Maxime Dojat on a new car in the French Hill Climb Championship

The landscape of the 2026 French Hill Climb Championship is beginning to take shape just over a month before the opening round in Bagnols-sur-Cèze and Sabran in the Gard region. Among the leading figures in the discipline, Maxime Dojat from the Ain department officially announced his plans this week. After three seasons driving a Revolt 3P0, the young driver revealed that he has acquired a Nova Proto NP01, still powered by a 1.7 Turbo engine prepared by EMAP, making it the same car driven by two-time reigning French Champion Marc Pernot. "Very proud to present our new car for the 2026 season, with which an ambitious season is on the horizon in the French Hill Climb Championship as well as four rounds of the European Championship," he stated on his social media. Having moved from Group A, where he began competing in 2020, Maxime Dojat continues his meteoric rise.

One more contender for the French Hill Climb Championship title

Last year, Maxime Dojat raised his game like never before. Capable of holding his own between Marc Pernot's Nova Proto and Fabien Bourgeon's Revolt 3P0 at Dunières, the driver from Ambérieu-en-Bugey clearly signaled his intentions for the coming seasons. In 2026, he will still be competing under his own LMJ Technology team, and his car will trade its usual sky blue for a predominantly purple livery. His rivals have not yet revealed all their plans for this new season, although confirmations are expected from Marc Pernot and also from Belgian driver Corentin Starck, a two-time winner of the Turckheim – Trois-Épis Hill Climb in 2022 and 2025. Fabien Bourgeon, however, is not expected to participate. This season, the French Hill Climb Championship will consist of 12 rounds between March and September.