A clear victory for Christian Merli in Cividale/Italy

Overall winner. Christian Merli, racing for Scuderia Pintarally Motorsport, chose the Cividale – Castelmonte hill climb in northern Italy for his return behind the wheel of the Nova Proto NP 01 Cosworth. It is a hill climb he is particularly fond of, given that it was here where, in 2004, with the Lucchini of Team Tschager, he secured the first of 122 overall victories in his career. He recalls it as a truly thrilling moment, with Clay Regazzoni presenting the trophy.

Christian, the Cividale hill climb brings good luck

“Definitely. I’m absolutely delighted, especially with my time in the second race run, which is a new track record. I took it relatively easy on the first climb this morning and then gave it my all on the second. I’m thrilled. I received so much warmth from the organisers, the crowd and the fans. A splendid day. It was here, twenty-two years ago, that I took the very first overall win of my career in hill climb.”

Practice

In the first practice run on the 6.395 km track of the 49th Cividale – Castelmonte hill climb, counting towards the 2026 Super CIVM and the 6th round of the International Race Salita, Merli was fastest, followed by Federico Liber, 2”29 behind, and Diego Degasperi in the Norma M20 FC, 2”51 behind. In the second practice run on Saturday afternoon, the top three finished in exactly the same order.

Race day

The first race heat saw Merli take the win, followed by Liber in the Nova Proto NP 01, 0”52 behind, and Degasperi in third, 2”69 behind. In the second race heat in the afternoon, the multiple European champion pushed hard and finished first again, setting a new record, followed by Liber, 5”33 behind, and Degasperi, 5”47 behind.

The podium on accumulated times

1st Merli (Nova Proto NP 01 Cosworth), 2nd Liber (Nova Proto NP 01) 5”85 behind, 3rd Degasperi (Norma M20 FC) 8”16 behind.

Translation by Ruth Scheithauer