Christian Merli guest of honour at Osnabrück in Germany

Winner of the recent 49th Subida a Chantada in Spain and currently leading the European championship standings with seven victories in seven rounds this season, Scuderia Vimotorsport driver Christian Merli is now travelling 1000 km to race his Osella FA 30 Judd LRM at the Int. 55th ADAC Hill Climb Race Osnabrück, where he has been invited as a guest of honour. Osnabrück is in northwestern Germany, not far from the Dutch border.

Merli’s liking for the German event
“It’s definitely a great pleasure to have been invited. The organisers had kept insisting, and I was here for the first time in 2016. I won. I also took the victory in 2017, in 2019 and in 2022 with a new track record. It will be harder this year, because we’re competing under the FIA regulations, which impose a maximum of 9500 instead of 11000 rpm. So we have 30 hp less, and we also carry a ballast of 30 kg. Our German, Swiss and Austrian opponents don’t have these restrictions. We then depend on the weather, which looks very variable for now.”

Excellent organisation
“The last few times it was an amazing experience. They have a spectator stand, large screens and a shuttle service. There are also passenger thrill rides with professional drivers available. And it’s incredible; they get an estimated 25,000 paying spectators. I’ve always been treated like a king. It’s definitely the best organised event, thanks to Bernd Stegmann and his team.”

The track
“The Uphöfener Berg track is 2.030 km long, and they are scheduling four practice heats on Saturday and four race heats on Sunday. The times of your two best heats are added up for the final classification. The track is short and very difficult; you can’t afford to make any mistakes. After the start there is a straight, ending in a 3rd gear left-hand bend. Immediately after there is a right-hand bend and then a series of medium-fast 3rd gear and 4th gear double bends. Halfway through the track, a large bend in 4th. A technical and narrow track, where the slightest error is punished at the finish line.”
The track record of 49”817 is held by the champion from Trentino.

Translation by Ruth Scheithauer