Champions with a round to spare
Marvin Vanluchene and Ben van den Bogaart are the 2026 FIM Sidecarcross World Champions, sealing the title at the Giant GP of the Netherlands in Varsseveld with the season's twelfth and final round, in Germany, still to be run. It's the payoff for a season-long lead they built and never relinquished — see our full breakdown of their title run for how commanding that campaign actually was heading into Varsseveld.
A rough qualifying day for the chasers sealed it
The mathematics were sealed partly by their nearest rivals' misfortune: Killian and Evan Prunier, sitting second in the championship, could only manage 15th in qualifying at Varsseveld, shrinking the maximum points swing still available to them below what they needed. Combined with Vanluchene and van den Bogaart's own points tally heading into the round, that was enough to confirm the title with a full Grand Prix still left on the calendar.
How dominant the season actually was
Heading into Varsseveld, Vanluchene and van den Bogaart held a 64-point lead over the Pruniers built across ten rounds, including a double-moto win at Anyksciai, Lithuania — the first sidecarcross Grand Prix ever held there — and the round at Lommel, Belgium, that first put them in command of the standings. Clinching with a round still to run is exactly the kind of finish that gap pointed toward.
What's left
The championship itself is decided, but the season isn't finished: the GP12 finale in Germany still runs as scheduled, now effectively a title of its own for whoever ends up second and third once the new champions have nothing left to play for. See our GP12 Germany finale preview for what's still at stake behind the top spot.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 FIM Sidecarcross World Championship?
Marvin Vanluchene and Ben van den Bogaart, who clinched the title at the Netherlands GP in Varsseveld with one round of the season still remaining.
How did Vanluchene and van den Bogaart clinch the title early?
Their nearest rivals, Killian and Evan Prunier, could only qualify 15th at Varsseveld, shrinking the maximum points they could still catch up below what was mathematically needed.
How big was Vanluchene and van den Bogaart's championship lead?
64 points over the Prunier brothers heading into the Netherlands round, built across ten rounds including a double-moto win at Anyksciai, Lithuania.
Is the 2026 Sidecarcross season over now that the title is decided?
No — the GP12 finale in Germany still runs as scheduled, deciding the remaining podium positions in the championship even with the top spot already settled.
Pippa has followed open-wheel racing for 12 years, from Formula 1's turbo-hybrid era to IndyCar's short ovals, and has watched competitive sim racing grow from a niche hobby into a genuine motorsport discipline in its own right. She covers circuit and open-wheel racing, touring cars and esports for CNMOTOS.
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