News The 89th Bol d'Or: A Celebration of Racing Passion.

The final round of the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) and the oldest 24-hour race in the world, the Bol d'Or, will take place this weekend at Le Castellet. The start of the main event will be given on Saturday, September 19, at 3:00 p.m., the highlight of a weekend featuring several supporting events and exhibitions.

A packed racing schedule

Before the 24-hour race featuring international teams, the 5.8-kilometer circuit will host several high-caliber events. The Bol d'Argent, reserved for roadsters, will bring together more than 70 teams on Friday, September 18, at 1:55 p.m. Vintage motorcycles over 31 years old will compete in the Bol d’Or Classic, with the final standings determined by the combined results of two two-hour heats, scheduled for Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Finally, the Moto Journal Sport Adventure Race, dedicated to maxi-trail bikes, will serve as the opening event for the World Championship on Saturday.

Historical Exhibits and Motorcycle Market

Several areas will be set up within the event grounds. The Pit Building will host a retrospective dedicated to the Japauto team, featuring an exhibition of seven motorcycles that have won the race in the past. The Classic Village will bring together about ten clubs and more than a hundred historic vehicles.
The Bol d’Or Village, the event’s commercial area, will feature the market’s leading manufacturers (Aprilia, BMW Motorrad, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Triumph, Yamaha). This year’s event also marks the return of British manufacturer Norton and the presence of French equipment supplier Five.

Motorcycle Demonstrations and Road Safety

Alongside the competition, demonstrations will punctuate the weekend: freestyle trials by rider Chris Bruand, Flyboard and Jet Ski demonstrations on the circuit’s lake, and motorcycle ball matches by the Carpentras club (with a main match on Saturday at 7 p.m.). Activities organized by commercial partners will be available, including driving simulators, tire-change challenges, go-karting, and ATV courses.

On the training front, the Easy Monneret and ECF driving schools will host hands-on workshops: mini-motorcycle sessions for children (ages 7–12), introductory courses for the AM license, 125 cm³ training, and handling courses (gymkhana). The French Navy will also participate in the event with a recruitment booth and a static display of a Dauphin helicopter.

Events Relocated to Bandol

To promote the endurance championship to a wider audience, the organizers and promoters will move part of the festivities to downtown Bandol. The official program there includes a trial show at 4:00 p.m., a parade of competition motorcycles at 4:30 p.m., followed by an autograph session with the riders on Place de la Liberté between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The official drivers’ briefing will take place at the Jules Verne Theater.

Saturday evening at the circuit will conclude with a concert by TNT, an AC/DC cover band, followed by the traditional fireworks display over the Paul Ricard Circuit.