Cronoscalata Monte Erice

Last updated
Cronoscalata Monte Erice
LocationMonte Erice, near Trapani, Sicily, Italy
First race1954 (1954)
Distance5.73 km (3.56 mi)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt
Lap record5:47.346 [1]

Cronoscalata Monte Erice ("Monte Erice Hill Climb") is a historic hill climb motor race held annually on the slopes of Monte Erice in Sicily, Italy. It is one of the longest-running hillclimbing motor races in Europe. [2]

Contents

The event is organised by the Automobile Club Trapani and has formed part of several national and international motorsport championships, including the Campionato Italiano Velocità Montagna and, since 2024, the Campionato Italiano Supersalita. [2]

A competitor ascending the course during the 2023 Cronoscalata Monte Erice Matteo Bacci.jpg
A competitor ascending the course during the 2023 Cronoscalata Monte Erice

History

The inaugural edition of the race was held on 5 September 1954, with Pasquale Tacci winning the original 16.55 km course driving an Alfa Romeo 1900 TI. The route started from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in Trapani and ascended to the town of Erice. [2]

Over the decades the course has undergone several revisions. Originally more than 16 km long, it was progressively shortened to approximately 13.9 km, then to around 7 km, later to about 6.7 km, and eventually to its current length of approximately 5.73 km. Since 1988 the event has been run in a two-run timed format. [2]

The event marked its 70th anniversary in 2024, celebrating seven decades of continuous motorsport competition. Over this period it has attracted many of Italy’s leading hill climb drivers and has become a long-established fixture of the Italian motorsport calendar. [3] [4]

Driver Salvatore Spinelli holds a long-standing participation record, having competed in over forty editions of the event since his debut in 1979. [5]

Course

The Cronoscalata Monte Erice is contested over a technical uphill course of approximately 5.73 km. The climb features an elevation gain of about 410 metres, with the finish line situated at roughly 700 metres above sea level. [1]

The route begins near Valderice and ascends along public mountain roads towards Erice, with a mix of steep gradients and tight hairpin bends characteristic of classic hill climb events. The combination of elevation, technical corners, and limited run-off areas contributes to the challenge of the climb.

Overall winners

The race has been held since 1954. [2] The following table lists the overall winners since 2010.

YearEditionOverall winnerCar
202567thSimone Faggioli [6] Nova Proto NP 01/4
202466thSimone Faggioli [6] Nova Proto NP01
202365thSimone Faggioli [6] Norma M20 FC
202264thSimone Faggioli [6] Norma Bardahl M20 FC
202163rdDomenico Scola [6] Osella Honda PA21 Evo
202062ndSimone Faggioli [6] Norma M20 FC Zytek
201961stSimone Faggioli [6] Norma M20 FC
201860thChristian Merli [6] Osella FA30 Zytek LRM
201759thDomenico Scola [6] Osella FA30 Zytek
201658thSimone Faggioli [6] Norma M20 FC Zytek
201557thDomenico Scola Jr [6] Osella PA2000 Honda
201456thChristian Merli [6] Osella PA2000 Honda
2013Not held
201255thFrancesco Leogrande [7] Gloria C8P
201154thSimone Faggioli [7] Osella FA30
201053rdSimone Faggioli [7] Osella FA30

References

  1. 1 2 "Cronoscalata Monte Erice – Technical details". Hillclimb Virtual Championship. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cronoscalata Monte Erice – Event overview". Automotive Masterpieces. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Celebrating 70 Years: Special Edition of Monte Erice Hillclimb". TP24. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Va in archivio la 67ª Cronoscalata Monte Erice: sport, cultura e territorio in vetrina nazionale" [The 67th Cronoscalata Monte Erice concludes: sport, culture and the region in the national spotlight]. Comune di Erice (in Italian). Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "Spinelli, il "nonno pilota" della cronoscalata Monte Erice" [Spinelli, the "grandfather driver" of the Monte Erice hill climb]. la Repubblica (Palermo). 29 August 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "67ª Monte Erice – Event results". Cronoscalate.it. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "56ª Monte Erice – Event results". Cronoscalate.it. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
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