Classic Racing: Masterstroke by Bruno Weibel
Many Swiss spectators attended the "Bosch Hockenheim Historic - Jim Clark Revival" at the weekend. They saw a European champion in top form. The changeable weather on both race days - rain in the morning, clearing up in the afternoon - thwarted the large crowd of spectators. But those who sat in the grandstands and strolled through the open paddock got a colorful [...]
However, those who sat in the grandstands and strolled through the open paddock were treated to a colorful cross-section of post-war automotive sporting history. In individual races, some of the many Swiss drivers stood out. First and foremost was Bruno Weibel, the defending champion in the FIA Lurani Trophy for Formula Junior racing cars.
After suffering differential damage on Saturday on his way to class victory in Jo Siffert's former Lotus 20, he was the man of the second race on Sunday. With his driving skills, the Zurich native made up for the mechanical disadvantage of drum brakes among the leading 1100cc race cars with disc brakes on a wet track and moved into the top three overall for the first time. After a great race to catch up from 7th on the grid, he snatched second place in the final corner. Both races were won by Manfredo Rossi di Montelera, who comes from the Martini beverage group, in a Lotus 22.
Swiss provided entertainment and excitement
In both races of the sports cars from the legendary CanAm and Interserie era, Felix Haas in the Lola T294 and Toni Seiler in the Lola T70 Spyder provided an entertaining duel for third place. The Italian Michele Liguori won twice unchallenged in the Lola T292 DFV ahead of three-time Le Mans winner Marco Werner, who has lived in Ermatingen on Lake Constance for 15 years. For the first time, the Swiss by choice drove the 1982 Kremer Porsche 936 once driven by Stefan Bellof and Rolf Stommelen in a race.
www.hockenheim-historic.de
www.zwischengas.com
Photos: Peter Wyss
