The French hill climb championship, or Championnat de France de la Montagne started in 1967 and rapidly became one of the continent's most competitive national series. For much of its history, the leading cars have been from Formula 2 (later Formula 3000 from 1985) or 2-litre sports cars. Some F1 cars were seen in the 1960s and occasionally in the 1970s (for example Daniel Rouveyran's March 721G in 1973) and Hervé Bayard also tried a Formula 5000 car in the early 1970s.
Marces Tarrès won the championship 10 times between 1982 and 1992. Nicolas Schatz holds the record for most consecutives titles: 7, between 2010 and 2016.
The best known champion outside of France is Guy Fréquelin. Other well known rally drivers were regular participants, such as Jean Vinatier, Gérard Larrousse, Jean-Luc Thérier or Jean-François Mas. Several French Formula One drivers have taken part in the championship too, such as Robert Manzon, Maurice Trintignant, Jean Behra, Jean-Pierre Beltoise, François Cevert or Jean-Pierre Jabouille.
Three French hill climb champions have also won the European championship: Robert "Jimmy" Mieusset (1973 and 1974), Jean-Marie Alméras (1978, 1979 and 1980), and Lional Régal (2008).
Champions
YearDriverCar2023Geoffrey SchatzNova Proto NP012022Billy RitchenNova NP01 Judd2021Geoffrey SchatzNova Proto NP012020Geoffrey SchatzNorma M20-FC E2SC2019Geoffrey SchatzNorma M20-FC E2SC2018Sébastien PetitNorma M20-FC2017Sébastien PetitNorma M20-FC2016Nicolas SchatzNorma M20-FC2015Nicolas SchatzNorma M20-FC2014Nicolas SchatzNorma M20-FC2013Nicolas SchatzNorma M20-FC2012Nicolas SchatzReynard 99-Formula Nippon2011Nicolas SchatzLola T94/50 F30002010Nicolas SchatzLola T94/50 F30002009Lionel RégalReynard 1KL-Formula Nippon2008Lionel RégalReynard 1KL-Formula Nippon2007Lionel RégalReynard 1KL-Formula Nippon2006Lionel RégalReynard 95D2005Lionel RégalReynard 95D2004Bernard ChambérodReynard 92D2003Bernard ChambérodReynard 92D2002Bernard ChambérodReynard 92D2001Bernard ChambérodReynard 92D2000Bernard ChambérodReynard 92D1999Daniel BoccardMartini MK69-BMW F21998Daniel BoccardMartini MK69-BMW F21997Daniel BoccardMartini MK69-BMW F21996Daniel BoccardMartini MK69-BMW F21995Christian DebiasMartini MK58B-BMW F21994Christian DebiasMartini MK58B-BMW F21993Daniel BoccardMartini MK56T-BMW F21992Marcel TarrèsMartini MK56T-BMW F21991Marcel TarrèsMartini MK56T-BMW F21990Marcel TarrèsMartini MK56T-BMW F21989Marcel TarrèsMartini MK56T-BMW F21988Marcel TarrèsMartini MK45-BMW1987Daniel BoccardMartini M01B-BMW1986Marcel TarrèsMartini MK45-BMW1985Marcel TarrèsMartini MK43-BMW1984Marcel TarrèsMartini T01-BMW and Martini MK43-BMW1983Marcel TarrèsMartini T01-BMW1982Marcel TarrèsMartini MK28-BMW F21981Marc SourdMartini MK31-ROC F21980Jean-Christian DubyFord Escort 1800 RS1979Guy FréquelinMartini MK25-BMW F21978Jean-Marie AlmérasPorsche 935 L1977Christian DebiasRalt RT1-BMW F21976Michel PignardMarch 762-BMW F21975Jimmy MieussetMarch 742-BMW F21974Jimmy MieussetMarch 742-BMW F21973Jimmy MieussetMarch 722 F21972Jimmy MieussetMarch 722 F21971Jimmy MieussetPygmée MDB15 Ford FVA F21970Hervé BayardTecno Ford F21969Daniel RouveyranTecno Ford F21968Pierre MaublancAbarth 20001967Pierre MaublancAbarth 2000
External links Cote Passion - history of the Championnat de France de la Montagne Equipe Régal - Site officiel Chevallier-Competition.com Bernard Chambérod's site