Christian Merli wins the Avon Super Master

Christian Merli at the wheel of the Osella FA 30 Zytek LRM was the protagonist of the Avon Super Master organised by Autosport Sorrento on the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli at Sarno from 29 November to 1 December. In addition to free practice, the programme included the qualifying and the first race heat on Saturday and the second race heat on Sunday. Six scheduled rounds on the winding 1.460 km track, with drivers lining up and then taking the start on the main straight one after another, a few dozens of seconds apart. The event brought together drivers from all disciplines who had raced on the British tyres in 2019, and the entry list included top names from hill climb, slalom and circuit racing with a wide range of closed and open race cars. The sports car category included 30 vehicles.

Christian’s comments
“It was a great event, we had a lot of fun. We immediately found the right setup for our Osella FA 30, and everything went very well right from the free practice. The event marked the official handover from Walter Maganza to Tonino Esposito and his Autosport Sorrento as Avon import dealers. A big thank you to Walter Maganza for his support and cooperation. Next year, Autosport Sorrento will be the ones to import and distribute the Avon tyres.
The race was a different experience for us, on the circuit, with a few dozens of seconds between starts. At the end they even had a surprise for us in store, a three-round race with Ape Piaggio 50s, where I finished second behind Liotti. A great weekend. Very enjoyable.”

Avon Super Master
The weekend on the circuit near Naples begins with the free practice on Saturday, where the Team Blue City Motorsport leader tops the timesheet. Next the 10-minute qualifying to determine the starting grid. Merli comes in first, followed by Domenico Cubeda, also racing an Osella FA 30, 2”265 behind, and Angelo Marino (Lola B99/50) 2”657 behind. Then the first race heat over six rounds, a total of 8.760 kilometres.

Race heat 1
The first race heat starts at 4pm on Saturday. After the six rounds Christian is in the lead. Cubeda is 12”055 behind, Marino 14”630.

Race heat 2
Sunshine and 14 degrees around lunchtime when the second race heat starts. Six rounds, again dominated by the European hill climb champion 2019.

The final classification
1st Merli (Osella FA 30 Zytek LRM), 2nd Cubeda (Osella FA 30) 12”055 behind, 3rd Liotti (Formula Gloria 1600) 13”971 behind.

Ruth Scheithauer