The French Gravel Rally Championship is preparing to start at Castine

A small change this year to the French Gravel Rally Championship. Traditionally starting in Aveyron during the Rally The 2026 season in the Terre des Causses region will kick off in the Lot department with the Rallye Castine Terre d'Occitanie. While this event is usually the second round of the season, the nesting season of a protected bird species in the immediate vicinity of the rally's special stages required organizers to hold the event either before March 15th or after September 15th. The former option was chosen, and the event, organized by Stéphane Devez, president of the Écurie des 1000 Tours team, will therefore serve as the opening race of the season. "As every year, we've tried to innovate, notably by offering a new service park where all competitors will finally be together on a hard surface, the return of a historic rally stage, reversing the direction of another well-known stage, and lengthening yet another," he told us. This might attract new competitors to take part in the event.

Who will win the 2026 Rallye Castine?

Last year, Laurent Pellier delivered a masterclass in realism, securing his second victory of the season. The future French Gravel Rally Champion dominated Pablo Sarrazin and Emmanuel Gascou, who joined Pellier on the podium. At the moment, little information has emerged regarding the contenders for the 2026 season. However, the hierarchy seen in 2025 could be shaken up, and it wouldn't be surprising to see new faces arrive, or return, to the top category. It remains to be seen whether all will be at the start in Bretenoux for the championship opener: entries have already been submitted. open and will be closed on Monday, February 16 at midnight for the competitors of the Clio Trophy France, who will carry out the first of their three events of the season there, on Monday, February 23 at midnight for the other competitors, as evidenced by the postmark.

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