Christian Merli returns to hillclimb racing at Cividale–Castelmonte
Multiple European champion Christian Merli will make his racing comeback on 4 October 2026 at the 49th Cividale–Castelmonte hillclimb in Italy's Friuli region, driving a Nova NP 01-2 C with a 3000cc Cosworth engine.
Christian Merli, a driver from Trentino competing for Team Pintarally Motorsport, has confirmed his entry for the 49th Cividale–Castelmonte hillclimb on 4 October 2026. The prestigious event counts towards the Super CIVM 2026 season and marks Merli's return to racing after a period away from competition.
Merli will pilot a Nova NP 01-2 C powered by a 3000cc Cosworth engine up the technical and demanding course that climbs to the Santuario di Castelmonte in the Friuli region of northern Italy. The multiple European champion has set modest goals for the weekend: to rediscover his feel for the car, enjoy the experience, and advance the technical development of his machine.
The Cividale–Castelmonte holds particular significance in Merli's career. He scored his first overall victory there in 2004 driving a Lucchini for Team Tschager, a moment he recalls as pivotal to the start of his racing journey—one marked by receiving the trophy from legendary driver Clay Regazzoni at the finish line. Merli has since won the event twice more: in 2016 with an Osella PA21 JrB BMW and three years ago with an Osella FA30 Zytek LRM.
"We are returning to racing very relaxed," Merli said. "Our main goal this weekend is to find the right feeling with the car and have fun. Cividale–Castelmonte is a beautiful race with enthusiastic spectators, and we can hardly wait to get on track, rack up kilometres, and savour every metre. Now I am starting again in Friuli for the first time with the Nova NP 01-2 C Cosworth. I am very much looking forward to putting on the racing suit again after a break and feeling the emotions and adrenaline rush of racing."