Course de Côte du Mont-Dore / Chambon-sur-Lac

Course de Côte du Mont-Dore: over 60 years of automotive passion

In 1960, taking advantage of the opening of a new road connecting the Moneaux locality to the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert in the Sancy massif, Doctor Yves Auriacombe proposed to Pierre About of the L'Équipe newspaper to launch a new hill climb. The first edition was held in 1961, won by José Rosinski, and marked the beginning of a sporting adventure that has lasted for over sixty years.

A spectacular mountain course

The Course de Côte du Mont-Dore / Chambon-sur-Lac course uses the departmental road between Moneaux and the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert, offering drivers and spectators a magnificent natural setting. The tight turns, significant elevation changes, and breathtaking landscapes of the Sancy massif make this event one of the most spectacular in the French mountain championship.

High-level organization

The organization of the race has evolved over the decades. The ASA Club d'Auvergne organized the competition from 1961 to 1974, before ASA Mont-Dore took over from 1975 onwards. For several years, ASA Mont-Dore has been collaborating with PHA (Philibert Michy) and the Massif du Sancy to offer a national-scale event, listed on the calendar of the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA) and the CFM Challenge.

Three days of competition

The race takes place over three days in August:

• Friday: technical and administrative checks, free practice
• Saturday: timed practice and first race climbs
• Sunday: final race climbs and award ceremony

The event also hosts a Historic Competition Vehicles (VHC) section, allowing classic cars to relive the golden age of hill climbing.

A popular event in the Sancy

The Course de Côte du Mont-Dore attracts thousands of spectators each year who gather along the course to admire the drivers' climbs. The event contributes to the tourist appeal of the Sancy massif and the spa town of Le Mont-Dore, in a Puy-de-Dôme department rich in natural and volcanic heritage.