Anzère hill climb: Hat trick for Berguerand and Meisel?
THIRD SM-RUN IN WALLIS Despite strong competition in their groups, the winners of the Ayent-Anzère hill climb could again be Eric Berguerand (race car) and Reto Meisel (touring car).
Eric Berguerand has already won his home race six times. On Sunday, the Valais native is aiming for his seventh triumph in the 45th edition of the hill climb from Ayent to Anzère above Sion.
The only way is through Eric Berguerand
The 43-year-old from Charrat near Martigny has already won the races in Hemberg and La Roche. In La Roche in particular - on a course of the same length as in Anzère - the six-time Swiss mountain champion left no stone unturned in the race cars.
The defending champion is one with his Lola FA99-Cosworth and has also held the track record since 2018 with 1'26.992 (= 144.84 km/h). That's what makes him so difficult to beat, says Marcel Steiner, who is in third position in the championship. The Bernese has also already won four times in Anzère - most recently in 2017.
Steiner hopes for turbo power
Back then, Steiner beat Berguerand by 0.54 seconds in the addition of the two fastest runs. However, Steiner didn't have turbo power back then like he does now from Helftec. He has been relying on it since the rebuild of his LobArt (gallery on the left).
Marcel Steiner: "I hope that everything holds and that we have less power loss in the high-altitude air of Anzère than in the previous races."
Steiner has solved La Roche's technical problem. The wheel hub on his E2 sports car is now made of steel and no longer aluminum.
Faustini challenges the masters
One of the drivers who could threaten the two multiple champions is Robin Faustini (center gallery). The man from Aargau is in second place with his Osella FA30 thanks to second places in the first two races. However, Faustini only knows the 3.5-kilometer track to Anzère from the Reynard F3000, which he still drove in 2019. However, this was also the case in Hemberg and La Roche, where it went quite well.
Joël Grand is still ahead of Michel Zemp in the Norma M20FC in fourth place in the race car championship despite a weaker engine in his Osella PA21 JRB (gallery right). For Anzère and the rest of the season, the 35-year-old from Valais has adjusted the gear ratio, which he hopes will allow him to take a step forward.
Amweg and Volluz in the outsider role
Thomas Amweg is also back at the start. However, the man from Aargau will still have to rely on the Lola T94-50. The start in the ex-Volluz F3000 is further delayed.
Joël Volluz, 2015 Anzère winner, is also making another attempt with his Osella FA30. The Valais native last had clutch problems in La Roche and hopes to have solved them in the meantime.
Roland Bossy comeback
The race in the formula cars up to 2000 cm3 will also be exciting. In addition to Philip Egli, Christian Balmer and Joël Burgermeister, six other drivers are on the grid - including Roland Bossy. The driver from the Jura recently returned after a twelve-year break at a hill climb in France. Bossy drives a Dallara F314.
Not at the start is Thomas Zürcher. The Tatuus rider from Thierachern in the canton of Bern, who has undergone meniscus surgery, had registered for Anzère but did not (yet) get the green light from the doctors.
Meisel, Schnellmann or Neff?
In the touring cars, Reto Meisel in the Mercedes 340 SLK is aiming for a hat trick after his victories in Hemberg and La Roche, just like Berguerand in the race cars. The Aargauer is still the track record holder in three different classes in Anzère and celebrates his 30th anniversary this year. Meanwhile, Meisel has smelled a rat that he could crown it with the second SM title after 2016.
His challengers in Anzère primarily include Roger Schnellmann in the Mitsubishi Evo VIII and Interswiss driver Frédéric Neff in the new Porsche 996 GT2 R. In each of the first two races, Neff, the 2017/2018 touring car champion, packed up early due to technical problems.
Two days full of action
The first practice runs will start at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 23. On Sunday, July 24, the race heats will be held between 7:15 and 18:30. Each class will have three heats (if possible). The two fastest times will be added together.
Photos of Hemberg and La Roche 2022: Cornevaux, Eichenberger and Hänggi
