Osnabrück: Tough test for the Swiss
SUPERLATIVE mountain racing Some of the fastest Swiss will be competing in the FIA championship race in northern Germany this weekend. Marcel Steiner and Joël Volluz were already daily winners here. The clear favorite is Christian Merli from South Tyrol. Every year, well over 20,000 spectators come to the idyllic area of Hilter-Borgloh near Osnabrück over the two days to watch the racing action at the Uphöfen [...]
Every year, well over 20,000 spectators come to the idyllic area of Hilter-Borgloh near Osnabrück over the two days to watch the racing action on the Uphöfener Berg. Although Berg sounds a bit exaggerated, the race track, which starts at an altitude of 95 meters above sea level, has a difference in altitude of only 73 meters. With its many blind curves, however, the course in Lower Saxony is very demanding, so this is where the wheat is separated from the chaff among the mountain specialists.
Eric Berguerand had to cancel
More than 200 drivers from 15 nations are registered for the 52nd edition of Germany's northernmost hill climb in the so-called Borgloher Schweiz, which is part of the FIA International Hill Climb Cup alongside the German Hill Climb Championship. Thanks to the sponsors, the organizing MSC Osnabrück is able to attract many foreigners to participate with entry fee bonuses and travel allowances. This includes two of the strongest Swiss, Marcel Steiner (day winner 2012) and Joël Volluz (day winner 2015). Eric Berguerand, who was the fastest here in 2014, cancelled his participation at short notice after his father's serious accident in Anzère. His dad is missing not only as a helper on the race course, but also in the company.
Compulsory break for Thomas Zürcher
Thomas Zürcher also wanted to compete in Osnabrück with his new Tatuus-Abarth. In the accident in Anzère, however, his race car, newly purchased in 2019, was so badly damaged that the financial possibilities of rebuilding it at Jenzer Motorsport in Lyss first have to be clarified. In addition, the unlucky racer feels bruises all over his body. We would like to take this opportunity to wish him and Louis Berguerand a speedy recovery!
Robin Faustini in his father's spare car
The third driver from Switzerland with a big race car is Robin Faustini. The young man from Aargau had to change his plans at short notice after his own Reynard K01 could not be started properly at home in Suhr after the water battle in Anzère. So the current third in the championship behind Berguerand and Steiner is now driving his father Simon Hugentobler's Reynard 97D for the first time. His goal is to become the best driver in a race car with free-standing wheels.
All against Merli
Crown favorite at the Osnabrück Hill Climb 2019 is European champion Christian Merli in the Osella FA30, for whom it will be the only start in Germany this year. In his absence, Frenchman Sébastien Petit in the Norma-Mugen sports car snatched the track record from him last year, which will probably only stand at 50.145 seconds until Sunday.
In addition to Merli and Petit, other strong drivers with chances of the overall podium are Christoph Lampert from Vorarlberg, who is third in the European Mountain Championship, the German-Slovenian Patrik Zajelsnik, the Luxembourgers Guy Demuth and Tommy Rollinger, the German Alexander Hin (with the Osella PA30 taken over from Hugentobler) and the Czech FIA Cup title defender Vaclav Janik, all on E2 bolides up to three liters displacement.
Marcel Steiner: "With such strong competition, it will be difficult to finish on the podium. But apart from Merli, I've already been able to beat everyone somewhere. That's why I'm going to try again."
Emergency exercise by Ronnie Bratschi
Ronnie Bratschi had to perform a real feat of strength to be able to start in the Osnabrück hill climb. After the technical failure in Anzère, the man from Uri had to find a usable replacement propshaft for his Mitsubishi Evo VIII, as his supplier in Philadelphia (USA) did not have it in stock anywhere.
Bratschi will not be defending his FIA E1 Mountain Cup title in 2019, but as in previous years he is aiming to take the lucrative victory in this mountain race. His main opponents are Frenchman Nicolas Werver in a Porsche 997 GT2 and Italian Luca Gaetani in a Ferrari F458 GT3. Since the Swiss vice mountain champion has virtually no chance of winning the 2019 SM title after now two retirements in the first half of the season, he is only planning on the ones in St-Ursanne and Oberhallau for the time being.
Live on the Internet
Worldwide, you can follow the Osnabrück hillclimb race via live stream on the web, starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. You can log in at www.msc-osnabrueck.com/livestream/.
All further information can be found on the homepage of the organizer and on Facebook.
