Victory for Christian Merli in Spain

Christian Merli takes the overall victory at the 50th Subida al Fito in Spain, the third round of the European Hill Climb Championship. At the wheel of his Osella FA 30 Judd LRM, the Scuderia Vimotorsport driver has won all events in which he has participated so far this season: Costo and Sarnano in Italy, and France, Portugal and Spain in the European championship.

Christian’s comments
“On Saturday evening there was a storm, and we didn’t do the third practice run. Then it rained all through the night. In the first race heat on Sunday the track was still pretty wet, and our main goal was not to make any mistakes. The second and third runs went much better, although the surface in the wooded section was still damp. Just 6 tenths of a second slower than my record of 2018 on a dry track. Now we’re going home with full points and will be getting ready for the 4th championship round in the Czech Republic.”

Practice
The Subida al Fito north of Oviedo in Spain is held over three race heats on a 5.350 km track, with the best two times being added up for the final classification. Merli dominates the first practice run in 2’30”995, with local driver Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta (Nova NP 01) 5”219 behind and Miloš Beneš (Osella FA 30) 5”658 behind. In the second practice run, Merli leads, followed by Javier Villa Garcia (BRC BR53) and Alexander Hin (Osella FA 30). Then the storm takes over, and they call it a day.

The race
Christian dominates the first race heat, leaving Javier Villa Garcia (BRC BR53) 1”904 behind and Petr Trnka (Norma M20 FC) 7”420. It is a very technical track 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. In 2’26”950, the Trentino driver also clocks the best time in the second race heat, followed by the two Czech drivers: Petr Trnka (2”696 behind) and Miloš Beneš (9”334 behind). The third heat sees Merli in front again, followed by Villa Garcia and Trnka.

The podium
1st Merli (Osella FA 30 Judd LRM), 2nd Villa Garcia (BRC BR53) 12”604 behind, 3rd Trnka (Norma M20 FC) 16”967 behind.

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