Test race in France for Christian Merli with the Nova Proto NP01

Christian Merli, Scuderia Vimotorsport driver and Best Performer of 2024 the European championship with six wins in nine races, is embarking on a new adventure. He will be at the start of the 51st St. Jean du Gard – Col St. Pierre hill climb north of Montpellier in France, the first round of the European championship, behind the wheel of the Nova Proto NP01 with a Cosworth V8 engine prepared by Heini Mader from Switzerland. There will be two race heats on the 5.080 km track. For those competing in the European championship, the times of the two heats will be added together for the final classification.

Christian, a new prototype this season

“The regulations for the European championship have changed. The FIA now requires a higher level of certification in terms of safety. So we had no choice. My thanks go to a sponsor who helped me buy the frame of a Nova Proto NP-01, a prototype from France with a carbon frame, so that I can take part in the European championship. I must say that I received a warm welcome at the headquarters in Saint Pé-de-Bigorre, France. We’ve been working up to the last minute to assemble this new car. It has a Cosworth V8 engine prepared by Heini Mader from Switzerland, the experienced tuner of the British engines that have competed in Formula 1.”

A test race in France

“It’s the first race, my very first experience with this new car and an engine that is completely new to me. We’re starting from scratch, everything is unknown. I’ve done a few tests on the circuit, but they are not comparable to the French race, which is particularly difficult and where we will be competing against high-calibre opponents like Schatz. The track consists of a short straight at the start, then a twisty section, followed by a fast and technically demanding stretch to be taken in high gear. Of course we always hope for good weather. I’m really looking forward to this European adventure, where I’ll be competing against the best drivers on the continent.”

The European Hill Climb Championship calendar

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).

Translation by Ruth Scheithauer