Christian Merli in Spain for the Subida al Fito

Christian Merli has recently scored four overall wins at the wheel of his Osella FA 30 Judd LRM: two in Italy and two in Europe – in France and Portugal. Now the Scuderia Vimotorsport driver has travelled to north of Oviedo in Spain to race at the 50th Subida al Fito, the 3rd round of the European Hill Climb Championship, on Sunday.

The Spanish race
“A track of 5.350 km. There are three race heats, and the best two are added up for the final classification. The track is very technical with a series of fast bends, a chicane to reduce the speed, with no hairpins, and then the final section in the forest, where there is often residual humidity. I like this race, and it’s the opposite of the one in Portugal with speeds of 30 km/h less. We’ve worked on the transmission ratios and on the aerodynamics to help in the slow corners. The race is very popular with the Spanish fans.”
Merli is the holder of the 2’25”425 track record, established in the first race heat in 2018.

The European Hill Climb Championship calendar
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