Mountain championship: Berguerand wins heat battle

It was hot at the hill climb of Massongex. Not only because of the temperatures, but also the outcome of the race was close. In the end, Eric Berguerand prevailed. The local hero won the time chase up to Vérossaz for the eighth time. However, the garage owner from Martigny was not quite as superior as last time in La Roche. Bergus was just under eight tenths of a second faster in the addition of the two fastest runs than his eternal rival Marcel Steiner (left gallery).

Eric Berguerand: "The race didn't go to plan. I had a puncture in the first run and a broken suspension because I hooked up in a place where the guard rail was slightly damaged. So, as in Hemberg, I had extra work again. Things went better in the second run. There I found a good rhythm. And I was pretty happy with run 3 as well."

Robin Faustini on the podium

As in La Roche and Massongex four years ago, Robin Faustini completed the podium in third place. Of this trio, the man from Aargau had the least track knowledge. At the last event, Faustini was still driving the Formula 3000.

Robin Faustini: "I knew that this would be a difficult weekend. And that's why I didn't use new tires. Looking back, I could have got more out of the first heat with new rubber. In the second heat I almost crashed and lost a lot of time. The track is brutal - with all the bumps. The steering on my car is definitely not what it should be."

Philip Egli finished in 4th place in the SCRATCH. The 48-time slalom day winner thus also (clearly) decided the battle for class victory in the 2-liter formula race cars in his favor. Behind him, Victor Darbellay won the duel between the two drivers from the Valais, relegating Lionel Ryter to third place in the class.

Simon Wüthrich fastest driver

The fastest driver with a roof over his head was Simon Wüthrich (E1 to 3500 cm3) on his VW Golf Turbiene. Like Steiner, he has been running on synfuel since the start of the season, which does not seem to be a disadvantage. However, the Langnauer's lead was not large. Sébastien Coquoz in the Opel Kadett GTE (E1 to 2000 cm3) was just 23 hundredths of a second slower in the addition of the two fastest race runs. Third place in the unofficial touring car classification went to Bruno Sawatzki. The Porsche driver from Liechtenstein was the fastest IS driver at his Massongex premiere and won the class plus 3000 cm3 ahead of veteran Bruno Ianniello (Lancia Delta S4). Faster than Ianniello in the IS fraction were only Scirocco driver Stephan Burri (up to 2000 cm3) and slalom champion Martin Oliver Bürki (up to 3000 cm3).

First class win for Tom Huwiler

Other class winners in Massongex included (with more than one opponent in their respective groups) Toni Büeler (Mitsubishi Evo RSC, Gr. N), Christophe Oulevay (VW Scirocco, IS up to 1600 cm3), Martin Bürki (VW Polo, E1 up to 1600 cm3) and Tom Huwiler (BMW E30, E1 up to 3000 cm3, gallery right). The latter prevailed in a thrilling three-way battle against Pierre Murisier and Kevin Métroz with a mini-lead of 186 and 254 hundredths of a second respectively and celebrated his first class win since - of all places - Massongex 2019.

Tom Huwiler: "I like this track because it is a drivers' track. Unfortunately, its condition leaves a lot to be desired. But it was still fun. And I was compensated for numerous defects this year. A big thank you to MOB. Without its help and the installation of a new engine, the season would probably already have been over for me."

... and so it goes on

• July 22 and 23, Ayent - Anzère
• August 18-20, St.Ursanne - Les Rangiers
• August 25-27, Oberhallau
• September 9 and 10, Gurnigel
• September 16 and 17, Châtel-St-Denis - Les Paccots

coursedecotedemassongex.ch
Source: Car Sport Switzerland
motorsport.ch