Merli 2nd at Salita del Costo, 0”40 behind the leader

The winner of the 31st Salita del Costo near Vicenza in northeastern Italy is Simone Faggioli with his Nova Proto NP01.
Four tenths of a second behind, Christian Merli comes second in his Osella FA 30 Judd LRM, which he has just finished rebuilding after his accident in Spain. A successful test for the reigning European champion, whose goal at the race in Veneto had been to check that the electronics and mechanics were all working correctly ahead of the first round of the European championship in Austria on 28 April.
The Salita del Costo, the second round of the Italian hill climb championship CIVM (northern zone), was contested in a single race run on the 9.910 km track from Cogollo del Cengio to Bramonte, with ten hairpin bends.

The interview
“I’m more than happy, considering we finished our Osella before practice. Of course we’re tired after two weeks of non-stop work, where we skipped all the holidays. We’re in second place, four tenths of a second behind, so we’ve done a great job. Thank you to Giuliano and to my cousin Massimo. Well done.”

Practice
The first official practice run sees Faggioli first and Merli, who finished putting his Osella FA 30 Judd LRM together just two days before, only 2”24 behind. In the second practice run in the afternoon the champion from Trentino is first, 1”66 ahead of Faggioli.

The race
Simone Faggioli wins, four tenths of a second ahead of Merli.

Translation by Ruth Scheithauer