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There is the local driver who, despite knowing the route, considers the time trial to be “magical”. There is the veteran who “climbs” for the fortieth time and there is the pilot-actor who remains enchanted by the environment, the many people and the atmosphere. There is all this in the first day of engines running at the “Monte Erice”, the Hillclimb Time Trial organized by the Automobile Club Trapani and which is valid as the first round of the Super Hillclimb Championship. Saturday is normally the day of testing, although this year the cars of the Italian Mountain Speed Championship took part in the first of the two official races.
Everyone looked for the right setup to climb between the walls and the mountain ridge, in front of many enthusiasts who, in an orderly manner, showed up at the start respecting the safety instructions given by the race director Fabrizio Fondacci. The day of testing was enjoyed of an almost summer temperature, with many fans, enthusiasts, onlookers and tourists who stormed the medieval village of Erice, reaching it via the cable car that connects Trapani to the Erice capital.
And all attention was focused on seeing the climbs of Simone Faggioli, the multiple Italian and European champion, looking for a new success on Erice’s hairpin bends, but who will have to fend off the assaults of the other contenders, starting with Achille Lombardi, Luigi Fazzino, FrancoCaruso and Francesco Conticelli.“
You are not a champion if you don’t have at least one victory at Monte Erice” GiovanniPellegrino, president of AC Trapani, always repeats, and the race is recognized as one of the most demanding, even by local drivers, including Francesca Aiuto, involved in the Championship Italian Mountain Speed. “The feeling with Monte Erice is always magical – she says -. It is one of the races with the most hairpin bends and is always very challenging, even if you know the route. This year, having race 1 on Saturday is penalizing, because we only have one heat of practice, with the asphalt not being at temperature, considering that at 8.30 we were at the top.
This is the regulatory news. We are not part of the Super Salita, but we are happy to take part in this magical edition of the Monte Erice”. Salvatore Spinelli, on the other hand, is at the fortieth “Monte Erice” out of the 66 total of the Trapani race. “I did the first one in 1979 and since then I have missed very few – he states at the end of the second round -. I am very attached to this race which is very sweet and beautiful. And then there is a fantastic audience. Going up I met a lot of people, especially at Pineta and Casazza.
Whether you want it or not, you always have to come to Monte Erice. This year I found the asphalt very slippery, so much so that I didn’tAUTOMOBILE CLUB TRAPANIHeadquarters: via Virgilio, 115 – 91100 Trapani – 0923 27455 – VAT number: 00062110812 – [email protected] officer: Antonio Trama – 339.7002373 – antoniotrama78@ gmail.comI had a great time. I usually climb in 4’30”, 4’28”, but I did 4’40”, also because I had to overtake those who were in front of me…”. Ettore Bassi, a well-known face in film productions, will also be seen at Monte Erice.” I’ll be back after 12 years and we’ll discover the feeling on Sunday, after the race – was his comment -.
The first climb was an acclimatization, especially for me considering that the car is new, therefore, I’m waiting to progress step by step. The street is very beautiful, Erice is a beautiful environment, there are lots of people, it’s warm, there’s good weather and a nice atmosphere. This is already fine”. We start again on Sunday. Road closed at 6.30 and departure of the first car at 8. It starts with race 2 of the Italian Mountain Speed Championship and, then, to follow, first race 1 and then race 2 of Twin Cylinders, Historic Cars and Super Climb.
The race will be broadcast live on the Aci Sport channel, at number 228 on Sky.
