The Historic Tour crowns its Champions !

After four rounds at Dijon-Prenois, Val de Vienne, Charade and Magny-Cours, the 2026 French Historic Circuit Championship has crowned its champions. Gathering in the Nièvre region on 16 and 17 October for the Historic Tour finale, the contenders for the various national titles had one final opportunity to make the difference. Following a season featuring single-seaters, GTs, touring cars and prototypes, this last showdown decided the 2026 French champions. From successful title defences and first-time champions to battles lasting until the final races, we look back at the women and men who shaped this year’s championship.

Single-Seaters: a perfect season and a third title for François Belle

Eight races, eight victories: François Belle won every race in F.Ford Historic this season. Driving his 1978 Lola T540E, the defending champion delivered a flawless campaign, securing another title at the Magny-Cours finale. With 280 points counted towards the championship, he claimed his third French Historic Circuit Championship Single-Seater title, retaining the crown he won in 2025.

This latest success also recalls the early days of the Historic Tour. Having been crowned champion in 2015, the championship’s inaugural season, François Belle returned to the top of the national standings eleven years later. After that landmark first title, followed by a second ten years later, he has now secured back-to-back championship victories. His third crown rewards a season in which he combined speed, consistency and control, winning every race in his series.

Despite this perfect record, the championship battle ended with a gap of just ten points to Axel Castillou. Competing in F.Ford Kent in his 1992 Ray 92F, Castillou finished as French runner-up with 270 points counted towards the championship. The top two positions in the Single-Seater standings therefore went to representatives of the Formula Ford grids.

With 240 points, Christian Vaglio-Giors completed the championship podium in his 1980 Van Diemen RF80, competing in F.Ford Historic. Alongside François Belle and Axel Castillou, he helped secure an all-Formula Ford podium, bringing together three iconic chassis from the category’s history.

Post-90 GT/Touring Cars: Franck Quagliozzi crowned champion as Honda locks out the podium

Competing in the Youngtimers 2L Cup in his 1992 Honda Civic EG6, Franck Quagliozzi claimed the 2026 French Historic Circuit Championship Post-90 GT/Touring Car title. With 280 points counted towards the championship, he finished the season at the top of the national standings, 56 points ahead of his closest challenger. His title also put the Youngtimers 2L Cup in the spotlight at the Magny-Cours finale.

Second place went to Florent Aumard, who scored 224 points in his 1996 Honda Civic EK4. He secured the French runner-up spot ahead of Florian Malosse, third with 197 points in his 1992 Honda Civic EG6. Twenty-seven points separated the two drivers at the end of the season.

The final standings produced a podium drawn entirely from the Youngtimers 2L Cup and made up exclusively of Honda Civics. With two EG6s and an EK4 in the top three, the Japanese hatchback featured prominently in the 2026 honours, led by newly crowned champion Franck Quagliozzi.

Pre-90 GT/Touring Cars: a first title for Marc Alloend-Bessand

At the end of a championship decided by just five points, Marc Alloend-Bessand claimed his first French Historic Circuit Championship Pre-90 GT/Touring Car title. Competing in the Pre-66 Sprint Series in his 1965 Elva MK8, he finished the season with 280 points counted towards the championship, adding his name to the national roll of honour for the first time.

The Sprint Series driver secured the crown ahead of two Trophée Lotus competitors, in a contest between series that added an extra dimension to the title battle. With such a narrow margin in the final standings, every result played a part in deciding the championship.

Dominique Vulliez finished as French runner-up with 275 points in his 1969 Lotus Seven. He placed ahead of fellow Trophée Lotus driver Nicolas Beloou, who completed the national podium with 255 points in his 1965 Lotus Seven. Two Lotus Sevens therefore joined the new champion’s Elva on a final podium composed entirely of cars from the 1960s.

Pre-90 GT/Touring Car Endurance: a flawless campaign for Julien Grenet and Christian Danne

With 160 points, Julien Grenet and Christian Danne claimed the French Historic Circuit Endurance Championship Pre-90 GT/Touring Car titles. Sharing their 1981 Porsche 911 Turbo in the Historic Tour’s 200 KM series, they completed a flawless season and won the national standings by a commanding margin.

The pair finished the championship 125 points clear of their closest challengers. That gap underlined the Porsche crew’s dominance throughout an outstanding 2026 campaign, culminating in their title success at the Magny-Cours finale.

Behind the champions, second place was shared: Philippe Baert and the pairing of Johan and Jean-Jacques Renaut finished level on 35 points. They joined Julien Grenet and Christian Danne at the top of the category’s final standings.

Under-3L Prototype Endurance: Lionel Vancheri comes out on top

Driving his 1981 Crosslé 47S, Lionel Vancheri claimed the 2026 French Historic Circuit Endurance Championship Under-3L Prototype title. With 113 points, he prevailed in a category whose top three finished just 21 points apart. He took his British sports prototype to the top of the national standings, ahead of cars from Italian manufacturers Osella and Lucchini.

Christian Vaglio-Giors finished as runner-up with 100 points in his 1994 Osella PA20P, thirteen points behind the winner. Having already finished third in the Single-Seater championship in Formula Ford Historic, he added a second national podium to his season’s achievements. Pierre Boite completed the top three with 92 points in his 1993 Lucchini SP93, just eight points short of second place.

Post-90 GT/Touring Car Endurance: Éric and Denis Empois take the crown

Sharing their 1999 Porsche 996, Éric and Denis Empois won the 2026 French Historic Circuit Endurance Championship Post-90 GT/Touring Car titles. With 96 points, the duo topped the standings and ended their campaign 21 points ahead of their closest challenger.

Second place went to Florian Zavattin, who scored 75 points. Behind him, Franck Quagliozzi and Fabien Julia completed the podium with 66 points in their 1992 Honda Civic EG6. Already crowned Post-90 GT/Touring Car champion in the Sprint championship, Franck Quagliozzi thus enjoyed success in both disciplines, adding an endurance podium to his national title.