Berg-SM Junior: Lessons in Anzère 🎥
THOMANN DOUBLES AFTER First the training accident of a colleague, then the weather change - the seven mountain juniors experienced a roller coaster of emotions in Anzère. As in Reitnau, Rico Thomann was the winner. In the professional short film by filmmaker Kevin Fluri of Twentyfourseven Media, everything looks so peaceful. But with one or the other participant in the mountain championship Junior 2019 of the [...]
In the professional short film by filmmaker Kevin Fluri from Twentyfourseven Media, everything looks so peaceful. But for one or the other participant in the Swiss Race Academy's 2019 Junior Mountain Championship from Seelisberg, things were rumbling inside.
In the second practice run, the last on a dry track, Noah Suter landed in the trees after a driving error underneath an embankment. Driver okay, car broken, psyche of all slightly upset.
The unsettled winner
With a lot of empathy, leader Yves Meyer helped his riders - including the unlucky one who wants to ride again - to process what had happened and to prepare for the suddenly changed conditions caused by the change in weather. All mastered the difficult task afterwards without further incident, two even with flying colors.
The fact that the same newcomer as in Reitnau came out on top was a surprise even for him.
Rico Thomann: "In the third training run, I almost had a crash myself. Noah's accident and then dealing with that was difficult. I no longer had confidence in the car and therefore didn't count myself among the favorites."
The 25-year-old Zimmermann from Winterthur laid the foundation for his second win of the season with the fastest time in the morning run in rain and fog. When the track dried in the starting area in the afternoon, this was also reflected in the second running times of all six drivers on standard Toyota GT86s fitted with Nexen production tires.
The youngest catches up
Gianluca Forcella clocked 2'14.141, almost three tenths faster than Thomann. In total, the youngest rider in the field (19½ years old) was just under half a second off victory. But the Engadine was also happy about second place and the first podium.
Gianluca Forcella: "I had a good feeling in the wet. I already felt in the third practice that the car was holding up well on the road. When I think that I was only two seconds faster in the second dry practice run, I'm really happy with my progress."
Lack of trust
Pascal Siegrist, who was second in Reitnau, was also basically satisfied with third place. With around four seconds, the gap to the top was already relatively large.
Pascal Siegrist: "In the fast sections I didn't find the confidence to attack. I don't know if Noah's accident was the reason, because I was the first on the scene. I just went more for points and maybe second or third place, which worked out well. I'll take the experience with me to Oberhallau and attack there."
Michael Müller, still on the podium in Reitnau as third, only felt quite comfortable in the car in the second race round and wants to regain real confidence in the third championship round in Klettgau, Schaffhausen.
Good experience
Standing in his own way is Marco Grilli, who could certainly do more if he wanted to. Drifting doesn't get you any times, so the 25-year-old garage owner from Zwillikon in Oberhallau wants to concentrate on driving for speed and less for show right from the start.
The fact that even the last or second-to-last place after Suter's retirement can be seen as positive speaks for the learning process that the seven juniors are going through.
Sandro Müller: "I can't quite get to grips with the gearshift yet, but I know what it can take. It's getting better and better and is fun, even if I'm on the last ones. It's great to have this experience."
drivingevent.ch/race-academy-swiss-mountain-championship-junior/results-2019
