The event organized by the Automobile Club Brescia returns to the FIA European Hillclimb Championship with a high-caliber entry list. The race, scheduled for July 13th-14th, will be also round of the Italian Supersalita Championship and the Campionato Italiano Velocità Montagna.
Brescia, July 8th 2024 – The 53rd Vallecamonica Trophy begins with 255 entrants. These numbers have not been reached since 2005, the last edition that counted towards the European Championship. This is an important starting point for the Automobile Club Brescia, ready to organize this edition of the race. The event will be round of the FIA European Hillclimb Championship, of the Campionato Italiano Supersalita and the Campionato Italiano Velocità Montagna.
This edition will see the return of a showdown between Italy’s two strongest and most decorated active drivers: Simone Faggioli in a Nova Proto NP01 Bardahl and Christian Merli in an Osella FA30 Judd LRM. Both have previously won in Vallecamonica, and their last face-off was in 2021. Having both at the starting line is a great honor and prestige for the Automobile Club Brescia, among many other reasons that make this edition a must-see event.
There will be 49 sports prototype cars, highlighting the Italian Supersalita Championship protagonists. Luigi Fazzino (Osella PA30) will attempt to repeat his Trento win, while Diego Degasperi will race for the first time on the Malegno-Ossimo-Borno track with the Norma M20 GEA Zytek. Watch out for Francesco Conticelli (Nova Proto NP 01), Achille Lombardi (Osella PA21 4C Turbo), and Franco Caruso (Nova Proto NP 01-2), among others.
Among the FIA European Hillclimb Championship drivers, in addition to Merli, all the key players will be present. The continental season reaches Vallecamonica at exactly halfway: five races have been held, five remain. Frenchman Geoffrey Schatz (Nova Proto NP01) currently leads, with Merli second and Alexander Hin (GER) third in an Osella FA30. Swiss driver Joel Volluz (Osella FA30) and Renzo Maria Napione (Reynard 01L) can leverage their track knowledge, as can the expert Fausto Bormolini (Nova Proto NP01 C). Spaniard Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta (Nova Proto NP01) is also a contender for a standout performance.
The spectacle will be assured across all categories with 67 Racing Start cars, nearly 20 GT cars, and a good number of E1 and TCR cars. 13 nations are represented besides Italy: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
Returning to the sporting aspect, numerous local drivers, who eagerly anticipate this event all year, will compete. It is impossible to mention them all, but many have already achieved success on home soil. From Breno, Alessio Armeni will race in a Porsche 911 in the historic category, Antonio Reghenzani (Peugeot 106 Rally), Bortolo Mendeni (Renault Clio RS Light), Erik Zerla (Mini Cooper S), Giulio Panteghini (Honda Civic Type R), the indomitable Luciano Moscardi (Renault Clio RS), and Stefano Gheza (Mini Cooper JCW). Also competing are Daniel Reghenzani from Esine (Peugeot 106 Rally) and the highly anticipated Luca Tosini from Edolo, racing in an Audi RS3 LMS TCR. Leading the Brescia drivers is the 2016 winner Mirko Zanardini, this time in a captivating Lamborghini Huracan GT3.
Historic cars will not be absent, with 38 cars at the starting line. Piero Lottini (Osella PA9/90) will aim to replicate last year’s success. Also in contention are Alessandro Trentini (Lucchini SP90), Luca Aires (Osella Formula Ford 2000), and Angela Grasso (Osella PA10). Andrea Fiume (Osella PA 8/9), who won here in 2018, will also return to the race.
