle the next IVRA events.