Christian Merli dominates at Glasbachrennen in Germany

Christian Merli in his Osella FA 30 Judd LRM dominates the 25th ADAC Glasbachrennen at Bad Liebenstein in Thuringia in central Germany, north east of Frankfurt. It is the 3rd round of the Austrian/German hill climb championship. Seven wins in seven races with the FA 30: the four European championship rounds, the season opener at Salita del Costo, the Trofeo Scarfiotti at Sarnano, and now in Germany.

A top weekend
“I’m definitely happy. We weren’t going for the big win but tested various setups and tyres in each run in preparation for the upcoming championship rounds. A very hot day, and we’re taking a lot of findings home. Personally I had a great time in front of an extraordinary crowd. I’m also very happy about Christoph Lampert’s result, since we take care of his car.”

The race programme
Three practice and three race runs on a 5.500 km track. Not too fast, with no hairpins, and with 3rd and 4th gear bends following each other. A technically demanding mixed section and a chicane to reduce the speed. The Scuderia Vimotorsport driver won here in 2017 and 2018, establishing a new track record in 1’58”440.

Practice
In the first practice run in the sun, Merli and his Osella take the lead in 2’06”47, with the German Alexander Hin’s Osella PA 30 8”222 behind and Lampert’s Osella PA 2000 third. In the second run Merli finishes first again, 5”773 ahead of Lampert and 5”882 ahead of Hin. In the third run the reigning European champion sees the clocks stop on 2’00”97; the Austrian Christoph Lampert is 13”455 behind in the Osella supported by Team Merli and Hin is 16”457 behind.

The race
In the first race heat on Sunday, the champion from Trentino finishes first, just short of the track record. Hin is 8”357 behind and Lampert twelve seconds. The ranking of the second heat is identical, and in the third heat the second and third swap positions, so it is Merli, Lampert and Hin.

The final podium on accumulated times
1st Merli (Osella FA 30 Judd LRM), 2nd Hin (Osella PA 30) 32”476 behind, 3rd Lampert (Osella PA 2000) 35”744 behind.

Ruth Scheithauer