Merli achieves best time in practice but decides not to start

In the opening round of the Italian hill climb championship (northern/central zone), the 3rd Trofeo Coppa della Consuma at Diacceto near Florence in Tuscany, Christian Merli in his Osella PA 21 Turbo 2000 achieves the best time in practice. The champion’s goal was to return behind the wheel after his accident in Spain to show that his ability and desire to race had not been affected.

Christian’s choice
“This morning I went on a recce up the hill, and it was very wet after the night’s rain. My main objective here was to get back behind the wheel and chase any fears after my crash in Spain, and the practice times have dispersed any doubt. However the tiredness accumulated in the last few days made itself felt, and so I preferred to go home to work on our FA 30. In the practice runs we made a few changes to the Osella 4C Turbo which highlighted its excellent performance even further. As I said, I’m very happy to have been in the car again after my accident in Spain, which has left no trace.”

Practice
The first practice session is dominated by Simone Faggioli in his 3-litre Nova Proto NP01, followed by Christian Merli with the Osella PA 21 4C 2000. In the second session Merli improves by 7” and finishes first, 1”66 ahead of Faggioli.

Translation by Ruth Scheithauer