The River Tarn in Occitanie is to host powerboat racing for the first time in 30 years when the Championnat Motonautique Occitanie takes place at the base de loisirs d’Aiguelèze, in the commune of Rivières, on June 6 and 7, 2026.
The event, organised by GST Event and Albi Croisières as a round of the Championnat de France Inshore under the auspices of the Fédération Française Motonautique, brings competitive powerboating back to the south of France after three decades in which the sport has been largely confined to northern venues.
“It’s been 30 years since any powerboat race had been organised in Occitanie. All competitions take place in the north of France. It’s now done with this event at the port of Aiguelèze on June 6 and 7.”
The Venue
The site on the banks of the Tarn was not chosen by chance. Guillaume Séveré, of GST Event, said its architecture and capacity make it the ideal setting for the sleek, low-profile inshore boats that skim close to the water surface.
Getting the event to the start line required navigating concerns from the local préfecture, which raised worries about riverbank erosion following flooding earlier in the year. GST Event addressed those concerns head-on, arranging a practical demonstration of how little impact the boats have on the water and its banks.
“We’ve demonstrated that our sport is evolving. It’s not polluting, respects fauna and flora and makes no more noise than a classic boat. We’ve proved that our boats make very few waves and don’t impact the banks at all.”
Guillaume Séveré, GST Event
All necessary permits have now been signed, with support from the local mairie and the Département du Tarn.
Entry and Attendance
Expected drivers
Expected spectators
Years since last race in the region
Between 12 and 15 drivers are expected to compete across the two days. Admission is free. A partner village with exhibitor stands, open paddock access for spectators, catering and live music are all planned for the weekend.
Electric Racing Makes Its Debut
Alongside the main inshore programme, the weekend will incorporate Round 1 of the Formula 60 Electric Championship, France’s new fully electric series built on the standard F4 hull. The Formula 60 calendar lists this opening round as “Albi” on June 7/8 – Aiguelèze sits roughly 20 kilometres from Albi and the dates run back-to-back with the inshore weekend. Organisers note that CO2 emissions from the electric class are 38 times lower than those of a comparable thermal category.
“We hope to host the first entirely electric competition. We all know it. The future is there.”
Guillaume Séveré, GST Event
The electric round is part of a broader environmental positioning for the event. Four-stroke engines in the thermal classes were central to persuading the préfecture that boat wash on the eroded riverbanks posed no risk.
A Youth Initiative
The weekend will also include a youth programme: karting-style miniature boats for 12-15 year olds, designed as a first introduction to the sport. The organisers’ stated ambition goes beyond a single event. Their goal is to establish the Grand Prix de Motonautisme d’Occitanie as a permanent fixture at Aiguelèze on the River Tarn.
Full event information is available at championnat-motonautique-occitanie.fr.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
