OPC Challenge: A clear double winner
SLALOM ANNEAU DU RHIN Christian Zimmermann won both slaloms of the OPC Challenge 2018 in Alsace and thus gave his new team its first victories. There was variety only in the places in the midfield. The 3.3 km long course on the Anneau du Rhin in Alsace was set very smoothly with only 35 gates. [...]
The 3.3 km long course on the Anneau du Rhin in Alsace was set very smoothly with only 35 gates. In addition, the event, which was well organized by ACS Zurich, went off without rain on Saturday.
As it was only slightly damp next to the racing line during the slalom in the morning and even the sun peeked through in the afternoon, conditions prevailed for all of the ideal 13 participants in the fifth and sixth rounds of the OPC Challenge 2018.
First victories for a new team
For the second time after Chamblon, where he only had to give way to Marcel Muzzarelli, Christian Zimmermann started with the Opel Adam S for Online for you Racing. And the man from Glarus promptly brought the new team its first two victories in the OPC Challenge.
With a driving time of more than two minutes, his lead in the first race was only nine tenths over the equally experienced Fabio Gubitosi in the Opel Suisse car.
In the second race Zimmermann touched a pylon in the second run, but the first time was enough for another victory ahead of the man from Grisons, this time with a lead of almost 1.5 seconds.
The same podium twice
With a fast second run in each race, René Zogg lifted himself to third position in both races, so that the same three people put themselves on the podium twice.
Challenge organizer Christian Mettler had to be satisfied with the ungrateful fourth place twice with only a few tenths behind.
In the process, the garage owner from Amriswil also collected further points for Metropol Garage in the Team Cup, although the lead over the twice victorious Onlineprint for you team dwindled.
Double joy for team boss and car owner Andreas Riedl: after an eighth-place finish in the first race, the German-born rookie achieved his clear best result so far in the 2018 OPC Challenge with fifth place in the afternoon.
Title contenders still without a win
Riedl even managed to leave Rolf Tremp behind by 15 hundredths. With his two third places, René Zogg extended his lead in the championship to ten points (214 to 204) after six of nine races.
Zogg and Tremp have not yet been able to win a race, but have always placed well in front. With places 7 and 8, Jean-Philippe Jaquier of Team Milliet from Crissier maintained third place in the standings. However, he is already 40 points behind Tremp.
Masters do not fall from the sky
The example of guest driver Manuel Santonastaso shows that the sporty handling of the little Adam S has to be practiced if you want to have a say at the front. With his E1 BMW, the man from Thurgau is only used to top positions in slaloms and hill climbs.
On the Anneau du Rhin, "Santi" took turns at the wheel with Mettler and had to settle for ninth and tenth place out of 13 competitors with time gaps of around four seconds.
Champions do not fall from the sky in this often underestimated slalom cup.
