Ilirska Bistrica Foreigners’ Guide

Over the last seventeen years Ilirska Bistrica Race attracted practically all who have meant something in the European hill climb racing. Also when it did not count for the European Championship, famous names came to the start; Leitgeb, Nesti or Szasz. In recent years, the majority of the best ten is regularly present on the track to Šembije. Thus, famous Mauro Nesti participated in the race twice, and there were also other great masters at the steering wheel of the hill climb races. This year is the same.
Already when organized for the second time, the hill climb race in Ilirska Bistrica became international. First, less known drivers from the neighbouring countries, especially Croats and Italians from Friuli, competed in the races, then the number of foreigners began to rise steeply. The organizers managed to attract the greatest masters of the hill climb car racing and the list of famous names grew. We all remember the participation of Italian legend Mauro Nesti and his light blue prototype Lucchini. He has won Italian Championship 15 times and become European champion 10 times and is thus considered the first name on the list of well-known racers who participated at Ilirska Bistrica Race. When he participated for the first time, he was already over 66 years old! His statement that he had barely warmed up well on the track to Šembije when he had passed the finish line was very interesting. Once he arrived to the finish, he already started charming the ladies in his white overall and carefully combed hair – the comb was with him in the racing car! Then there is also South Tyrol Franz Tschager, who also won the races. He is a charming and friendly driver who has won several European Championships in a row. In recent years, also this race, like most others in Europe, is considered to be Simone Faggioli’s domain. This fast Italian, comes from the capital of Tuscany, Florence. He became famous thanks to his remarkable Osella FA30 car, although one thing is for sure: no car is driven alone. Big names in the race do not come only from our western neighbours, even though they still celebrate in competition - fast guys come also from elsewhere. Thus, over the years one of the icons of the race has become Laszlo Szasz. Hungarian racer, record hunter, has often revised the best brand on the road to Šembije and used the summer term of the race for a short break in Slovenia.
Thus, for many years before the race, he spent a week in Portorož, where he and his family enjoyed the pleasures of the sea, swam, surfed and rode a jet ski. He always appeared fresh, rested and prepared to hunt for records at Ilirska Bistrica Race. We can not overlook the Austrians, as the race has counted in their national championship for many years. We all remember Walter Leitgeb who composed a Japanese engine into a Ferrari chassis and hit records with such a combination, Herman Waldy who still visits us, the thundering cars of Felix Pailer and the one from the workshop of master Gabata. And who can forget Hans Peter Laber with his magnificent mustache, for which it has never been clear to me how he manages to shove it under a helmet.
Before the race counted for the European Championship, unfortunately late Herbert Plasa with his BMW Mugen racer and Swiss Bruno Ianiello with the legendary Lancia Delta S4 constantly fought for the best places! In recent years, Ilirska Bistrica also attracts undisputed kings of the hill climb races, the French. The first among them was cute and simple, but hellishly quick Lionel Regal. He, unfortunately, also passed away. However, his record of winning three times in a row on the track to Šembije will be difficult to beat and it will absolutely not happen this year. His greatest rival was Spanish Ander Vilarino and exactly Ilirska Bistrica Race was the one at which two great masters directly competed to each other for the first time. Also his career, he continued family tradition, was stopped by a heavy accident - luckily not fatal and he managed to start racing again. These are the names that have shaped the top rankings. Many others from other countries, including Austrians and Czechs, can not be mentioned separately, though each of them deserves special attention thanks to his contribution to Ilirska Bistrica Race which would not have been the same without these great names.