Merli wins the European round at the Trento – Bondone

At the 74th Trento – Bondone, the sixth round of the European Hill Climb Championship, Christian Merli in his Nova Proto NP01 with the naturally aspirated Cosworth engine took his third win in the European championship this season. He reached the finish line in Vason in 9'14”298, which was his best time ever at this race. After his victory in the Czech Republic Merli conquered the top step of the European championship podium in what was the centenary edition of the Monte Bondone hill climb. In July 1925, a group of friends organised a “timed excursion for cars and motorbikes” in which sixteen motorbikes, two motor bicycles and eleven cars took part. The race on an unpaved road was thirteen kilometres long with the finish line at Vaneze. The winner was Ruggero Menestrina at the wheel of a Fiat 501 in 21'57", at an average speed of 35.352 kilometres per hour. One hundred years later, the race, organised by the Scuderia Trentina in collaboration with the Automobile Club of Trento, started from Montevideo and arrived in Vason after 17.300 kilometres.

New helmet for Merli in the design of his car

“For the first time I wore the helmet in the new design that matches that of the car, and it brought me luck. Mamo designed it for me. I obtained my best time ever in this race, 9'14”298, and I’m more than happy. I may have made a few mistakes, because I approached the race quite aggressively. A great satisfaction to have pocketed the third victory of the season in the European championship. Did I have any issues? The setup was good, I’d have modified it further if I’d had to do a second run. I also had gearbox issues three times, but I certainly wouldn't have caught up with the overall winner. Second place overall and 1st in the European championship. It couldn't have gone better than that.“

Podium

1st Christian Merli (Nova Proto NP01 Cosworth), 2nd Kevin Petit (Nova Proto NP01 Turbo) 13”435 behind, 3rd Sébastien Petit (Nova Proto NP01 Turbo) 23”174 behind

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