Christian Merli: From Levico to Spain

Christian Merli with his Osella PA 21 4C Turbo, which has a 1170 cm3 engine capable of producing 400 hp, has finished third overall at the 22nd edition of the Levico – Vetriolo Panarotta hill climb, the Trofeo Francesco Pera, dedicated to the well-known driver and official who passed away in 2017. It was the third round of the Italian hill climb championship (northern zone), held on a 7.880 km track with two chicanes.

Interview
“Just one practice run on Saturday because of the bad weather, and in Race 1 I had a hard time. I don’t use this car very often and so I don’t have the experience I have with the Osella FA 30. Of course I could have shaved off a few seconds and stayed closer to the 3 litres, but I definitely wouldn’t have been able to achieve the times of Fazzino and Caruso. Congratulations to them. What makes me feel the most happy and, indeed, most honoured, is to have won the trophy dedicated to Francesco Pera. He was a really special person, a great man.”

Off to northern Spain
Just enough time to unload the turbo, take his Osella FA 30 Judd LRM and embark on the 2000 km trip to north of Oviedo in Spain, where the 52nd Subido al Fito, the 2nd round of the European hill climb championship, will take place on Sunday. A tour de force which will take him to Portugal the week after.

The weekend in Spain
“There will be three race runs, and the best two will be retained for the final classification. The track is 5.350 km long and very technical, with a series of fast bends and a chicane to reduce the speed. It has no hairpins, and the final section is in the forest, where there is often residual humidity. The event is very popular with Spanish fans. One of the names of the entry list is that of the formidable French driver Geoffrey Schatz with the Nova Proto NP01 Turbo, who won the opening round of the European championship in Austria.”

Translation by Ruth Scheithauer