[Video] Fearless Italian hillclimb run | GRR
You know that moment when you’re approaching a corner and you have a little safety lift or comfort brake? Well now imagine driving up a hill as fast as you possibly could and not having a single lift, only coming off the gas when absolutely necessary. That is the bonkers world of hillclimbing, and where people like Christian Merli have clearly removed the parts of their brain that deal with fear.
We’ve shared plenty of hillclimb videos over the years, and we’ve explained many times how watching mountainside onboard runs gives the impression that the video has been sped up. That can certainly be said here, but what struck us today in particular was just how different it would be to drive up this particular stretch of road in a normal road car. You’d be brushing the brakes here and there, occasionally glancing at the scenery, enjoying a drive through the Italian countryside. Merli, on the other hand, has his right foot absolutely pinned, fighting understeer through hairpins and managing the power and torque from his Osella JrB everywhere else. It’s a damp road, too. Strewth.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: Mighty Cobra vs. Bizzarrini duel