Christian Merli racing at Falperra in Portugal

Scuderia Vimotorsport driver Christian Merli is travelling 2300 kilometres to Braga in northern Portugal to compete in the 44th Rampa Internacional da Falperra on Sunday. It is his third outing with the Nova Proto NP 01 Cosworth. In France he won the second race run setting a new track record. His main opponents will be Frenchman Kevin Petit and Spaniard Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta, who are both racing with turbocharged Nova Proto cars. This means they have more torque at their disposal, ie a more immediate response in restarts, and also about 30 hp more than the champion from Trentino.

Christian, albeit feverish, explains the race in Portugal

“We’re hoping for good weather, but for now they’re forecasting rain. A dry surface would be preferable, because the track is very fast. You can’t afford any mistakes here. There will be three practice runs and then two race runs which together make up the final classification. A very fast race on a 5.200 km track where you reach speeds of over 250 km/h. The start, a straight stretch and a fast left-hand bend to be taken in 4th gear. A straight and a right-hand corner in 3rd gear, then a straight going upward, followed by a series of very fast double bends. Braking hard for a left-hand hairpin, then a very fast mixed section and a wide chicane. Next the stretch where you reach maximum speed and a brow with a downhill stretch in 6th gear. A 3rd gear right-hand bend, a left-hand hairpin, a straight, and the finish line. No time to breathe.”

Demonstration run at the recent Levico – Vetriolo event

“I want to thank the organisers and Diego Degasperi for giving me this opportunity. An important test, where we tried out different solutions which I’m definitely going to put in practice.”

The FIA European Hill Climb Championship programme

13 April: Col Saint-Pierre (France), 27 April: Rechbergrennen (Austria), 11 May: Rampa da Falperra (Portugal), 18 May: Subida al Fito (Spain), 1 June: Ecce Homo (Czech Republic), 8 June: Trento – Bondone (Italy), 20 July: Limanowa (Poland), 3 August: Osnabrück (Germany), 17 August: Saint-Ursanne (Switzerland), 31 August: Ilirska Bistrica (Slovenia), 21 September: Buzetski dani (Croatia).

Translation by Ruth Scheithauer