Mountain Championship: Who will be the half-time champion? 🎥
EVERY SECOND COUNTS The fourth race also marks the halfway point in the 2023 Swiss Mountain Championship. 217 male and female competitors have registered for the 46th edition from Ayent to Anzère.
As in Hemberg or La Roche, the crème de la crème will be there. First and foremost the Big Five, who are racing for the day's victory: Eric Berguerand on his Lola FA99, Marcel Steiner on LobArt-Honda/Helftec, Robin Faustini on Osella FA30, Thomas Amweg on Reynard 95D and Joël Volluz (also on Osella FA30).
Home advantage for the champion?
The statistics are clearly in favor of local hero Berguerand (pictured above). The Valais native has won the last three events (2018, 2019 and 2022). In optimal conditions, he was just as confident as in the rainy edition before Corona 2019. However, the seven-time Swiss mountain champion does not believe in a home advantage.
Eric Berguerand: "Anzère is on my doorstep, but in the end it's a race like any other. The important thing is that I can once again ski three clean runs after the incidents at Hemberg and most recently in Massongex. I'm happy to do without the extra work I've put in during the races so far.".
Chances of the two pursuers
Marcel Steiner (Gallery Left), who last triumphed in Anzère in 2017, will try to pull out all the stops to prevent Berguerand from another victory.
Marcel Steiner: "I am satisfied with the way the season has gone so far. And Anzère should also suit me better than Massongex. But whether that's enough to beat Eric - I don't know."
In Hemberg, Steiner managed to crack the bulwark of Berguerand. Another victory would be important with a view to the championship, which is led by the Valais.
For Robin Faustini, it's once again a matter of upsetting the two veterans: "What the car does technically in the meantime is good. The important thing is that we have a good run right from the start. If we don't manage that, we'll be lagging behind the whole weekend."
Threat for the favorites
Thomas Amweg (two races so far) and Joël Volluz (one race) will have a hard time to threaten the top 3 after their experiences so far. Amweg is still at the beginning of his development with the freshly built Reynard 95D, Volluz has shown consistency in La Roche with three runs within one second, but he still lacked almost three seconds for third place in the addition of the two fastest runs.
18 fight for the class victory
Behind these five drivers, the fastest 2-liter race car is also likely to line up in Anzère. In Hemberg and in La Roche, it was the turn of Joël Burgermeister in his Tatuus F4, and in Massongex (in the absence of the Thurgau native), slalom king Philip Egli was Best of the Rest. One thing is already certain: the battle for the class win among the lower-displacement race cars definitely presents a good picture in terms of quantity. 18 drivers are entered - including Marcel Maurer, Joël Grand, Roland Bossy, Lionel Ryter and Victor Darbellay.
In the touring car category, too, Anzère is home to all the big names. First and foremost Bruno Sawatzki. The leader in the overall standings has won all three of his 319 races so far.
Height difference is 319 meters
The Route from Ayent to Anzère measures 3.5 kilometers (video). The difference in altitude is 319 meters. The average gradient is 9.12 percent. The absolute course record is held by Berguerand in 1:24.240 min (= 149.572 km/h). It dates from the previous year. The record winner of the Ayent-Anzère hill climb is Fredy Amweg with 13 victories - ahead of Jean-Daniel Murisier (9), the godfather of Joël Volluz. Of the current participants, Berguerand is the most successful driver with seven victories - followed by Steiner (4), Bossy (3) and Volluz (1).
Honoring the winners Sunday evening
Racing in Anzère will start on Saturday and Sunday (July 22 and 23) at 7:15 a.m. each day. The award ceremony will take place on Sunday from 19.30. Each class will have three runs (if possible). The two fastest times will be added together.
Adults pay 10 francs on Saturday and 15 francs on Sunday. Children are charged 5 francs. Children under six are free.
2023 participants list
Route plan
Dates Swiss Mountain Championship 2023
- August 18-20, St.Ursanne - Les Rangiers
- August 25-27, Oberhallau
- 09 and 10 September, Gurnigel
- September 16 and 17, Châtel-St-Denis - Les Paccots
Source: Auto Sport Switzerland
ayent-anzere.ch
gvi-timing.ch
Photos: Eichenberger, myrally.ch
Video: @atelierzoumaz
motorsport.ch
