Motorsport: Olivier and Michael Burri at the start

Michael Burri's upward trend in the works Renault Clio R3T was already evident at the beginning of October with 5th place in Corsica. Last weekend, the Bernjurassian, navigated by Frenchman Andersson Levratti, did even better. He set his first WRC3 best time in the prologue in Barcelona. Encouraged by this, Burri finished the first stage on gravel the following day in a promising third position.

With consistent times, the Swiss soon took over second place and did not relinquish it on the third stage. Michael Burri's aspired WRC3 podium was now a reality. He had won the European Clio R3T Trophy at the Rally Monte Carlo in January, earning himself a package of six WRC events with the Renault Sport Rally Team. His last outing will be at the Rally Wales in Great Britain in November.

Strong foreigners at the grand finale in Valais
Many eyes will not be on him this week, but on his father Olivier Burri. At the Rallye International du Valais (RIV), the final round of the Swiss championship and two European rally series, Olivier Burri will be driving a new Hyundai i20 R5. The warhorse won the biggest Swiss car race in terms of effort eight times from 1993 to 2006 and finished third on the overall winners' podium last year. Olivier Burri has a yardstick in the Italian Fabio Andolfi, who traveled directly from Spain to Valais and is also driving a Hyundai R5.

A total of 77 teams have registered for the RIV 2016. The start will take place on Friday at the Sion barracks, where the rally center is located. A spectator stage will be held there on Friday and Saturday from 12.30 pm on a circular course. The entrance fee is 10 francs. Sébastien Carron from Valais, who is the 2016 rally champion, will set off with start number 1 in a Ford Fiesta R5. Jan Cerny (CZ) and Pieter Tsjoen (B) are two other foreign drivers alongside Andolfi with attractive R5 cars. The finish after 14 special stages (193.5 km) is at 16:30 on Saturday at CERM Martigny.

www.riv.ch
Photos: Archive