By ‘Circuit Européen Pau-Arnos’ (1.883 miles long – 3030 metres) opened forty years back in 1986, in the south of France, just two hours’ drive away from the Spanish border.
Last weekend, arising at the same time as Barry Sheene Festival at Oliver’s Mount, Kells Road Races and the Prize of Krizevci, Pau-Arnos welcomed FIM Sidecar World Championship competitors (premiere on this racetrack) intertwined with round four of this year’s FSBK (‘Championnat de France Superbike’).
Sunday’s World Sidecar contests, were-shortened in distance, re-scheduled for morning hours due to the hot weather conditions (over thirty-five degrees).
As applicable to all series rounds, well-known names from roads scene circles competed including:
TT experienced pair Harry Payne/Kevin Rousseau (P1 x2), Imatranajo ‘King Pin’ Pekka Paivarinta with UK passenger Adam Christie (P2 x2) and current World Champions, Beverley-brothers Adam Christie/Sam Christie (P3 x2).
2026 World Championship leaders Payne/Rousseau, additionally tasted success in the French Sidecar Championship races (F600 category) which included added roads experienced drivers/passengers, Thierry Massacrier/Alexis Delaunay and Ismael Benayad/Thibault Loiret.
The next World Sidecars round (Alpe Adria Championship-Cremona Circuit, Italy) takes place on the 8th-9th of August.
ESR/IRRC ‘Czech TT’ – Horice, Gran Premio de La Baneza, Luckendorfer Bergrennen time-trial in Germany (not part of 2026 European Hill Climb Road Race Championship calendar) all commence at the same time.
Outlined below is select 2026 World Sidecars Round 3, Pau-Arnos results:
Race 1 (Sprint Race):
P1 – Harry Payne/Kevin Rousseau (Steinhausen Racing)
P2 – Pekka Paivarinta/Adam Christie (Hanni Racing)
P3 – Sam Christie/Tom Christie (CES Performance)
P4 – Todd Ellis/Emmanuelle Clement (Ellis/Clement Racing)
P5 – Paul Leglise/Marjorie Cescutti (521 Competition)
P6 – Bennie Streuer/Manon Vissenberg (Bennie Streuer Racing)
P7 – Manuel Moreau/Alice Roba (KM Side)
P8 – Tim Reeves/Melanie Farnier (Carl Cox Motorsport/Tim Reeves Racing)
P9 – Markus Schlosser/Lucas Krieg (Team Schlosser)
P10 – Raymond Leijdekkers/Oceane Bataille (LRT Sidecar Racing)
P13 – Wiggert Kranenburg/Loris Charteau (Flying Dutchmen)
Did not finish – Kevin Cable/Yann Druel (L&W Racing)
Race 2 (race red-flagged, not re-started, results after lap four):
P1 – Harry Payne/Kevin Rousseau (Steinhausen Racing)
P2 – Pekka Paivarinta/Adam Christie (Hanni Racing)
P3 – Sam Christie/Tom Christie (CES Performance)
P4 – Markus Schlosser/Lucas Krieg (Team Schlosser)
P5 – Paul Leglise/Marjorie Cescutti (521 Competition)
P6 – Bennie Streuer/Manon Vissenberg (Bennie Streuer Racing)
P8 – Manuel Moreau/Alice Roba (KM Side)
P11 – Raymond Leijdekkers/Oceane Bataille (LRT Sidecar Racing)
P12 – Tim Reeves/Melanie Farnier (Carl Cox Motorsport/Tim Reeves Racing)
P14 – Wiggert Kranenburg/Loris Charteau (Flying Dutchmen)
Did not finish – Kevin Cable/Yann Druel (L&W Racing)
Did not finish – Todd Ellis/Emmanuelle Clement (Ellis/Clement Racing) – high speed red-flag incident. UK pilot Ellis reported as ok, wishing very speedy, full recovery to fastest French, female TT passenger in history, Emmanuelle Clement.
Words by Jan Vavra
