The Mountain sets off in Bagnols

Lionel Régal will appear this weekend as the favorite for the Bagnols-Sabran event, the first round of the French Mountain Championship. Armed with his Reynard 1 KL Nippon, the five-time French Champion will try to add a new line to his list this season. However, he will have to face competition that will not give up.

Fabien Frantz thus replaced his Reynard 92 with a 2002 Lola, and Sébastien Petit, vice-Champion 2008 and 2009, should soon benefit from the same car. In addition, Nicolas Schatz offered new youth to his F3000 94 during the winter. The Bagnols-Sabran weekend should therefore make it possible to assess the forces present.

In proto sport, Cyrille Frantz is putting his title back on the line and this time arming himself with an Osella PA 27. He should see Alain Castellana as his main rival, who will ride a Norma M20. In closed cars, the creation of a full-fledged championship has made it possible to boost the number of entries, higher in this category (series B) than in open cars (series A). Facing the stainless Francis Dosières (BMW 320 ST), we will find in particular Nicolas Werver (Porsche 996 GT Cup), as well as Nicolas Cosson (Porsche 996 GT Cup).

This season, the new tire regulations should allow for more intense suspense. Last season, only a few drivers had enough budget to use a set of new tires for each race, giving them a significant advantage. This season, in the interests of sporting fairness and cost reduction, a set of tires must last at least two races.

The tests will take place on Saturday, while the three race climbs will take place on Sunday from 8 a.m. In 2009, Lionel Régal won ahead of Nicolas Schatz and Fabien Frantz, setting the record for the climb in 1:16:830.