Christian Merli starting in Osnabrück/Germany
After his victory in Limanowa/Poland, Christian Merli will now race his Nova Proto NP01 at the Int. 57th ADAC Hill Climb Race Osnabrück, the eighth round of the European championship. The Scuderia Vimotorsport driver will be at the wheel of his Nova Proto NP01 with the Cosworth engine prepared by Swiss tuner Heini Mader. Osnabrück is in northwestern Germany, not far from the Dutch border. With four victories under his belt, Merli is currently leading the standings of the European championship, followed by Frenchman Kevin Petit and Spaniard Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta. Each driver’s best two out of the three race runs will be added up to determine the winner in Osnabrück.
Christian’s comment before the race
“It’s definitely the best organised event, thanks to Bernd Stegmann and his team. The Uphöfener Berg track is only 2.030 km long, and they are scheduling four practice heats on Saturday and three race heats on Sunday. The times of your two best heats are added up for the final classification. The track is short and very difficult; you can’t afford to make any mistakes, and we’re hoping for better weather than the two days of rain which they’re currently forecasting. After the start there is a straight, leading up to a 3rd gear left-hand bend. Immediately after there is a right-hand bend and then a series of medium-fast 3rd gear and 4th gear double bends. Halfway through the track, a large bend in 4th. A technical and narrow track, where the slightest error is punished at the finish line. I took part here for the first time in 2016 and won, same as 2017, 2019 and 2022 with record.”
The track record of 49”817 is held by the champion from Trentino.
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