Rally-SM: Carron leaves the door open
The 2017 Rally Championship begins with the Rally Pays du Gier in France. As Sébastien Carron does not intend to successfully defend his title at any price, there could be a new champion. His favorite would be Ford brand colleague Ivan Ballinari. As in the previous year, the Rallye Pays du Gier, a regional event around Saint-Chamond in the Dept. Loire, counts [...]
As in the previous year, the Rallye Pays du Gier, a regional event around Saint-Chamond in the Dept. Loire, counts as the first round of the 2017 Swiss Championship. With twelve teams from the R5 category, the line-up in the battle for overall victory is excellent, with the guests likely to play the leading role again, as in the past. In 2016, Sébastien Carron started his series of six victories here, and before him Ivan Ballinari (2014 and 2014), Grégoire Hotz (2013) and Laurent Reuche (2011) had their names entered in the winners' list.
With the exception of "Bally", all of them later also became champions - so it would be about time for the Ticino driver to be right at the front for once in the end. The chance is better than ever this year, because Carron only has four rallies firmly scheduled at the moment. The primary reason is the professional strain on his childhood friend and co-driver Lucien Revaz. He is only available to him twice after opening his own company. Revaz's place in the co-driver's seat in Balbosca's Ford Fiesta R5 will be taken by Vincent Landais in the Pays du Gier. The Frenchman has already navigated Olivier Burri and Jonathan Hirschi, among others, so he knows the Swiss scene quite well.
Ballinari has rarely lacked the necessary speed with the Fiesta from Roger Tuning, but rather his consistency. A small mistake has often cost him the fruits of the success that everyone would now like to see him achieve. Carron also sees him as the title favorite and the strongest opponent in his four starts. With his Fiesta R5, Pascal Perroud is at least a constant contender for podium places, and since, as is well known, the results are only added up at the end, he should not be disregarded either.
Last year, Michael Burri was allowed to complete a free season with Renault Sport in WRC3. Now the Bernjurassier wants to put what he has learned into practice in a Fiesta R5 in the Rallye-SM. It will be interesting to see whether he manages the class change as well and as quickly as Jérémie Toedtli. He amazed everyone with his podium finish in Valais, having previously only driven R2 cars very quickly.
Comeback of Daniel Sieber
From the German-speaking part of Switzerland, Daniel Sieber's comeback is eagerly awaited. After a long break with only sporadic appearances, the now 53-year-old from Zurich wants to contest the entire SM with a Fiesta R5 from Team Balbosca. He proved what he can do in 2010 by winning the title in the Swiss Clio R3 Trophy - but an R5 four-wheeler is a different caliber.
For the time being, Cédric Althaus will only compete in the first three SM rounds in a Peugeot 208 R5. Like Burri, he has gained his experience at the wheel of a Renault Clio R3T. His uncle Nicolas Althaus got himself a Skoda Fabia R5 for the rallies in France and in the Jura. Mike Coppens is the only Swiss R5 driver on a Citroën DS3 and has never quite been at the music.
Joël Rappaz (Peugeot 207 S2000) and Christian Blanchard (Renault Clio S1600), who are supported by Yokohama Switzerland, are no match for the turbo four-wheelers in terms of material. However, they are a visual and acoustic treat at the SM rounds. The same applies to the Porsche 997 GT3 driven by Marc Valliccioni, a Corsican with a Swiss license. Last year, he finished third in the SM in Gier. Ruedi Schmidlin and Erich Götte from Basel-Landschaft will not get into the action until the Jura. Their Ford Fiesta S2000 did not return in time from the overhaul in Italy.
Eight teams on R1 and R 2 cars are enrolled in the Junior SS. Last year's champion Aurélien Devanthéry moves up to the Clio R3T Trophy with a program donated by Renault Sport and their partners. His successor could be last year's runner-up Nicolas Lathion, but this is also likely to happen to Niki Bühler from Ticino in another Peugeot 208 R2.
The Rally Pays du Gier begins on Friday evening with two special stages. The winner will be decided after two more loops with three special stages each on Saturday towards evening. Swiss rally fans should note the dates of the next two races: On April 7-8, the Critérium Jurassien will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a great event and on June 2-3, record world champion Sébastien Loeb will be the star participant at the Rallye du Chablais. The Swiss rally scene is alive!
