Vanquished in the final two years ago, Michaela Dorčíková and David Nemcek returned to this year’s FIA Motorsport Games with a single objective: win Auto Slalom gold for Slovakia.
After a series of impressive performances in Qualifying, the Slovak squad looked to be a major threat to pre-event favourite Germany. Having swept the Electric Street discipline in 2022 and then secured Karting Slalom honours this morning, the German squad was on for an historic fourth gold. Defending winner Claire Schonborn was back, though with a new teammate in Markus Firsching.
Most had anticipated a repeat of the 2022 Final, but it was not to be, with the match-up instead falling in the Semi-Finals. Slovakia edged it by 1.2 seconds, despite a typically strong showing from Schonborn. In the other Semi, Estonia beat Israel by five seconds to set up meeting with Slovakia.
Estonia’s Kristian Hallikmägi was the fastest driver on Course 1 and Course 2, but the consistency of Dorčíková and Nemcek was enough to secure Slovakia’s win. Dorčíková was in tears as she celebrated her nation’s first-ever gold medal at the FIA Motorsport Games. In the bronze medal match-up, Germany saw off Israel to take the consolation prize.
Results: Final