Gurnigel: Reunion gives pleasure

AMWEG AND STEINER IN DOUBLE The Amweg and Steiner families have left their mark on the Gurnigel mountain race, which will be held nationally for the 50th time on September 7/8. To mark the anniversary, the fathers and the sons will be racing cars next weekend. In the two years before only held as ACS section race, there is the National Hill Climb Gurnigel [...]

Editorial - September 1, 2019

Thomas Amweg is one of the fastest race car drivers on the mountain today. Papa Fredy still accompanies him to every race as a helper (Photo: Peter Wyss).

Held only as an ACS section race in the two years before, the National Mountain Race on the Gurnigel has existed since 1970. Fredy Amweg and Heinz Steiner shaped the traditional race until the turn of the millennium - today their sons do it. The uncrowned mountain king Fredy Amweg conquered the Gurnigel from 1973 to 1998 no less than 20 times as day winner. His son Thomas (34) has long since followed in his footsteps. Like his father last time, he fights for podium places with a Lola-Mader F3000.

Hype at the home race
In the last few years before their retirement - both stopped in 1999 at the age of 50 - local hero Heinz Steiner challenged the Aargauer for victory. Three times with success. With five day victories on the Gurnigel so far (2008 to 2012) and five championship titles, son Marcel Steiner (44) is now even more successful. "Winning on your home mountain in front of your own people was and is always special," both emphasize. That is both a curse and a blessing. "The hype is so great," says Marcel Steiner, "that I can hardly concentrate on driving. But it's fun."

First in the race under two minutes
Next weekend, the hype surrounding the Amwegs and Steiners will be even greater when the fathers and their sons race on the Gurnigel - the older ones in the demonstration field of legends, the younger ones at the 50th National Hillclimb Race for best time.

As in 2015 at the BMW theme day, Fredy Amweg drives his self-built Formula 2 racing car in the field of Gurnigel legends (photo: Jürg Kaufmann).

Fredy Amweg brings the meanwhile at various events with historic vehicles, most recently at the Indianapolis in Oerlikon in July, gladly seen self-built Formula 2 race car to the start. With the Amweg-BMW Fredy conquered the day's victory at the Gurnigel in 1976, 1977 and 1978. And he was the first driver in the race to achieve a running time under two minutes.

Fredy Amweg: "The Gurnigel course appealed to me from the start. It is not so fast, but technically demanding. A special challenge. This race is still a highlight for me today, because now Thomas, who was always there as a child, is also racing for the podium."

For Marcel and Heinz Steiner, the Gurnigel race has a special meaning. Together they have won their home race eight times.

Return with the last winning car
More exclusive is the appearance of Heinz Steiner. He was already at the start of the very first Gurnigel race in 1968 with an Opel Kadett Rally. With the Martini Mk77, the man from Oberdiessbach triumphed in 1997 and 1999 on his home mountain. He then hung up his helmet, which he will now put on again on September 7 and 8 only for the rides in the field of Gurnigel legends.

For 20 years, Steiner sr. never sat behind the wheel of this sports car, which was still good for one-day victories in the hands of his son up to and including 2015.

Heinz Steiner: "Gurnigel was always important as a home race, so the victories here were also special. We also always feel very much at home here and always have the same paddock space on the right after the turnoff to the pre-start. It will certainly be fun again to drive up the hill in my last sports car. I hope I can still do it..."