Rally-SM: New name in the winners' list
FIRST TIME MIKE COPPENS In the absence of Chablais winner Carron, Mike Coppens won a round of the Swiss championship for the first time at the Rallye des Bornes in bordering France. Mike Coppens did not come close to the two favored Frenchmen Ludovic Gal and Kévin Bochatay. The 42-year-old Valais native from Verbier was able to benefit from the experience of the two veterans who know the [...]
Mike Coppens was no match for the two favored Frenchmen Ludovic Gal and Kévin Bochatay. As predicted, the 42-year-old from Verbier in the Valais was unable to make up for the experience of the two veterans who know their way around the area in his first participation in the Rallye des Bornes between Geneva and Chamonix.
First crowning of the learning phase
But that was not his goal either. Coppens was aiming for his first SM race victory at the second round of the Swiss Rally Championship. And he succeeded with aplomb.
Mike Coppens: "That was a good rally for us. And it makes me particularly proud that Ludovic and Kévin congratulated us on the times we set. I learned a lot again. That's very important to improve in the future."
Lucky for Master Ballinari
Coppens' closest rival was the reigning Swiss champion Ivan Ballinari. The man from Ticino, who finished third in the "Chablais", put Coppens under a lot of pressure until the eighth special stage. Ballinari was even faster than his Skoda brand colleague on three occasions.
But then the player from Ticino made a mistake which meant the preliminary decision.
Ivan Ballinari: "I was probably a bit too aggressive and spun in fourth gear. After this moment of shock, the gap to Mike was too big, so I didn't take any more risks on the remaining stages."
First R5 podium for the junior champion
At the back, Ballinari's lead was big enough to defend second place. Jonathan Michellod was only faster than his Lugano Racing teammate from SS9 onwards. Nevertheless, the young man from Valais was also satisfied with third place overall.
Jonathan Michellod: "We made constant progress and this time I didn't make any mistakes. To get even further ahead, I need more kilometers."
Behind the top three in the Swiss championship, Joël Rappaz finished fourth in another Skoda Fabia R5. Fifth and thus best Alpine RGT driver was Sergio Pinto.
Successful changeover from Toedtli
Best Junior and winner in the Clio Trophy Swiss was Jérémie Toedtli. The driver from Neuchâtel, who still sat in the R5 Fabia in 2019 and is taking his last opportunity to become Junior Champion this year due to his age, beat Ismaël Vuistiner and David Erard to the places. At the "Chablais", he had had to settle for 3rd place.
Jérémie Toedtli: "Of course I'm very happy about this result. Everything was new for me at the start. The car, the co-driver - now everything has felt much more familiar."
The two-time Clio Alps champion was also satisfied with his performance. Because Vuistiner had made too many mistakes at the wheel of his Renault Clio V Rally5 on the first day, the gap grew too much to still race for victory. At least he stayed on the track, which the long runner-up Sacha Althaus left on SS10 and thus retired.
Chablais winner David Erard experienced a moment of shock on Friday's first SS and later another incident resulting in a repair, after which the Jura native took it a little easier and settled for third place.
Group winner Postizzi and Perroud
In the Trophée Michelin Suisse (for the other front-wheel-drive vehicles), the French this time decided the places 1 to 5 among themselves. Walter Mathieu successfully prevailed, as he had in the "Chablais". Best Swiss was again Didier Postizzi in the Renault Clio IV R3T.
In the historic VHC group, victory went to Pascal Perroud for the first time. The driver from Vaud distanced the competition by more than two minutes in his BMW M3 E30. Second best Swiss in 7th place overall was Claude-Alain Cornuz in a Ford Escort RS2000.
