175 drivers enter Cividale-Castelmonte hillclimb final
The 49th edition of the Cividale-Castelmonte hillclimb, scheduled for 2–4 October and serving as the Italian national mountain championship finale, has attracted 175 entries including multiple former winners.
The entry list for the 49th Cividale-Castelmonte hillclimb has closed with a strong field of 175 drivers — 124 in modern cars and 51 in historic vehicles — competing on the 6.395 km course from Cividale to Castelmonte (Prepotto municipality) over 2–4 October. The event serves as the final round of the Italian National Mountain Speed Championship (CIVM) and also counts towards the Slovenian national championship, the Triveneto IRS Cup, and the historic car championship.
The entry includes several multiple winners of the event. European multi-champion Cristian Merli returns in a Nova Proto NP01, having won at Castelmonte in 2004 (his first-ever hillclimb victory), 2016, and 2023. Federico Liber, also driving a Nova Proto, has dominated the Friuli course six times: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2024. Defending champion Diego Degasperi will compete in a Norma M20 GEA Zytek, having claimed victories in 2012, 2021, 2022, and 2025.
Among historic entries, Denny Zardo from Treviso leads the field. The driver has three modern-car victories at Castelmonte and was fastest in the historic category in 2024, competing in an Osella PA20. Rino Muradore, a six-time winner from Cividale (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023, 2025), will drive a Ford Escort RS1600. Other notable historic competitors include Michele Massaro, winner in 2021 and 2022 in a BMW M3 E30, and Harald Mossler, fastest in 2019 in a Daren Mk III.
The course climbs 408 metres over 6.395 km with an average gradient of 6.4%. The schedule begins Friday 2 October with technical scrutineering, followed by free practice on Saturday 3 October. The race proper takes place on Sunday 4 October, run as two heats with combined times determining the final classification. Podium presentations will be held at Castelmonte.