Following an outstanding year of strong competition at some of Europe’s most iconic venues and continued growth in historic motor sport, the FIA Historic Awards were held this evening, 28 January, at the Automobile Club de France in Paris.

Set within one of the most significant locations in motor sport history, the ceremony brought together competitors, organisers, officials and guests to celebrate championship success and recognise the people and cars that continue to define historic competition.

The awards were presented in the presence of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Automobile Club de France President Yann de Pontbriand, President of the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile Pierre Gosselin, and FIA Historic Motor Sport Committee President Roger Wills.

Reflecting the continued strength and appeal of the category, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem opened the ceremony by drawing on his own experience in rallying and underlining the FIA’s ongoing role, through its Historic Department, in preserving the heritage of competition vehicles across generations. FIA Historic Motor Sport Commission President Roger Wills then addressed the champions, highlighting the shared heritage that underpins historic competition and the values that unite competitors, organisers and officials. Yann de Pontbriand also welcomed the historic community to the home of the Automobile Club de France, emphasising the long-standing heritage shared between the Federation and the Founding Member Club, as well as its continued dedication to the preservation of historic motor sport.

 FIA Historic Motor Sport Commission President Roger Wills highlighted the scale of historic competition in 2025, with hundreds of drivers and co-drivers from across the globe competing at some of Europe’s most demanding events. He also pointed to the evolution of Appendix K of the International Sporting Code, which broadened eligibility and opened FIA Historic championships to a wider range of iconic vehicles.

The ceremony opened with the FIA European Historic Hill Climb Championship, the longest-standing championship on the FIA calendar. First contested almost a century ago, the discipline once again delivered a highly competitive season, with titles awarded across five categories spanning cars from the earliest years of FIA competition through to the mid-1990s.

Champions from each category were honoured on stage, with Harald Mössler claiming overall honours following a standout season in his Daren Mk 3. Category victories were also awarded to Christian Trimmel (Category 2) in his Ford Escort RS2000, Philip Lernpass (Category 3) and Piero Lottini (Category 4), while Petr Tykal secured the final category title.

Collective national success was also recognised, with Austria claiming the FIA European Historic Hill Climb Nations Cup for the third consecutive year after accumulating the highest number of points across the 2025 championship.

Attention then turned to the FIA European Historic Rally Championship, which continued its upward trajectory in 2025. Regulatory developments to Appendix K introduced a new layer to the competition this season, allowing cars homologated between 1993 and 2000 to compete within the championship framework for the first time. Supported by Official Partner FlexiFly, the championship once again showcased historic rallying across a ten-event calendar spanning both tarmac and gravel.

Special awards within the championship also recognised the values that underpin historic competition beyond results alone. The Rally of the Year award was presented to Ardeca Ypres Historic Rally, while Best Presented Car was claimed by Fintan McGrady for his Ford Escort RS1800. The Spirit of the Championship award went to Enrico Brazzoli and Martina Musiari, and the Special Contribution to Historic Rally honour was awarded to Siegfried and Renate Mayr in recognition of more than three decades of commitment to European historic rallying.

Team success was also acknowledged, with the FlexiFly Rally Team securing the FIA EHRC Teams Trophy following a closely fought season that went down to the final round of the 2025 championship.

The evening culminated in the presentation of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship category titles and overall honours. After a highly competitive campaign, former WRC ace Jari-Matti Latvala was crowned 2025 FIA European Historic Rally Champion, securing his first FIA Championship title. Driving the Toyota Celica GT4, Latvala prevailed in a title fight decided at the final round of the season at the Historic Rally Fafe, holding off late challenges from former tennis professional Maciej Lubiak and FlexiFly Rally Team driver Will Graham. Co-driver honours were awarded to Grzegorz Dachowski following a consistently impressive season in the Porsche 911 Carrera RS.

Reflecting on the significance of the awards, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “The FIA Historic Championships celebrate our shared sporting heritage by showcasing our history in active competition, and as a former rally driver I know how important this is. 

 Congratulations to all award winners and thank you to Roger Wills, FIA Historic Motor Sport Committee President, for another successful year of racing.”

With the 2025 awards ceremony now concluded, attention turns to the 2026 season, which will mark the start of a major new era for the FIA European Historic Rally Championship. From 2026, the FIA EHRC will expand into three distinct competitions – pre-1992, Pre-2000 and a dedicated Gravel Championship – contested across 16 events in 12 nations, offering historic competitors unprecedented choice across some of Europe’s most iconic rallies.

This evolution is underpinned by a continued focus on preserving historical accuracy, reflecting the FIA’s long-term commitment to protecting motor sport heritage while ensuring historic competition continues to grow.

For a full gallery of images from the evening, click here.

ENDS

For Media Inquiries please contact: FIA Road Sport Communications Manager Sven Good, Sgood@fia.com