Friday 26th August 2016

Flat out in the Alps: Time For Tea?

Hang on tight as Charlie drives the intimidatingly fast St Ursanne les Rangiers in a car called Norma

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Last year PH followed the exploits of Brit hillclimberCharlie Martin and her self-supported season competing a Formula Renault in the intimidating French championships.

She's not slowed down since and sent us a rather impressive video the other day, this being onboard footage from her run at St Ursanne les Rangiers in a French-built car called a Norma M20 FC. If you're thinking 'Gallic Radical' you won't be far off the mark, Charlie's Honda-engined car pushing out around 270hp and the latest in a long-line of successful hillclimb and track cars built by Norma Auto Concept.

And if you think the car sounds impressive wait until you see the St Ursanne les Rangiers course. A 40-second squirt up a car-width road in the grounds of a stately home this is not - for much of the opening section Charlie is flat in sixth for long periods, somewhat highlighting how much more serious closed road European hillclimbing is. She obviously gelled with the car though, scoring third in class and getting the fastest time for a female driver at the event - this after no testing and an impromptu seat fitting in the paddock before the run. For a more detailed report check out the blog here and for regular updates see her officialFacebook page.

Go Charlie!

Charlie Martin in the Norma M20 FC at St Ursanne les Rangiers

Photos: Swiss Hillclimb

[Sources: Norma Auto Concepts, Eurocarparts blog]

 

[Shambler]

Seems fairly slow.

[Truckosaurus]

These continental hills are something altogether more spectacular than our ones.

Anyone know if they have the same eclectic types of cars entered as UK hillclimbing?

[Glosole]

Can't imagine any of the arm chair experts on here getting in a car that someone has leant you that they have not sat in before with closed body work when you have been driving a single seater with sequential gear change and this is flappy paddle. Then its got a load more down force, power and the hill that you hardly know the line. The smallest error is going to painfully expensive and the nice chap who let you have ago might not invite you again . The girl done good