After an intense Saturday, a high-intensity race is ready. Fazzino, Faggioli, Lombardi, Degasperi, Caruso, Conticelli, Schatz, and Merli are among the top contenders. Live streaming starts at 8:30 AM, and live coverage from 10:50 AM to 2:20 PM on ACI Sport TV. In the first heat of the CIVM, the Swiss Darbellay is ahead, with Serra leading in the historic cars.
Borno, July 13th, 2024 – An exciting Saturday at the 53rd Trofeo Vallecamonica, the event organized by the Automobile Club Brescia as the sixth round of the FIA European Hill Climb Championship, fifth of the Italian Supersalita Championship, and also valid for the Italian Hill Climb Championship.
For the first time in years, this opening day felt like a major event, with enthusiastic fans and dedicated drivers preparing for the two race heats for Supersalita and FIA EHCC, and the second heat for CIVM and historic cars.
The most confident today was the 24-year-old Luigi Fazzino, who confirmed the references in his Osella PA 30 Zytek. Despite some setup optimizations and potential decisions on gear ratios, he achieved 3’52″97 and 3’48″336 in the two heats, respectively. The level is extremely high considering that Simone Faggioli’s record from last year is 3’44″52.
A good first run also for the European series leader Geoffrey Schatz, who found a good feeling with the track, although not optimal grip and a transmission problem forced him to stop in the second heat. Confirmed references for Achille Lombardi, driving the Osella PA 21 4C turbo, who quickly adapted to the course. Simone Faggioli immediately identified necessary setup adjustments for the official Nova Proto NP01-2 to optimize its performance on the track, after experiencing excessive understeer in the first heat and a suspected transmission issue that slowed him significantly at the end of the second.
The first climb was also challenging for Christian Merli in the official Osella FA 30 Evo LRM, who completed the course with excessive brake effort. Dealing with the surprise grip after the rain were also Francesco Conticelli, Franco Caruso, and Samuele Cassibba in the Nova Proto, as well as Diego Degasperi in the Norma. A spin shortly after the start and the car stalling deprived Cassibba of the second ascent.
Among the Brescia drivers the day was good for Mirko Zanardini in a Lamborghini Huracan GT3, who seemed particularly in shape, taking full advantage of his familiarity with the track. Also doing well were Ilario Bondioni in a Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo in Super Cup version and Luca Tosini in an Audi RS3 LMS TCR.
In the Italian Hill Climb Championship, which already completed the first race heat, the best reference and provisional leadership were taken by the Swiss Victor Darbellay in a Tatuus FR Evo, with a first time of 4’19.045. Following him is Gino Pedrotti, trailing by just over 8 seconds in a Formula Renault, and Leonardo Chesini, whose Gloria C8 is already over 30 seconds behind. Gian Antonio Franzoni, in a Citroen Saxo VTS, is seventh overall, the first of the Brescians and Camuni, and holding the Group A podium.
In the historic cars, an excellent first heat for Pierpaolo Serra with the stunning March F2 ex-Bruno Giacomelli. His advantage is only 2 tenths over Alessandro Trentini in a Lucchini SP90. Third place for Camuno Alessio Armeni in a Porsche 911, ahead of Piero Lottini, who clipped a tire in his Osella PA9/90 and will need to make repairs to resume competition tomorrow.
Sunday’s events will start at 8:30 AM, with the road closed from 7:00 AM, featuring the second and final race heat for CIVM and historic cars and the two race heats for Supersalita and EHCC, which will determine the winner of the 53rd Trofeo Vallecamonica. Live streaming on Facebook @acisporttv, @cisupersalita, @trofeovallecamonicaofficial, and on www.acisport.it/cisa. From 10:50 AM to 2:50 PM, live TV coverage of race one on ACI Sport TV (Sky Channel 228). At 7:30 PM, a full replay of both race one and race two.
