Christian Merli wins in the Czech Republic

Christian Merli claims top spot in his Osella FA 30 Judd LRM at the 42nd edition of the Ecce Homo hill climb at Sternberk north of Brno in the Czech Republic, the fifth round of the European championship. The race consisted of two official practice runs on the very fast 7.800 km track on Saturday and two race heats on Sunday, with the win decided on accumulated times. So far the Scuderia Vimotorsport driver has dominated in France, Austria, Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic and thus in the first five European championship rounds.

Christian’s comments
“We arrived here very tired after working for hours to change the front part which had been damaged in Portugal. I’d have liked to do a test on the circuit, but we didn’t have the time. I’m definitely happy, since we got the setup right from the start. The second race run seemed to go on forever because there was oil on the track and many crashed, but there were no physical injuries. I dedicate my victory to Fabio Danti, the race driver who passed in 2000. A great champion and gentleman.”

Merli’s victories in the Czech Republic
The reigning European champion has now conquered the top step of the Sternberk podium six times: in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Practice
In the first practice session under a sunny sky, Merli clocks the best time, 5”836 ahead of local driver Petr Trnka (Norma M20 FC) and 7”606 ahead of the Spaniard Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta (Nova NP 01). In the second practice run the ranking is identical.

The race
Merli finishes the first race run in 2’42”208. Three seconds above his record, bearing in mind that the regulations have changed: ballast, lower rpm, and 40 hp less. Trnka (Czech Republic) follows 2”169 behind and Iraola Lanzagorta (Spain) 4”303 behind. The second race session, held under cloudy skies, suffers from several interruptions due to accidents; all the drivers are fine. Merli finishes first in 2’40”909. Last year, he set a new record of 2’39”802. Iraola Lanzagorta is second, Trnka third. On accumulated times the champion from Trentino takes his fifth victory this season.

Podium
1st Merli (Osella FA 30 Judd LRM), 2nd Trnka (Norma M20 FC) 6”678 behind, 3rd Iraola Lanzagorta (Nova NP 01) 7”450 behind.

The 2023 European Hill Climb Championship calendar
16 April: Col Saint-Pierre (France), 30 April: Rechbergrennen (Austria), 7 May: 51st Subida al Fito (Spain), 21 May: 42nd Rampa Internacional da Falperra (Portugal), 4 June: 42nd Ecce Homo Sternberk (Czech Republic), 18 June: 62nd Coppa Paolino Teodori (Italy), 2 July: 14th Hill Climb Limanowa (Poland), 20 August: 78th Course de Côte de Saint-Ursanne (Switzerland), 3 September: 29th GHD Ilirska Bistrica (Slovenia), 17 September: 42nd Buzetski Dani (Croatia).

Translation by Ruth Scheithauer