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Christian Merli racing in Portugal

Christian Merli is travelling 2,300 km to near Braga in northern Portugal to compete in the 41st Rampa Internacional da Falperra on Sunday. He will be the last to start, his Osella FA 30 Judd LRM bearing the number 1. It is the 2nd round of the European Hill Climb Championship. So far the Scuderia Vimotorsport driver has taken part in the Salita del Costo, the European championship round in France, and the Trofeo Scarfiotti at Sarnano. Three races and as many wins. At the last European championship round in Falperra in 2019, the 2021 European champion established a new record in 1’46”944.
“We’ve been working on our Osella”, Merli explains, “to adapt it to the European regulations, removing the 30 kg of ballast and redoing the setup. As usual we’re hoping for good weather both for us and for the public. You can’t afford to make any mistakes in Portugal.”

The Braga weekend in Christian’s words
“Three practice runs and three race runs. A very fast race on a 5.200 km track where you reach speeds of over 250 km/h. The start, a straight stretch and a fast left-hand bend to be taken in 4th gear. A straight and a right-hand corner in 3rd gear, then a straight going upward, followed by a series of very fast double bends. Braking hard for a left-hand hairpin, then a very fast mixed section and a wide chicane. Next the stretch where you reach maximum speed and a brow with a downhill stretch in 6th gear. A 3rd gear right-hand bend, a left-hand hairpin, a straight, and the finish line. No time to breathe. The slightest error and you’ve lost the race.”

Racing in Spain seven days later
“Yes, we’ve got the race in Spain a week later, on 15 May. We won’t be going home, we’ll be travelling around 500 km to participate in the 3rd round of the European championship, the 50th Subida al Fito north of Oviedo.”

The European Hill Climb Championship calendar
8 May: 41st Rampa Internacional da Falperra (Portugal), 15 May: 50th Subida al Fito (Spain), 29 May: 41st Ecce Homo Sternberk (Czech Republic), 3 July: 71st Trento – Bondone (Italy), 31 July: 13th Hill Climb Limanowa (Poland), 21 August: 77th Course de Côte de Saint Ursanne (Switzerland), 4 September: 28th GHD Ilirska Bistrica (Slovenia), 18 September: 41st Buzetski Dani (Croatia).

Ruth Scheithauer

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