2025 marks the 95th anniversary season of hill climb racing at the European Championship level. In its current format, the series has existed since 1957, though such races also took place between 1930 and 1933, organized at that time by the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR). The first championship titles in 1930 went to Germany; in the racing car category, Warsaw-born Hans Stuck (Austro-Daimler) claimed victory, while in the sports car group, Rudolf Caracciola (Mercedes Benz) won the title. The Polish round of the championship was the 3rd International Tatra Race, which was also won by Stuck. Today, the tradition of top-level European hill climb competition is upheld in Limanowa, which once again will host a round of the FIA European Hill Climb Championship (FIA EHC).
For the organizers of the 16th Limanowa Hill Climb – Przełęcz pod Ostrą, scheduled for July 18–20, entries are pouring in from across Europe. Drivers are preparing to appear in the 7th round of the FIA EHC, the most prestigious series in the discipline, as hill climb racing does not have a world championship tier. The event will also count as Rounds 7 and 8 of the Polish Hill Climb Championship (GSMP).
Top European drivers, who currently lead their categories after six rounds, have confirmed their participation on the Stara Wieś – Przełęcz pod Ostrą course. Among them, we expect once again to see Christian Merli (ITA) in a Nova Proto NP01. The Trento-born five-time European Champion has won in Limanowa seven times, losing only once — to fellow Italian Simone Faggioli in 2019. Merli currently leads Category 2 with 129 points.
In second place in the Category 2 standings is Kevin Petit (FRA, Nova Proto NP01, 116 points), who has also confirmed his appearance in Limanowa. Petit has been a podium contender in various hill climb races since 2017. He is the brother of Sébastien Petit, a frequent participant in international races held in Poland. In 2021, Kevin won the Nations Cup at the FIA Hill Climb Masters with the French team and has also competed on circuits, cooperating with Sébastien Loeb’s racing team. He joined the FIA EHC last year, finishing 8th overall in Category 2 (single-seaters).
In Category 1 (closed-body cars), the top three of the 2025 season are expected to start: long-time Limanowa competitor O’Play (ITA, Mitsubishi Lancer), who leads with 125 points, Igor Stefanovski (MKD, 97 points) driving the spectacular Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO, and Luis Antonio Penido Lopez (ESP, Renault Clio RS Cup EVO). Also aiming to appear in Poland is last year’s Category 1 European Champion Matija Jurišić (CRO, Peugeot 308 1.6 TCR).
Other stars expected include former European Champion Ronnie Bratschi (CHE), driving for the Czech Republic in a Mitsubishi Lancer, and Reto Meisel (SUI), who pilots the powerful Mercedes-Benz SLK 340 equipped with a Formula 1 engine. Meisel has already won two rounds this season.
Three Polish drivers, competing in the full FIA EHC season, have confirmed their participation. Among them: reigning Polish Hill Climb Champion Grzegorz Rożalski, with a 1000+ HP Mitsubishi Lancer (1 round win so far, currently 6th overall with 84 points and 2nd in the powerful Group 1), Karol Krupa (Skoda Fabia CT), who won his group at the Ecce Homo race in the Czech Republic and is currently 5th in his group, and Szymon Piękoś, also driving a Mitsubishi Lancer.
The 16th Limanowa Hill Climb is held under the Honorary Patronage of Ireneusz Raś, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, and Łukasz Smółka, Marshal of the Małopolska Voivodeship. The Race Director will be Bogdan Pałka (POL), President of the Auto Moto Club Limanowa. The Panel of Sporting Stewards will be chaired by Paolo Bet (ITA), with Kevin Ferner (GER) serving as FIA Observer and Gordon Forbes (GBR) as the FIA Technical Observer.
Ireneusz Raś:
Together with the Auto Moto Club Limanowa, I warmly invite you to the 16th edition of the Limanowa Hill Climb – Przełęcz pod Ostrą. For the second time, I have the honor of being the honorary patron of this prestigious sports event, held as part of the Polish Championship.
At the start line, as always, will be the best teams from across Europe. The high-altitude mountain course – extremely demanding and the fastest among all hill climb tracks in Poland – will deliver thrilling motorsport action and showcase the exceptional skills of the drivers.
Excellent organization and full professionalism, strong focus on safety, fantastic atmosphere and hospitality, and passionate fans from all over Poland – this is what defines the Limanowa Hill Climb – Przełęcz pod Ostrą.
The race course, located on road K1609, is 5,493 meters long with a 302-meter elevation gain from the start in Stara Wieś to the finish at Przełęcz Ostra, featuring an average incline of 5.5%. Drivers registered in the FIA EHC will have more training runs than at any other event in the series — 5 practice runs — plus 2 race runs on Sunday, giving fans a chance to witness 7 total FIA EHC runs!
The Strategic Partner of the 16th Limanowa Hill Climb – Przełęcz pod Ostrą is the Małopolskie Voivodeship.
[press release]