From 1953 to 1971, the European Mountain Championship race from Ollon to Villars took place ten times. Great personalities such as Willi-Peter Dätwyler, Jean Behra, Edgar Barth, Joakim Bonnier, Ludovico Scafiotti, Gerhard Mitter, Peter Schetty and Francois Cevert wrote their names in the palmares as winners of the day.
Historically revived
On the weekend of August 20 and 21, 2022, the historic hill climb took place for the eighth time after 1998, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2017 on the practically original route from Ollon to Villars. While Saturday suffered from rain and fog, Sunday presented itself again with blue skies and plenty of sunshine at around 28 degrees.
Jackie Stewart and Giacomo Agostini were among the many celebrities in attendance. The fifteen-time world champion in the 350cc and 500cc classes and ten-time TT winner "Ago" still rode the MV Agusta up the mountain himself at the age of 80.
Attractive field of vehicles
Ollon-Villars offers motorsport you can touch. The pre-war scene in particular is always very well represented in the Vaud region. With 22 top-class classics from the years 1924-1939, the field was extremely remarkable.
Three MG K3s, two Amilcar C6s and two Bugatti T51s were at the start.
Siffert on the mountain
Philippe Siffert brought his father's colors to Lake Geneva. The Gulf livery of the Porsche 917 with starting number 24 always looks like something from another planet. Even if the car only looks like the original, it is and remains a feast for the eyes.
Scuderia Cegga was also present with seven cars thanks to the short journey.
In this group, the Cegga Ferrari 275 and the Cegga Maserati T61 Birdcage were two unique vehicles at the start. With Natacha, Gary, Olivier and Georges Gachnang, almost the entire family was represented.
Almost like back then
With a Ferrari Dino 206P, Ludovico Scarfiotti won the day in 1965 in 8:20.300 (fastest time 4:09.8) with an average of 115.292.
The fastest man on the hill climb from Ollon to Villars in 1971 was the French ladies' darling with the blue eyes: Francois Cevert. He slammed a running time of 3:47.04 into the asphalt with the Tecno F2, which corresponds to an average speed of an incredible 126.875 km/h. At the time, 40,000 spectators watched the sensational drive of the future Tyrrell driver, who unfortunately died in an accident at Watkins Glen on October 6, 1973.
The yellow Lotus Elan came directly from Scotland and is the original Jim Clark car. Jabbie Crombac, a well-known former French F1 journalist and close friend of Clark, became the second owner of this car before it went back to England to the "Jim Clark Trust" after Crombac's death. Clark himself drove the Lotus 21 in 1962 and the Lotus 38 in 1965 at the start of the hill climb.
On the road with blue lights
While Saturday was plagued by rain and fog, there were various interruptions on Sunday, which led to long delays. First, a bog cyclist crashed and injured his shoulder and then later, when the police and ambulance suddenly drove up the mountain with blue lights, the worst had to be feared. But for once the all-clear was given, the accident occurred in the village of Villars and had nothing to do with the "race", but unfortunately none of the other access roads to Villars were fast enough to provide the necessary assistance.
