Monte Erice 2026: 68th edition set for September with record historic entries

The 68th Monte Erice hillclimb will take place from 4–6 September 2026, organised by the Automobile Club Trapani. The event will serve as a qualifying round for the Italian Mountain Velocity Championship, the Italian Historic Mountain Velocity Championship, and the Italian Classic Mountain Velocity Championship, alongside the 11th Historic Monte Erice edition. A total of 260 competitors have entered across 153 modern cars and 107 historic vehicles—a new record for the historic category, surpassing the previous high of 97 entries.

The 5.7 km course runs along the SR 1 Immacolatella–Erice road, starting at km 1+200 and finishing at km 6+930 near Viale delle Pinete, with an elevation gain of approximately 410 metres. Friday 4 September will host technical and sporting checks in Trapani's Piazza Vittorio Emanuele from 09:00–17:30, followed by a drivers' briefing at 18:30 in Erice. Saturday 5 September features official reconnaissance runs beginning at 08:00, while Sunday 6 September comprises two competitive runs with the same start time. Results will be posted after each class and group finishes, with prize-giving at Piazza Porta Trapani in Erice after the protest period closes.

A significant innovation for 2026 is expanded media coverage. For the first time, the event will be broadcast live on television via Sestarete (channel 81 on Italian digital terrestrial), YouTube on the official NaxosProracing channel, and across Facebook pages including Naxos Proracing, VideoSportAM, and Automobile Club Trapani. This marks the first occasion the Saturday reconnaissance runs will receive live coverage alongside Sunday's racing. Official timing, documents, and classifications will be available through the online race bulletin and via the Sportity app using password Monterice2026.

The weekend will also feature a territorial component, with the Villaggio del Gusto food and produce showcase running during Friday's checks in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, highlighting local specialities from the Trapani province. Race direction has been entrusted to Fabrizio Fondacci, with Francesco Sanclemente as assistant race director. The dual-race format on Sunday will require competitors to balance aggression with consistency on a track known for its technical demands and narrow margin for error.