SGP Arrives in Vinon: New Technology and a Prestigious Grid
26/08/2026 - Vinon, France - The momentum from our recent event in Germany is driving us forward as the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix Series 13 calendar turns to the spectacular Southern Alps. Following an intense and record-breaking week of racing in the Swabian Alps at Farrenberg, which officially surpassed 1 million total views (again!), the French SGP at Vinon-sur-Verdon is finally here. With practice days starting tomorrow and the first official race launching on Sunday, August 30th, the stage is set for an unforgettable week of high-speed racing.
The Road to Chile
As the Series 13 circuit intensifies, the stakes in Vinon could not be higher. The ultimate goal for our competitors is securing a coveted ticket to the 13th FAI World Sailplane Grand Prix Final. This prestigious culmination of the series will be hosted by the Club de Planeadores de Vitacura, bringing the world's top sailplane pilots to the breathtaking Andean skies of Chile in January 2028.
A Fantastic Grid
The lineup in Vinon promises fierce and relentless competition. As seen in the official roster, we have a fantastic grid of 20 elite pilots from across Europe, featuring a powerful mix of local experts and international heavyweights:
Victor Mallick: Fresh off his victory at the WGC in Poland where he was crowned the 18 Metre Class World Champion with a commanding 8,440 points. Victor is competing for the first time in a Grand Prix and will be making his debut flying the highly anticipated Diana 4.
Didier Hauss: The former World SGP Champion is flying from his local club. His perfect, intimate knowledge of the treacherous local terrain makes him a formidable contender as he takes to the skies in his JS1.
Erik Borgmann: After flying the finals in St Auban, Erik (who lives in the South of France and also frequently flies from Vinon) is fully prepared to win and secure his qualification for Chile.
Kévin Faur: Returning to the GP circuit following his fantastic performance at last year’s finals, Kévin is hungry for a spot in Chile and will also be piloting a JS3.
International Contenders: The grid is incredibly deep, featuring top-tier international talent like Germany's Mario Kiessling (Ventus 3T) and Conrad Hartter (JS1-C), Switzerland's Yves Gerster (JS3), and Poland's Stanisław Biela (Ventus 3 TS).
Pushing the Boundaries of Broadcast Technology
For the SGP Teams, our mission has always been to make the complex and dynamic nature of sailplane racing accessible to everyone. The Vinon qualifier will not only feature world-class racing but will also serve as a proving ground for the next generation of SGP broadcast technology:
3D Livetracking: We will be officially releasing our highly anticipated 3D livetracking tool for the fans at the start of Vinon’s event. This offers a completely unique and immersive way to follow the Grand Prix in real-time. Get ready, we will be talking much more about this tool during the week!
Live On-Board Cameras: We expect to test our new live on-board camera module during the second part of the week. Depending on the technological evolution and the performance of the equipment we are deploying. We anticipate bringing you live streaming coverage for at least the latter half of the event, and potentially for the whole week with, or without the on-board cameras!
We invite you to follow the action closely. For any media inquiries or partnership details during the event, please reach out to our official contact at media@sgp.aero.
Stay tuned, follow the tracking, and get ready for the first launch on Sunday!
