Few car shows gain real international recognition – especially ones focused on modified cars. Against all odds, Ultrace has managed to do exactly that.
What started out as a small meet amongst friends (with a slightly questionable name, Raceism) in 2010 has grown to a frankly outrageous size. With the addition of the show’s drifting area in 2016, a rebrand to its current name in 2021, and a continued rise in social media fame, the Polish town of Wrocław became Europe’s unofficial home of the modified car.
The unfortunate downfall of Wörthersee’s popularity – thanks to a massive police crackdown on tuned cars and anti-social driving in the small Austrian lake town – worked in Ultrace’s favour, becoming a destination holiday for car enthusiasts across the continent, and beyond.
Factor in star guests and builds flown in from Japan, America, and even the United Arab Emirates, as well as partnerships with iconic brands such as Hot Wheels, and it’s little wonder that Ultrace is the king of the hill for European car culture at the moment.
This is a pivotal year for Adrian Kapica, Michał Rabczuk, Kacper Chmielowski, Łukasz Dawczyk, and the rest of the team that has been bringing the event to life for the past 16 years.
There’s no denying that last year’s show in Poland felt as though it had outgrown its home venue – the Tarczynski Arena in Wrocław – and needed a new home. Tomorrow marks the first Ultrace event outside of Poland, taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany, and I’m curious to see how it compares.
A choice venue with some heavy OEM backing and some global all-star guests seems ideal, but will it carry the same spirit that Ultrace has become known for over the years? We’ll see, but I’m quietly confident in what the team can deliver.
Do zobaczenia, Polska. Hallo, Deutschland!
