Catania-Etna Hill Climb

A legend of Sicilian motorsport

The Catania-Etna Hill Climb is one of Sicily's most beloved and long-standing car competitions. Held on the slopes of Europe's highest and most active volcano, with its base in the town of Nicolosi, in the province of Catania, the race attracts dozens of drivers and thousands of spectators every year along the hairpin bends leading up to Mount Etna. The event, organized by the Automobile Club Catania, is one of the most traditional fixtures in the Italian hill climb circuit.

The course

The race track measures 7.5 kilometers and starts from the town of Nicolosi, climbing toward the higher altitudes of the volcano with an elevation gain of 443 meters and an average gradient of around 6%. It is considered one of the most technical and fascinating courses on the island: drivers face a sequence of hairpin bends immersed in a unique landscape of black lava stone, Mediterranean vegetation, and spectacular views of the Ionian Sea. The demanding nature of the track tests both cars and drivers, making the Catania-Etna a coveted challenge in the hill climb calendar.

A championship race

The Catania-Etna is part of the Italian Hill Climb Championship (CIVM) - South Zone and serves as the opening round of the Sicilian Hill Climb Championship. The starting grid features a mix of sports prototypes, single-seaters, Group CN cars, and historic vehicles, with top names in Italian and Sicilian hill climbing. Over the years, the competition has seen some of the best specialists in the discipline battle it out against the clock.

The program

The race weekend spans several days: sporting and technical checks take place in the designated area of Nicolosi, followed by official practice runs on Saturday and two race heats on Sunday, which determine the final standings. The sum of the times from the two heats decides the overall winner.

Tradition and territory

More than just a race, the Catania-Etna Hill Climb is an event that blends motorsport with the charm of the Etna region. Nicolosi, known as the "gateway to Etna," offers fans the chance to experience a day of adrenaline in a natural setting of rare beauty, in the heart of Eastern Sicily and the UNESCO-listed Etna Park.