Christian Merli as a guest of honour in Austria
Following his sixth European hill climb championship win this season in Croatia, Christian Merli will be racing his Osella FA 30 Judd LRM at the 54th Esthofen – St. Agatha hill climb near Linz in Austria on Sunday. It is the penultimate round of the Austrian and German championships.
The 2024 season
“It has been a fantastic year in Europe, where we won six out of nine races – Portugal, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Slovenia and Croatia – and took the “Best Performer 2024” title. We also finished first in our single-seater group E2-SS. And let’s not forget that I was lucky enough to participate and win at the Pikes Peak hill climb in Colorado/USA. That was a very demanding venture and I’m proud that Wolf Racing Cars and Aurobay came to me for this extraordinary race.”
Invitation to Austria
Now Christian Merli returns to Austria where he has been invited to participate, just like at his debut in 2016 and in subsequent years. The Scuderia Vimotorsport driver immediately set a new outright track record in 1’03”278, and in 2021 he saw the clocks stop at 1’00”777. He has dominated the Austrian event in 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Invited to St. Agatha for the first time eight years ago
“I was invited for the first time eight years ago. It was unforgettable, in front of an estimated 25,000 people. It was my first time on that track, and we broke the record. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a crowd. We then won in 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Two practice runs on Saturday, and then on Sunday another practice run and two race runs. The track is 3.210 km long. It is definitely harder to take the win than in the past, because the Swiss and German drivers are not subject to the FIA engine restrictions as we are. Their engines are allowed to reach more than 11,000 rpm, and the supercharged engines are flangeless. This amounts to around 80–90 hp more. The track? Very fast, with only two bends to be taken in third gear, and a mixed section to be taken in high gears.”
Translation by Ruth Scheithauer