Merli wins European round at 65th Coppa Teodori in Ascoli/Italy

Christian Merli, racing for the Scuderia Pintarally Motorsport, has won the European championship round at the 65th Coppa Paolino Teodori in Ascoli Piceno in the central Italian Marche region. It was the 6th round of the European hill climb championship, and the event also counted for the Italian Supersalita and for the northern and southern Italian hill climb championships. There were two fast runs of 5.031 km each.

Christian, objective achieved

“I’m more than happy. I’ve secured the win, even if it was by just a few hundredths. My fifth victory in six European championship races. I’d hoped to be faster and I struggled this morning in the first race run, with the car sliding around on a fast and demanding track. Still, I’m satisfied.”

The weekend in Ascoli Piceno

In the first race run, the champion from Trentino set the fastest time among the European championship drivers, followed by Iraola Lanzagorta, 0”139 seconds behind, and Kevin Petit. In the second race run, the Spaniard came in just ahead of Christian Merli, with the Frenchman in third. On accumulated times, Merli took his fifth victory of the season. So far he has won the European championship rounds in Austria, Spain, Czech Republic, Germany and Italy, and has come in third in Portugal.

The European championship podium on accumulated times

1st Merli (Nova Proto NP 01 Cosworth), 2nd Iraola Lanzagorta (Nova Proto NP 01 Honda Turbo) 0”043 behind, 3rd Kevin Petit (Nova Proto NP 01 Honda Turbo) 1”283 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