Christian Merli racing at Ecce Homo/Czech Republic

On Sunday Christian Merli will be racing his Nova Proto NP01 with its naturally aspirated Cosworth V8 engine in the 44th edition of the Ecce Homo hill climb at Sternberk north of Brno in the Czech Republic. The fifth round of the European championship consists of two official practice runs on the 7.800 km track on Saturday and two race heats on Sunday. The win is decided on accumulated times. The track record of 2’39”802 is held by the Scuderia Vimotorsport driver from Trentino, established in 2022. Merli has conquered the top step of the podium five times here (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022). Kevin Petit is leading the provisional general championship classification with 83 points, the multiple European champion has 79.

The track in Christian’s words

“A very fast track, which you have to take high-geared. Only three hairpins. A prestigious race with top speeds of 260 km/h. The track is wide and immediately starts with a very fast mixed section. Next a series of double bends, to be taken in high gears as I said, leading up to a fork in the road, where the track widens further. Some more fast half bends and a long 3rd gear bend in a beautiful natural amphitheatre. Then you push at maximum speed straight through to the finish line. You absolutely can’t afford to make any mistakes.”

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