2nd place for Merli in France in his debut with the Nova Proto
Christian Merli, at his debut with the Nova Proto NP01 powered by a Cosworth engine prepared by the Swiss Heini Mader, took second place in the first race heat in the 51st edition of the St.Jean du Gard – Col Saint-Pierre hill climb north of Montpellier in France, the first round of the FIA European Hill Climb Championship. The second run was cancelled for safety reasons due to the incessant rain. There were going to be two race heats on the 5.080 km track, and for the European championship classification, the times of the two heats would normally be added together.
The interview
"In the first race run the surface was wet. However I did well while trying not to take unnecessary risks as it was my first outing in the rain with the Nova Proto. Kevin Petit was very fast and so I’d have had to push hard in the second run to try to catch up. Unfortunately the rain increased a lot and together with all the other drivers we decided not to take the start in order to avoid unnecessary risks, as there had been quite a few accidents before us due to aquaplaning. The new car? Everything works well, I just need to get more confident and find the right set-up for the various road conditions. Now a 1000 km trip home and then we'll prepare for the race in Austria at the end of the month.”
The race in France
In the first practice heat the sky is overcast. In his first climb with the Nova Proto NP01 powered by a Cosworth V8 engine, Christian Merli is immediately second, two tenths of a second behind the Spaniard Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta. In the second run Merli finishes first in 2'19"552. Local driver Kevin Petit is 1"974 behind, while Iraola Lanzagorta finishes third, 2"411 behind the leader. For the first race heat on Sunday, the clouds are low, umbrellas are brought out and temperatures fall. The surface is slippery and the rain increases towards midday. First place in the first race run for Kevin Petit in his Nova Proto, 3"429 ahead of Merli and 6"060 ahead of Iraola Lanzagorta. It is still raining for the second race run in the afternoon. At the request of the European championship drivers, the run is not carried out. Too risky and too many insidious spots. The clerk of the course cancels the second race heat for everyone.
The FIA European Hill Climb Championship programme
13 April: Col Saint-Pierre (France), 27 April: Rechbergrennen (Austria), 11 May: Rampa da Falperra (Portugal), 18 May: Subida al Fito (Spain), 1 June: Ecce Homo (Czech Republic), 8 June: Trento – Bondone (Italy), 20 July: Limanowa (Poland), 3 August: Osnabrück (Germany), 17 August: Saint-Ursanne (Switzerland), 31 August: Ilirska Bistrica (Slovenia), 21 September: Buzetski dani (Croatia).