Merli at the final European championship round in Croatia

On Sunday, the new European champion 2023 Christian Merli will be racing his Osella FA 30 Judd LRM at the very last round of the European hill climb championship, the 42nd Buzetski Dani in northern Istria in Croatia. The Scuderia Vimotorsport driver has won all championship events so far this season: France, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and Slovenia. He is leading the overall standings with 225 points, followed by Iraola Lanzagorta from Spain (179) and Trnka from the Czech Republic (154).

The Italian national anthem has been played nine times
“Yes, and it’s always very emotional. Croatia is the tenth and final round of the European championship, and it’s a race I like. A 5 km hill climb with an initial mixed section and a right-hand hairpin half way through the track. You pass through a residential area, then another fast stretch followed by three hairpins left, right, left. A fork in the road in a village, after which the road narrows. A demanding bend and then the finish line. Our goal is to enjoy ourselves, and we hope that we can finish the season with a good result.”

The champion from Trentino won at Buzet in 2016, 2017, 2021 and 2022.

Translation by Ruth Scheithauer