Merli at Rechberg in Austria, the 1st European Championshi

Christian Merli, European champion 2025, who races for the Scuderia Pintarally Motorsport, will be lining up in his Cosworth-powered Nova Proto NP-01 at the first round of the European hill climb championship, the Rechbergrennen at Tulwitz north of Graz in Austria. Merli has won at this event five times, from 2016 to 2019 and in 2023. On the 4.440 km track there will be two official practice runs on Saturday and two race runs on Sunday, with the two Sunday times added up for the final classification.

Christian’s comment

“We arrived in Austria at 5am on Friday morning, for the first round of the European championship. On Tuesday we did a quick test and then went back to work until Thursday evening to resolve a series of issues. Then we set off. Unfortunately, we’ve had a difficult start due to delays from various suppliers. Bad luck has played its part, and a series of setbacks has forced us to work flat out over the last two weeks. We’re tired and I’m not quite at 100 per cent. I have to thank Giuliano and a few others for their work. It won’t be easy since I’m racing in the P1 group, the one with the fastest cars. Normally we take turns winning at events, but the current regulations are such that if someone from a lower group should win his group at all events, he wins the championship. We’ll know more after the first few races. As usual, we’ll do our best. This is an event I like and I’ve won here five times. The track is 4.440 km long. The start is flat, and there is immediately a fast section with a series of double bends in high gears. Then four wide hairpins, a fast section and a tight left-hand corner just before the finish line. Two official practice runs where we’ll decide on the best setup and tyres for the two race runs.”

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