European Hillclimb Championship heads to St. Ursanne in 2026
The 81st Côte de St. Ursanne will host a round of the European Hillclimb Championship in 2026, bringing together a competitive international field to one of Europe's fastest hill-climb courses. The 5km-plus high-speed track in the Swiss Jura will challenge drivers across multiple classes, from prototypes to historic vehicles.
Spanish driver Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta emerges as a leading contender for overall victory, having claimed multiple podium finishes this season at the wheel of his Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo. He will face stiff competition from young Frenchman Kevin Petit, also piloting a Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo, and German veteran Alexander Hin in his Nova NP 01-2 C Cosworth. Czech driver Petr Trnka (Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo) and Hungarian newcomer Laszlo Szasz (Tatuus F3 T-318 Alpine) will also contest the top positions.
Reigning Swiss hillclimb champion Robin Faustini will pilot his Nova NP 01-2 Honda Turbo in pursuit of another season victory. Swiss local Joel Volluz (Norma M20FC Judd Evo C) impressed at the recent Anzère round and will be among the favourites for fastest times. Young Frenchman Maxime Dojat makes his first appearance at St. Ursanne in a Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo, while Belgian Bruno Cazzoli (Nova NP 01-2 Honda Turbo) and Frenchman Samuel Guth (Nova NP 01-2 Mugen) will also contend for top honours.
Luxembourgish debutant Dany Demuth will drive a Norma M20FC Judd, while Swiss veteran Fabrice Jolidon returns to competition after several years away, piloting the legendary Osella PA 20/S BMW. Italian hillclimb legend Renzo Maria Napione will also race the Osella PA 20/S BMW, and fellow Italian Alessandro Bertanza makes his debut in the historic class with a Breda Brp5C BMW.
In the E2-SS formula class up to 3 litres, young German Benjamin Noll will contest his first St. Ursanne event in an Osella FA30 Zytek LRM. Swiss driver Roland Bossy (Tatuus F3 T-318 Alpine), Frenchmen Nicolas Dumond and Ludovic Cholley (both Tatuus F3 T-318 Alpine) will also compete in this category.
Proto Class 2 will feature Italian legend Fausto Bormolini in a Wolf GB08 Mistral Aurobay Turbo as a major favourite, challenged by fellow Italian Antonino Migliuolo (Nova NP 03 Aprilia), Spaniard Jose Antonio Alonso Liste (Tatuus F3 T-318 Alpine), and Czech David Dedek (Nova NP 03 C Ducati).
In Proto Class 4, Czech drivers Karel Berger (Osella PA21 JrB Suzuki) and Lukas Studeny (Ligier JS51 Honda) will lead the field, alongside Frenchman Yohan Bardin (Norma M20FC Honda) and Belgian Antonin Saintmard (Tatuus Renault FR 2.0).
Swiss driver Victor Darbellay (Nova NP 01-2 Hartley Turbo) will contest the overall standings, while the 2-litre E2-SC sportprototype class will see Michel Zemp (Norma M20FC Honda Turbo), Jean-Jacques Maitre (Nova NP 01-2 C Honda), and Jimmy Froidevaux (Norma M20F Honda) representing Swiss interests. Swiss Antonino Scolaro (Nova NP 03 Kawasaki Turbo) will compete in the 1.6-litre class.