Celebrating 70 Years: Special Edition of Monte Erice Hillclimb

 The Monte Erice celebrates its 70th anniversary, marking a milestone in motorsport history. The upcoming edition of the Monte Erice Hillclimb, scheduled for Sunday, April 28, promises to be a unique event, bringing together various elements. Serving as both the inaugural round of the new Supersalita Championship, featuring Italy's top hillclimbs, and the sixty-sixth edition, it commemorates seven decades of racing excellence.

Historical Context:
The inaugural Monte Erice took place in 1954, starting from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in Trapani. Since then, this street hillclimb has evolved significantly, undergoing revisions and improvements while consistently enhancing safety measures and participant numbers.

Significant Features:
Despite its evolution, the Monte Erice has maintained certain distinctive features. Notable among these are the challenging hairpin turns connecting Valderice to Erice, the unique experience of racing on a track with the Tyrrhenian Sea in the background, featuring the locations where Aeneas docked after fleeing Troy. Another constant has been the event's organizer—the Automobile Club Trapani.

70th Anniversary Celebrations:
The sixty-sixth edition of the Monte Erice holds special significance as it aligns with the 70th anniversary of this iconic hillclimb. The event has become a testament to endurance, tradition, and the passion of both participants and organizers over the decades.

New Chapter:
This edition will mark the beginning of a new chapter as the Monte Erice becomes the opening round of the prestigious Supersalita Championship. This inclusion underscores the event's status as one of Italy's premier hillclimbs, attracting top talent from the motorsport community.

Conclusion:
As the engines roar and the hillclimb unfolds against the backdrop of the picturesque Sicilian landscape, the Monte Erice not only celebrates its rich history but also embraces a promising future with the introduction of the Supersalita Championship. The 70th-anniversary edition promises excitement, challenges, and a continuation of the enduring spirit that has defined this iconic motorsport event.