The History of the European Hill Climb Championship

Hill climb races take place on public roads closed to traffic, requiring serious preparation and utmost concentration. Due to the dangerous nature of the course, which lacks even the basic safety devices we are accustomed to on racetracks, drivers must be extremely cautious. Competitors start one after another, aiming to record the best time, similar to cyclists in a time trial. The driver who completes the course in the shortest time wins.

Hill climb races have been held since the dawn of the automobile, such as the Turbie race near Monaco won by André Michelin (highlighting the importance of tires!), however, it wasn't until 1930 that the Automobile Club of Switzerland proposed the creation of the European Hill Climb Championship to the FIA, comprising 10 rounds across the continent. There were two classes: one for single-seaters and the other for sports cars. This championship still exists today, albeit with many changes, and is the oldest in the world.

Rudolf Caracciola driving the Mercedes-Benz SSK in 1930, the first year that the European Hill Climb Championship was established.

The early years, except for the 1931 triumph by Chilean Juan Zanelli in a Nacional Pescara, were dominated by Germans and Italians with Austro Daimler and Mercedes-Benz on one side and Alfa Romeo on the other. World-class drivers like Hans Stuck, Rudolf Caracciola, Tazio Nuvolari, and Carlo Felice Trossi competed in hill climbs across Europe. The Championship, however, only lasted three years, giving way to individual events until the outbreak of World War II. During these years, even powerful Grand Prix cars sometimes fitted with twin rear wheels for better traction during sharp accelerations after tight, slow mountain curves were seen in hill climbs.

There were many technical adaptations to the needs of hill climbs, such as Alfa Romeo (pictured above) with twin rear wheels to improve traction.

In 1957, the thrills of the European Hill Climb Championship were revived, with manufacturers like Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati, and Abarth participating. In the coming weeks, Roarington will take us on a journey to discover the cars and drivers of this Championship. Stay tuned. Our first stop will be none other than Maserati.

The dangerous course makes the race spectacular, drawing large crowds.