Third win for Christian Merli at Ecce Homo

Christian Merli, Scuderia Pintarally Motorsport driver, claims top spot in his Nova Proto NP01 with a naturally aspirated Cosworth V8 engine at the 45th edition of the Ecce Homo hill climb at Sternberk north of Brno in the Czech Republic, the fourth round of the European championship. The times of the two race runs are added together for the final classification. Merli wins the Sternberk race for the eighth time, after 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and this year.

Christian, three wins in four races

“I’m absolutely delighted and I’m truly lost for words. This was a tough race and we’re all very close. We improved a little in the second run, but we could have done even better. It’s a hill climb I really enjoy, organised to the highest standard, and now we’re off to Germany for the Glasbach round.”

Practice sessions

On Saturday, during the first official practice session under sunny skies on the fast 7.800 km track, the fastest time – as expected – went to home favourite Petr Trnka in the Nova Proto Turbo. Merli was second, 2”331 behind, and 3”455 ahead of Iraola Lanzagorta. In the afternoon, during the second practice run, the multiple European champion took the lead with Trnka 2”095 behind, and the Spaniard from Bilbao set the third-fastest time, 4”418 off the pace.

The two race runs

In the first race run, the driver from Trentino clocked a time of 2’44”605 at an average speed of 170.6 km/h. Trnka was 0”514 behind him, while Iraola Lanzagorta was provisionally third, 1”540 adrift. In the afternoon’s second race run, the standings remained unchanged, with Merli improving his time by 1”, while the Czech driver was 1”227 behind and the Spaniard 1”333 behind. On accumulated times, Christian Merli secured his third victory of the season.

Podium

1st Merli (Nova Proto NP 01 Cosworth), 2nd Trnka (Nova Proto NP 01 Turbo) 1”741 behind, 3rd Iraola Lanzagorta (Nova Proto NP 01 Turbo).

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