Christian Merli second in Vallecamonica
Christian Merli in his Osella FA 30 Zytek LRM takes second place at the 50th Trofeo Vallecamonica in Lombardy, northern Italy. It is the third round of the Italian hill climb championship CIVM, and there are two race heats on the 8.591 km track from Malegno to Borno. In Race 1 Merli finishes only 0”89 behind Faggioli, while in Race 2 he places second after dealing with some oversteering.
Christian’s comments
“In Race 1 I’d hoped to do better, and in fact it didn’t go badly. I was only 0”89 behind Simone. In Race 2 the length of the track took its toll, and in the last few corners I also had problems with the rear left suspension. But I lost about a second, not enough to beat the winning time. It can’t be helped.”
Practice
In the first official practice round Merli tops the timesheet with his single-seater in 3’46”04; Faggioli is 6”60 behind in his Norma M20 FC. In the second run the Osella factory driver is again first, with Faggioli now coming in only 1”41 behind.
Race 1
Simone Faggioli breaks Merli’s record from 2015 in 3’38”14; the champion from Trentino is only 0”89 behind.
Race 2
Christian Merli starts skidding towards the end due to problems with the rear left suspension and claims second place after Faggioli.
The Race 1 podium
1st Faggioli (Norma M20 FC), 2nd Merli (Osella FA 30 Zytek LRM) 0”89 behind, 3rd Degasperi (Osella FA 30) 10”51 behind.
The Race 2 podium
1st Faggioli (Norma M20 FC), 2nd Merli (Osella FA 30 Zytek LRM) 3”29 behind, 3rd Degasperi (Osella FA 30) 13”11 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