Merli wins in Austria and dedicates the victory to Enzo Osella
A clear victory for Christian Merli at the 55th Esthofen – St. Agatha hill climb near Linz in Austria. The Scuderia Vimotorsport driver is first in practice and in the race runs. He has won here in 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and now this year. In the first practice run, 2025 European champion Christian Merli immediately tops the timesheet. Despite a bad cold he conquers the 2.734 km track in his Nova Proto NP01 Cosworth in 57”549, with an average speed of 171 km/h. The two Germans Benjamin Noll (Osella PA 30) and Alexander Hin (Osella FA 30) follow behind. In the second practice run in the afternoon Christian is again first, followed by Hin and Noll. The track is very fast, with only two bends to be taken in third gear, and a mixed section to be taken in high gears.
The passing of Enzo Osella
Late in the evening Christian learns that car designer and team owner Enzo Osella has passed aged 86. A loss that saddens him greatly. He raced for Osella Squadra Corse for ten years, achieving 62 overall wins, five European championship titles, an Italian championship and two wins at the FIA Masters, the hill climb Olympics as it were. However, this year the new regulations forced him to change cars.
The race
In the third practice run on Sunday the new European champion takes the lead, followed by Austrian Christoph Lampert and Hin. The first race run sees the Scuderia Vimotorsport driver win, second place for Lampert with a Nova Proto NP01 and third place for Hin with an Osella FA 30. The second race run takes place in the afternoon with cloudy skies. Another best time by Merli followed by Lampert and Hin.
Christian remembers Enzo Osella
“An era has ended, and I dedicate my victory to Enzo. It was a blow when the news came last night. It’s a great loss for me. What I’ve achieved to date is thanks to him, his presence, his reprimands in his Turin dialect. Having to change cars this year wasn’t easy. There was friendship between us. From the 1980s to 2020 all the top drivers raced in his cars. In difficult moments I’d call him and he’d say, “Son, if you can, stay and do what you know how to do.” And let’s not forget that he was in Formula 1 for ten years. Osella cars are now protagonists of both road and track racing. I was racing with a weight on my heart today. It was difficult to step on the accelerator and remember his reproaches and his praise. I asked for a minute of silence during the prize-giving ceremony. Without champagne.”
The podium on accumulated times
1st Merli (Nova Proto NP01 Cosworth) 1’52”315, 2nd Lampert (Nova Proto NP01) 1’54”523, 3rd Hin (Osella FA 30) 1’56”679
Translation by Ruth Scheithauer