114 competitors entered the 12th Limanowa Hill-Climb Race – Ostra Mountain Pass
Auto Moto Klub Limanowa – the organizer of the 12th Limanowa Hill-Climb Race – Osta Mountain Pass published the application lists for this year’s competition. This Friday (23.07), 114 competitors from 9 countries will take part in the Administrative Check and Scrutineering.
The event, held after the pandemic break on 23-25, will be the 9th Round of the FIA EHC – FIA European Hill Climb Championship and the 7/8 Round of the Polish Hill Climb Championship. The applications to the FIA EHC show the names of all drivers who count in the European championship this year.
After four FIA EHC Rounds held so far (the Slovak race in Dobšin last weekend was interrupted and canceled after an accident of one of the drivers), in the lead of the tables in both championship categories: Cat. 1. – closed body cars and Cat 2. – performance cars (so-called bolides) it got quite tight. The race in Limanowa begins the final struggles of the season.
Małopolska is a region where the largest sports events of the rank of Polish, European or world championships take place, in many, very diverse disciplines of summer and winter sports.
This year’s race was also held under the Honorary Patronage of the Marshal of the Małopolska Voivodeship, Witold Kozłowski, the Honorary Committee was also composed of the Vice Marshals: Łukasz Smółka and Tomasz Urynowicz.
Witold Kozłowski:
As the voivodeship self-government, we do not hesitate to support this type of initiatives, because they are a great opportunity to make young people’s passion for sports, showing our region as an attractive place for sports and active tourism. That is why every year in our voivodeship there are many sports events of the highest rank, which attract outstanding athletes of the world format.
It is certainly also pleasing that in two years’ time, in 2023, we will host sportsmen and enthusiasts of sport during the most important sports event in the country so far, i.e. the 3rd European Games. Małopolska is not afraid of new challenges, that is why we undertook this task, especially since we have the potential to organize and conduct an event at the highest world level.
The authorities of the Limanowa County have put a lot of work (and financial resources) into the preparation of the race.
Mieczysław Uryga – Limanowa District Governor:
I must emphasize that this year the competitors will be racing on a new surface, which has been laid thanks to the external funds obtained by the Limanowa County and their own financial contribution. During this event, you will be able not only to admire the competition of the fastest drivers from all over Europe, but also to discover tourist attractions of the Limanowa county, which at any time of the year, not only in the summer season, offers many opportunities to spend your free time in an interesting way. Exceptional nature, beautiful mountain landscapes ensure a good rest and wonderful memories.
During the 12th Limanowa Hill-Climb Race – Ostra Mountain Pass, the attention of the media and fans will probably focus on the traditional car duel in Cat. 2 among two Italian drivers: 11-time European Champion Simone Faggioli ((ITA, Norma M 20 FC Bardahl) and Christian Merli (ITA, Osella FA30 Zytek LRM), the record holder of the Limanowa route. The winner of the 47th Bieszczady Hill-Climb Race, Sébastien Petit (FRA, Nova NP01-2), who has been seen in Poland this year, will compete with the Italian drivers. He starts this season in both the FIA EHC and FIA IHC – the FIA International Hill-Climb Racing Cup.
Also in category 1 in Limanowa, we will see drivers from the top of the European table: the leader, Antonino Migliuolo (ITA, Mitsubishi Lancer EVI IX) Gr. 3, Ronnie Bratschi (CHE, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII RS Gr. 1) and Aleš Prek (SVN) , who prepared a very strong Honda Civic Type R Gr. 5. The European Champion from 2019 Lukas Vojacek (CZE), who brings Mitsubishi Lancer Gr. 3 to Limanowa, will not easily give his field away. Polish fans, of course, cheer the only Pole who takes part in the FIA EHC this year – Dubai (POL, Mitsubishi Lancer Bergmonster), who, after two very good performances during races in the Czech Republic and Italy, is 6th in general classification of Cat.1 and the 2nd place in Group 2.
This year in Limanowa it will be very interesting to confront the fastest European drivers with the drivers competing in the GSMP, who also entered the European classification. They will test their strength. There will be the leader of GSMP 2021 Waldemar Kluza 9 P {OL, Skoda Fabia), Daniel Stawiarski (POL, Mitsubishi Lancer), Mariusz Stec (POL, Ford Fiesta), Piotr Parys (POL, Ford Fiesta), Robert Sługocki (POL, Mitsubishi Lancer), Paweł Wójtowicz (Porsche 944 t), Bartłomiej Madziara (POL, BMW E36 M3), Piotr Staniszewski (POL, Honda Integra), Paweł Sanecki (Honda Integra) and Maciej Serafin (POL, Renault Clio). Such experience will definitely be useful during the preparations for the autumn FIA Hill Climb Masters champions race, where the fastest drivers from national and international classifications in hill-climb races will meet.
There will also be a lot of emotions during both GSMP rounds. After three racing weekends, it is very tight in the lead of the championship. Waldemar Kluza (Skoda Fabia) remains the leader, Daniel Stawiarski, who has the powerful Mitsubishi Lancer, is closer to the driver from Wieliczka, and the Fords Fiesta of Piotr Parys, Mariusz Stec and Sebastian Stec are behind their backs with theoretical chances for the championship. After numerous technical problems, the 2018 Polish Champion Michał Ratajczyk (Mitsubishi Lancer) is in the 6th place in the general classification, who either wins the races or … does not reach the finish line.
Hill-Climb Limanowa will start on Friday 23 July with the Administrative Check and Scrutineering to be carried out in Limanowa (GSMP) and Stara Wieś (FIA EHC). Saturday (24.07) competition – 7th GSMP Round (for drivers classified in the European Championships it will be training climbs) will start at 9:00 a.m. On Sunday, July 25 from 9:00 am, the 8th GSMP Round will be and from 11:30 am the race of the 9th FIA EHC Round will begin.
The organizers from AMK Limanowa provides the fans with a free transport from the starting line in Stara Wieś towards the Ostra Pass, where the finish line is located. As in previous editions of the race, fans will be able to use a helicopter to watch the competition from this unusual perspective.
Details about the race can be found on the official website of the competition: www.wysciggorski.pl. The competition will be available live on the race website, the results online will be available at www.wyniki-online.pl. Current news will also appear on the official GSMP profiles www.gsmp.pzm.pl https://www.facebook.com/GSMPpzm and the Hill Climb Limanowa Official race.
foto: Agnieszka Wołkowicz
[Press release]