Christian Merli wins in Spain
Christian Merli, who races his Nova Proto NP 01 Cosworth for Scuderia Pintarally Motorsport, conquers the top step of the podium at the 54th Subida al Fito, the second round of the European hill climb championship, near Oviedo in Asturias/Spain. After the victory in Austria he also wins the Spanish round.
Christian, the second race with a win
“It couldn’t have gone any better. We’re also delighted for Alexander Hin, who’s racing in a car prepared by us. It was a tough race, disrupted by changeable weather. So getting the tyre choice right was difficult. I’m really happy, and good results are a boost to morale. Now we’re travelling 500 km and then getting ready for the Falperra hill climb in Portugal next weekend.”
The weekend in Spain
In Saturday’s first practice session, following the rain, the reigning European champion takes to the track on intermediate tyres and finishes second, 7”313 behindt Bilbao’s Iraola Lanzagorta, driving the Nova Proto NP 01 Turbo on slicks. Frenchman Kevin Petit is third, 7”555 behind. The second run takes place in the afternoon in wet conditions, where Christian regains the lead with the Bilbao driver just 0”062 behind and Petit 0”173 behind. The 5.350 km is to be tackled three times in the race, with the slowest time discarded. Victory is determined by the sum of the best times.
The first race session on Sunday. It is sunny, but the track is still damp. The German Alexander Hin takes the win, with Merli second, 0”031 behind, followed by Iraola Lanzagorta, 4”511 behind. In the second race run, Merli sets the fastest time, 1”939 ahead of Petit and 2”662 ahead of Iraola Lanzagorta. The third run is cancelled due to rain.
The podium
1st Merli (Nova Proto NP 01), 2nd Hin (Nova Proto NP 01) 5”027 behind, 3rd Iraola Lanzagorta (Nova Proto NP 01) 7”142 behind.
The FIA European Hill Climb Championship programme
26 April: Rechbergrennen (Austria), 10 May: Subida al Fito (Spain), 17 May: Rampa da Falperra (Portugal), 7 June: Ecce Homo (Czech Republic), 14 June: Glasbachrennen (Germany), 28 June: Coppa Paolino Teodori (Italy), 19 July: Limanowa (Poland), 16 August: Saint-Ursanne (Switzerland), 30 August: Ilirska Bistrica (Slovenia), 20 September: Buzetski dani (Croatia).
Translation by Ruth Scheithauer