Suzuki Cup: Miss in the circle of champions

Marcel Muzzarelli can apparently drive how he wants - either way it leads to victory or at least a podium. After a flawless second-best time in the first run in Ambri, the man from eastern Switzerland rode a successful attack.

Marcel Muzzarelli: "I used to drive differently, much more pointedly. I thought that was nix. I hate braking on the last groove. I'd rather decelerate earlier and then be able to drive cleanly through the gate under traction."

Eggenberger tied for runner-up spot
The result was the fourth win of the season, although a ninth place would also have been enough to win the title. That is, if Fabian Eggenberger had won. In Ticino, the latter was the third best, which he would not have expected after a failed first run.

Fabian Eggenberger: "I was slower at first than in the first practice, which has never happened before. Because it didn't matter after that, I let it fly and took third place with a wave of my hand."

Thus, the garagier from Dübendorf also secured the second place in the championship, equal on points with Simeon Schneider, who was second in Ambri. The latter had only Eggenberger in mind in Ambri and is defeated in the championship standings because he did less well after wins (2:1). The Zurich native is by far the best newcomer with a Suzuki and therefore satisfied.

Two people from Glarus among the podium
Based purely on times without taking gate errors into account, Christian Zimmermann was the third fastest. Once again, he was unable to take the relaxed feeling from training (best time) into the race. His clean first run was at least enough for fifth place behind his Glarus canton colleague Patrick Flammer.

The spearhead from the Flammer Speed Team was clearly the fastest of those riders who only competed occasionally in 2019. Even compared to the Swiss slalom champion, he is slightly ahead: Flammer was once second in Bure, Martin Bürki third in Romont.

Debrunner finds the connection
Jean-Claude Debrunner (6th) continued his upward trend in the second half of the season. If his absence from race tracks for years was initially reflected in midfield placings, the driving instructor from Lachen SZ closed the season worthy of a former slalom day winner.

Jean-Claude Debrunner: "No one comes here and brushes everyone down. I had to learn every slalom anew. It's nice when you catch up. I'm really happy with my improvement. I hope there will be more in 2020 after this experience..."

Tips from the master
Mario Diethelm can also be satisfied with himself. Having switched from a four-wheel-drive Subaru to a front-wheel-drive car, he's the best changeover driver ever. He got tips from last year's slalom runner-up Albin Mächler.

Thomas Gerber's Suzuki Swift was represented twice in the top ten of the last slalom. He himself had to take a long break due to back problems and made a strong comeback in tenth place in Ambri. He had previously practiced in the slalom on the Anneau du Rhin.

Daniel Kammer took turns at the wheel with Gerber and drove straight to seventh place among 40 competitors. Normally, the Bernese drives and wins with a Honda Civic with around 300 hp in Group E1.

Fehr from the role
Sandro Fehr was dissatisfied. After his victory in Interlaken, he was considered one of the favorites for the title, but he finished the last slalom in ninth place, one place worse than in Drognens.

Sandro Fehr: "The others got stronger, I got weaker. That was a common thread throughout the season. Don't ask me why, I don't know what to do."

Some others, who were otherwise to be found in the top ten, also had to settle for a mediocre result at the end. With the enormous performance density in the Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup, the daily form also plays a role. In Ambri, Michael Spörri was in good form, finishing twelfth and achieving his first top result in the front third. His partner Alexandra Mühlethaler, meanwhile, once again came out on top as the best lady.

Kylie has fallen in love
In Ambri, there were even five women at the wheel. Seven days after her election as Miss Yokohama, Kylie Raymund competed as a guest driver in the Suzuki Swift Sport that had been made available to her for a year.

She mastered her first official task with flying colors. The 20-year-old from Horgen improved from run to run, made no scoring errors and ultimately placed 39th and second to last. She lost only 1.3 seconds to a car journalist as the second guest driver in the fastest run, which took over two minutes.

Miss Yokohama: "I ran the course but didn't have it in my head and was afraid I wouldn't find the gates. I just pressed on the gas and thought I was the slowest anyway. It was a freaky experience. And I've already fallen in love with the nippy Suzuki..."

Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup 2019

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