Christian Merli second in Sarnano

Osella factory driver Christian Merli, who recently won the 2nd round of the European Hill Climb Championship in Spain, conquers the second step of the podium at the opening round of the Italian hill climb championship CIVM, the 30th Sarnano – Sassotetto Trofeo Lodovico Scarfiotti in the central Italian Marche region. Unable to draw conclusions from the first practice run on Saturday due to a red flag in the middle of the heat, the FA 30 driver opts for a medium tyre compound in the race. On Sunday he is forced to return down the hill after the start no less than twice because of opponents stopping on the track. Simone Faggioli wins. The race is contested in a single heat on a very technical track, which has been extended from 8.877 km to 9.977 km this year.

Christian’s comments
“We were aiming high and we knew it was going to be hard. We went for a medium tyre compound for long tracks, which are usually particularly tricky for us. We were stopped by a red flag first in practice and then again twice today after the start. We retook the start, battling as usual, but it wasn’t enough. You see, I could have been closer if it hadn’t been for the two restarts with the medium compound, but the result would have been no different. However, we did come in first among the single-seaters.”

Practice
The first practice run on the Saturday morning sees Faggioli leading and Degasperi in third place 12” behind, whereas Merli unexpectedly finishes last. “Cubeda stopped on the side of the track,” explains Christian. “The others were able to pass him by, but when I got there the red flag came out. I had to stop for 10 minutes and then go on without getting the opportunity to return to the start.”

The race
A single run of 9.977 km as mentioned. Faggioli is first, Merli second.

The podium
1st Faggioli (Norma M20 FC), 2nd Merli (Osella FA 30 Zytek LRM) 4”38 behind, 3rd Cubeda (Osella FA 30) 12”29 behind.

The calendar of the 2021 Italian hill climb championship CIVM
23 May: Trofeo Scarfiotti, Sarnano – Sassotetto (Marche), 30 May: Verzegnis – Sella Chianzutan (Friuli Venezia Giulia), 13 June: Trofeo Vallecamonica (Lombardy), 27 June: Coppa Paolino Teodori, Ascoli Piceno (Marche), 4 July: Trento – Bondone (Trentino), 18 July: Alghero – Scala Piccada (Sardinia), 1 August: Trofeo Luigi Fagioli, Gubbio (Umbria), 8 August: Morano – Campotenese (Calabria), 22 August: Trofeo Silvio Molinaro, Luzzi – Sambucina (Calabria), 5 September: Pedavena – Croce d’Aune (Veneto), 19 September: Monte Erice (Sicily), 26 September: Coppa Nissena, Caltanissetta (Sicily).

Ruth Scheithauer