Swiss hillclimb finale and Italian events conclude 2026 season
Robin Faustini won the Swiss hillclimb championship finale at Les Paccots, while Diego Degasperi and Denny Zardo took victories at Pedavena and Chianti respectively.
The 43rd Coppa dei Campioni Les Paccots in Switzerland served as the season finale for the Swiss hillclimb championship, with Robin Faustini dominating in his Nova NP 01-2 Honda Turbo on the high-speed circuit. Joel Volluz finished second in a Norma M20FC Judd Evo C, impressing spectators with his driving style, while Michel Zemp completed the podium in a 2-litre Norma M20FC Honda Turbo and secured the vice-championship title for the second consecutive year. Simon Hugentobler took fourth place in an Osella PA30 Zytek, claiming the final podium spot in the 3-litre E2-SC sports prototype class.
In the touring car category at Les Paccots, Ludovic Monnier claimed his first national hillclimb championship title, piloting a VW Golf 2 R1170T 4×4 and setting a new track record in the E1 class up to 2 litres. Speedmaster, a Swiss veteran, finished second in a Ford Escort Cosworth RS MB, establishing a new group record in the Interswiss class and securing the vice-championship. Jean-Paul Chiquita rounded out the podium in a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup RPM, just 0.58 seconds behind after two timed runs and claiming second place in the Interswiss group. Remo Fischer was forced to retire with a gearbox failure after Saturday's practice session.
At the 42nd Pedavena–Croce d'Aune event in Italy, Diego Degasperi claimed overall victory in a Norma M20FC Zytek with an impressive performance that peaked on race day. Federico Liber finished second in a Nova NP 01-2 Judd, while Sergio Farris completed the podium in a Wolf GB08F1 Mistral PSA Turbo and won the 2-litre E2-SC class. Matteo Moratelli took fourth overall in a Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo. Franco Caruso crashed heavily in the first run but his team repaired the Nova NP 01-2 C Zytek for the second race, only to suffer a gearbox failure mid-course. Alessandro Zanoni had a severe accident in his Nova NP 03 C Ducati but walked away uninjured.
In the touring car category at Pedavena, Romy Dall'Antonia prevailed in a closely fought battle, setting a new touring car record in the second race with his Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo. Giuseppe D'Angelo finished second in an identical Ferrari, while Luca Spinetti took third in a Subaru Impreza WRX STI and set a new E1 record. Rosario Iaquinta claimed fourth overall and second in the GT class in a Ferrari 458 Challenge Evo. Tobias Santer from Tyrol finished second in the E1 class up to 2 litres in a VW Minichberger Golf 1 STW, with Andrea de Stefani winning that class in a Renault Clio Williams 16V.
The 43rd Coppa del Chianti in Italy marked the return of a round to the Italian historic hillclimb championship after several years' absence. Denny Zardo dominated in a Giada T118 BMW, leaving competitors no chance for victory. Piero Lottini finished second in an Osella PA9/90 BMW, while Giuliano Peroni completed the podium in an Osella PA8/9 BMW and won the historic category 3. Salvatore Riolo took fourth overall in a PRC A06 BMW, and Harald Mössler from Carinthia rounded out the top five in a Daren MK3 Cosworth. Josef Heinrich from Tyrol made his Chianti debut in an Austin Mini Cooper S and won the A3 class up to 1.3 litres. Georg Prugger retired in the first practice session with his Lea Francis Sport Hyper.
In the classic category at Chianti, Stefano Peroni secured victory in an Osella PA 20/S BMW in a close contest. Mirko Torsellini finished just 0.35 seconds behind in his father's legendary Osella PA 20/S BMW, while Giovanni Cassibba completed the podium in an Osella PA 20/S BMW. Alessandro Bertanza took fourth in a Breda Brp5C BMW despite technical difficulties.