By Everything is ready for a captivating final round, of this year’s European Hill Climb Road Race Championship, intertwined with CIVS (Campionato Italiano Velocita in Salita) affiliated racing at Spoleto in Italy.
After the two Austrian meetings, Landshaag in April and last month Julbach, the current European Championship leaders are eighteen plate-holder for the Road Racing News Sportbike Manx Grand Prix race, Salvatore Sallustro (Superbike/Superstock 1000), fellow Italian Nicola Fongaro (Supersport 300).
Frenchman Simon Romieu (Supersport/Superstock 600 and 250 GP/Open class) and Austrian rider Stefan Kuktits (Supermono).
Aside aforementioned Sallustro, Fongaro, added reputable 2026 European Hill Climb Championship, time trial campaigners from Italy are Gabriele Peticca, Federico Tucci, Edoardo Rea, Emiliano Di Folco, Marco Gabrielli, Daniele Stolli (featured in main article image from Landshaag 2026), Marco Vigilucci plus son/father team, Guido Testoni and Angelo Testoni.
Last year’s Spoleto/Forca Di Cerro edition, saw a new overall track-record set by hill climbing legend, multiple European/CIVS Champion, Maurizio Bottalico (1.05.45) surpassing his late, great friend Luca Salvadori’s previous record lap-time.
The full, present 2026 European Hill Climb Road Race, CIVS Spoleto Forca Di Cerro qualifying/races timetable, reads as follows:
Friday, 10th July:
(Local time)
11:00AM – Free Practice 1
12:00PM – Free Practice 2
2:30PM – Free Practice 3
3:30PM – Free Practice 4
4:30PM – Free Practice 5
5:30PM – Free Practice 6
Saturday, 11th July:
9:30AM – Practice Session 1 – not timed
11:30AM – Practice Session 2 – timed
2:30PM – Race 1
4:30PM – Race 2
6:00PM – Prize Giving Ceremony
Sunday, 12th July:
(Local time)
9:30AM – Practice Session 1 – not timed
11:30AM – Practice Session 2 – timed
2:30PM – Race 1
4:30PM – Race 2
6:00PM – Prize Giving Ceremony
An added bonus – Spoleto/Forca Di Cerro SBK/SSP track record holders:
Super Open 1000 (Superbike) CIVS – Maurizio Bottalico – 1.05.45 (2025)
Superbike European – Maurizio Bottalico – 1.05.55 (2025)
Super Open 600 (Supersport) CIVS – Maurizio Bottalico – 1.06.25 (2021)
Supersport European – Maurizio Bottalico – 1.06.57 (2020)
Super Open 800 CIVS – Daniele Stolli – 1.10.70 (2025)
Photo credit: Jan Vavra
Words by Jan Vavra
