Hillclimb Fans

The 66th Côte de Coeur Mont Dore hillclimb will mark the beginning of the decisive phase in the French hillclimb championship, with competitors facing a demanding 5-kilometre course in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The event is expected to draw a strong field across multiple categories, with several drivers capable of challenging for overall honours. In the 3-litre E2-SC class, Maxime Dojat (France) emerges as one of the leading contenders, piloting a Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo after a series of impressive performances. However, he will face stiff opposition from Corentin Starck (Belgium), also driving a Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo, who returns following a brief absence and carries unfinished business after a previous accident. Sebastien Jacqmin (France) in a Nova NP 01-2 Honda Turbo has delivered a strong season to date, while Cedric Lansard (France) will pilot an Osella PA27 Cosworth. In the 3-litre Group DE formula category, Miguel Vidal (France) will campaign a Lola B06/51 Mugen F3000, facing competition from Benoit Bouche (France) in a Reynard 99L Mugen F3000. From the CN class, Etienne Pernot (France) will drive a Norma M20FC 4-litre BMW. Marc Pernot (France), the defending champion, will be among the favourites for overall victory in his Nova NP 01-2 C Hartley Turbo, competing in the 2-litre E2-SC sportprototype category. He will encounter Mylenia Machado (France) in a Revolt 2P0 Hartley Turbo. In the smallest E2-SC class (up to 1.6 litres), Yves Tholy (France) in a Nova NP 03 Suzuki and Julien Bost (France) also in a Nova NP 03 Suzuki are expected to contend for fastest times. The 2-litre CN class features a competitive lineup led by Tom Diebold (France) in a Norma M20F Honda and Guillaume Jean (France) in a Norma M20FC Honda. Other contenders include Yohan Bardin, Freddy Cadot, William Pommery, and Jennifer La Monica (all France), each piloting Norma M20FC Hondas. In the 2-litre Group DE formula category, David Diebold (France) will drive a Tatuus Formula Master S2000 Honda, with Romain Pezot (France) in a Tatuus Formula Master F2 Honda, Pierre Mayeur (France) in a Martini MK69 Evo BMW, Thomas Clausi (France) in a Tatuus Formula Master S2000 Honda, Lionel Ryter (Switzerland) in a Tatuus Renault FR 2.0 Evo, and Sarah Bernard (France) in a Tatuus Formula Master S2000 Honda all expected to feature. The touring car category will see Anthony Dubois (France), the reigning French champion, competing in an Alpine A110 GT4 Evo. Key rivals include Nicolas Werver (France) in a Porsche 997 GT3 R, Jean-Francois Ganevat (France) in a Renault R.S. 01, Ronald Garces (France) in a Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, Oliver Berreur (France) in a Renault R.S. 01, Alexandre Garnier (France) in a Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup, Manuel Brunet (France) in a Lamborghini Huracán ST Evo 2, Philippe Marion (France) in a Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup, and Thierry Tierce (France) making his hillclimb debut in a Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup.

The 55th Hauenstein Bergrennen took place in ideal conditions in the Rhön region, drawing a large crowd of spectators to witness competitive hillclimb racing. The MSC Rhön organisation successfully managed the event, with all competitors completing three practice and race runs across the 4km course. Patrik Zajelsnik, a German-Slovenian driver, claimed overall victory at the wheel of his Nova NP 01-2 Honda Turbo. Zajelsnik set a new track record during the first race run, narrowly bettering his own 2024 benchmark, which proved decisive in securing the top step of the podium. Benjamin Noll (Germany) finished second overall in his Osella PA30 Zytek LRM, delivering strong pace throughout the weekend despite encountering technical issues in the second race run. Tommy Rollinger (Luxembourg) completed the overall podium in his Osella FA30 Zytek, also taking the win in the 3-litre E2-SS formula class. In the touring car category, Stefan Hetzenauer (Austria) dominated proceedings in his Subaru Impreza WRX STI, also setting a new Category 1 track record since the introduction of the Pf classes. "Speedmaster" (Switzerland) secured second place in the touring car standings with his Ford Escort Cosworth RS, winning the E1 class over 3-litres. Rainer Noller (Germany) rounded out the touring car podium in his Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup, competing at Hauenstein for the first time. Other class winners included Marco Farrenkopf (Germany) in the E2-SH category with his Silver Car S2 Evo Suzuki. The event saw several retirements, including Dany Demuth (Luxembourg) with a technical failure in his Norma M20FC Judd, and Jürgen Frommknecht (Germany), whose Dallara F302 Spiess Evo caught fire during the first race run, though the fire was quickly extinguished by marshals.

Four major European hillclimb events are scheduled for the coming weekend, spanning Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, each offering live timing coverage. In Slovakia, the Pezinska Baba hillclimb will host the Austrian national hillclimb championship. Germany's Rhön region will see the 55th Hauenstein Bergrennen, which counts towards both the German national championship and the KW Berg Cup series. Switzerland's national championship continues with the Ayent–Anzere hillclimb in the canton of Valais. Italy's calendar features the 35th Trofeo Lodovico Scarfiotti at Sarnano Sassotetto, which forms part of the CIVM national series. Live timing and weather information for all four events are available through dedicated tracking links for each venue.