Seis Crowned World Champion After Final-Day Heroics
Saint-Auban, France — Saturday, 30 August 2025
The final day of the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix World Final in Saint-Auban delivered exactly what fans had hoped for: a tactical, high-speed duel across the southern French Alps that crowned a new champion. Over a 291 km regatta course, the pilots faced a demanding route through the region’s most iconic turnpoints — from Ruth to La Javie Pont, the rugged ridges of Col Perty and Col Cabre, before a decisive push past Rocher Saint Jean and home to Saint-Auban.
With the overall standings delicately balanced, the pressure was immense. Going into the final, Maximilian Seis (3V - FRA) trailed Christophe Abadie (2L - FRA) but knew only a win would be enough. Seis delivered in style, flying an impeccable race in his Ventus 3 18m. He crossed the line after 2h26m07s at an average speed of 119.49 km/h, edging out compatriot Kévin Faur (LB - FRA) by just seven seconds. It was a masterclass in precision and pace.
Behind them, Klaus Kalmbach (CT - GER) had his best performance of the week, taking third only four seconds behind Kévin. David Bauder (DC - GER) and Stanisław Biela (S - POL) rounded out the top five, both finishing within a minute of the leaders in a remarkably tight race.
For Abadie, the dream slipped away. Struggling to match the leading climbs, he crossed in sixth, conceding the championship lead. His consistency throughout the week was impressive, but the final belonged to Seis.
Race 6 Results
Final Standings – Glory for Seis
He has made it again, exactly 10 years after his win in Varese, Italy. With his victory today, Maximilian Seis claimed the World Champion title for the second time, ending with 34 points, five clear of Abadie. Faur’s late surge secured him third overall, while former leader Peter Millenaar (NED) had to settle for fourth after a tough final day. The week highlighted both the intensity of competition and the fine margins that separate victory from defeat in Grand Prix racing.
Stay tuned, to discover the highlights of this Final Day in St Auban!
