By The oldest German hill-climb track, ‘Luckendorfer Bergrennen’ (2.225 miles long – opened in 1923 same as street-circuit Schleizer Dreieck), hosted last weekend the final rounds of the European Hill Climb Championship.
In ancient times four-wheel legends like Rudolf Caracciola, Louis Chiron, Manfred von Brauchitsch, Hans von Stuck or later Heinz Melkus started here.
Motorcycling heroes to have previously participated, included former TT participants, Tom Bullus from England, MZ brand stars Gunther Bartusch and Heinz Rosner from Germany, Ivar Sauter and Heinz W.Schmid from Switzerland (both also experienced at Horice ‘300 Curves of Gustav Havel’ races).
There is traditionally at Luckendorf near Zittau, a mix of yesteryear motorbikes, Sidecars plus cars supplemented by premiere of modern European moto classes competing.
Newly crowned, 2024 European Hill Climb Superbike Champion Maurizio Bottalico, who will travel this month to the Manx Grand Prix, set on Saturday, a new track record (1.19.625) in timed practice. Sunday races were held in wet, tricky conditions, meaning the breaking of the 100-mph barrier, an historical milestone for Luckendorfer Bergrennen, similar to-the first ‘Ton’ lap of Bob McIntyre at the TT in 1957, remains unofficial.
Biggest rivals for the above-showcased Bottalico, during Luckendorfer expeditions were Austria’s Thomas Altendorfer (next weekend wild card Superbike rider at IRRC Horice), Italian Salvatore Sallustro (last three years wild card Superbike at IRRC in Chimay and Manx GP 2023 newcomer) and another Austrian Daniel Kronschlager.
Bottalico, had a hat-trick of wins with Superbike Race 2 (astride TCF Honda), Supersport race triumphs (astride MotoZoo Me Air Kawasaki). Sallustro took wins in Superbike Race 1 and both Supermoto races. Another Italian headed the Supersport 300 fraternity, Cosimo Sozzo whilst Belgian Lightweight Hill Climb specialist, Hengelo and Circuit De Chimay participant Bernard Depierreux pocketed GP 250 race victories.
Hopefully, the return of European Hill Climb competition to this nice, fast track will help increase interest in Luckendorfer Bergrennen and attract more riders for competitive action next year.
Luckendorfer Bergrennen – European Hill Climb Race Results, are as follows:
Superbike Race 1:
1st – Salvatore Sallustro
2nd – Maurizio Bottalico
3rd – Thomas Altendorfer
4th – Daniel Kronschlager
Superbike Race 2:
1st – Maurizio Bottalico
2nd – Thomas Altendorfer
3rd – Salvatore Sallustro
4th – Daniel Kronschlager
Supersport Race 1 and Race 2 (same finishers):
1st – Maurizio Bottalico
2nd – Daniel Kronschlager
3rd – Stefano Meli
Supersport 300 Race 1 and Race 2 (same finishers):
1st – Cosimo Sozzo
2nd – Marco Vigilucci
3rd – Stefano Leone
250 GP Race 1 and Race 2 (same finishers):
1st – Bernard Depierreux
2nd – Rolf Haller
Supermoto Race 1 and Race 2 (same finishers):
1st – Salvatore Sallustro
2nd – Bernhard Hormann
3rd – Philippe Bongard
Photo credit: Jan Vavra
Words by Jan Vavra
