Limanowa’s 2025 FIA European Hill Climb Championship round (July 18 to 20) stood out yet again as one of Poland’s most technically demanding and prestigious motorsport fixtures. Since joining the championship calendar in 2014, Limanowa has become a proving ground for both championship hopefuls and serious hillclimb engineers, drawing a wide field from across Europe. The region’s mix of steep gradients, lengthy straights, and tight, tree-lined corners means there’s nowhere to hide for either driver or machine. Each year brings out the technical arms race in setups, tire choices, and cooling strategies.

Pre-race anticipation was anchored on Christian Merli’s dominant streak and the potential for local stars to upset the established order. Merli, fresh off prior EHC wins, arrived as the favorite and lap record holder, with Polish contenders Grzegorz Rożalski, Karol Krupa, and Sebastian Stec poised for podiums after strong national performances. The paddock chatter focused on whether the notorious Limanowa surface and summer heat would tilt the race toward local knowledge or outright pace.

The race itself delivered a full measure of drama. Merli made good on his reputation, running a flawless weekend and clinching the overall win with a best time of 1:52.723. Polish drivers responded with their strongest collective EHC showing to date. Rożalski, Krupa, and Stec all reached the European Championship podium in their classes, a feat that underscored both technical development and rising local standard. The event was largely free of significant incidents or penalties, allowing the focus to stay on racing and technical supremacy.

Thermal management and tire strategy proved decisive as Limanowa’s surface evolved during the weekend. Hot, sometimes humid, Polish summer weather meant teams had to find the sweet spot, balancing brake cooling requirements and keeping tire temps within their optimal window. The track’s mix of fast and technical sectors magnified every setup choice, rewarding those who could maintain consistent grip run after run.

From a paint protection and materials perspective, Limanowa is a fascinating case. With rapid surface temperature swings, the stress on both visible bodywork and underlying materials mirrors the conditions where advanced PPF films are tested to their limits, from UV exposure to rapid debris impacts at speed.

All in all, Limanowa lived up to expectations. Christian Merli took the outright win with Polish drivers reaching new heights on the European stage and GSMP records tumbling in several categories. No major rulings or controversies marred the edition, and with technical execution at a premium, the round left the EHC title chase wide open heading into August.

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Wessen Char is UPPF’s petrolhead who still mourns the loss of Saab (and drove her 9-5 NG till 2025). She travels between US and Europe to cover auto events. She acknowledges the chic tech of EVs but wonders if the inexorable move to everything digital is ultimately all-better. Analogue had more soul somehow :)

 

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