Jura: Good comeback by Erwin Keller 🎥
AFTER A 27-YEAR BREAK In 1992, Erwin Keller took victory in the Critérium Jurassien in his last rally season. The Zurich native returned there for the second SM round in a BMW M3 from Group VHC - and cut a fine figure. More than 30 years ago, Erwin Keller was one of the biggest talents on the Swiss rally scene when [...]
More than 30 years ago, Erwin Keller was one of the greatest talents on the Swiss rally scene, one of the few representatives from the German-speaking part of the country. With a Mitsubishi Galant VR4, the man from Tösstal celebrated his last victory 27 years ago at the Critérium Jurassien before retiring at the end of the season.
After that, the garage owner from Fischenthal remained loyal to rallying as coach and helper to young talent Marcel Peter and other drivers. Thomas Schmid, last year's Swiss junior rally champion, also likes to listen to his advice - and now, at the second SM round in the Jura, he got to see how his role model is still stepping on the gas.
Round birthday gift
The initial spark for the comeback came from the family. For his 60th birthday a year ago, Keller received an unusual and valuable gift from his wife Claudia and daughter Sara: a 50-percent voucher, so to speak, for the purchase of a classic rally BMW M3. Keller slaughtered his piggy bank for the other half of the purchase price.
From a Dutch specialist on these models came the virtually new historic BMW M3 in legendary Fina livery (as once driven by Marc Duez) in his garage. There, the future pilot disassembled and checked everything, making personal adjustments. At the same time, Marcel Peter and other helpers set up a service bus for the race site.
Fight for the podium
After a functional test at the Oldtimer Classic Hittnau in September 2018, the race debut took place at the Critérium Jurassien on April 12/13. With Dominique Juple in the co-driver's seat, the returnee enjoyed the two rally days to the full. And showed in the field of 15 VHC teams, including four with BMW M3s, that he can still do it.
Keller followed P5 on the first SS with two second-best times. Up to SS6, Keller/Juplé maintained third intermediate place behind the unbeatable Marc Valliccioni and Eddy Bérard on their BMW M3s. After that, the Zurichers first lost the duel with Pierre-Manuel Jenot and finally also by just ten seconds to Christian Blanchard (both Ford Escort RS2000 Mk2).
Erwin Keller: "I didn't find the pace I wanted yet, sometimes I had good sections, sometimes bad. We first had to get to grips with the chassis. In the uneven sections the car was very lively and shifted, so I was a bit unsettled. I also noticed that I didn't have the eye like I used to..."
Praise from the opponents
Nevertheless, Keller is satisfied with his comeback. Especially since he received praise from all sides for his performance after a 27-year absence from the race track.
Erwin Keller: "The important thing is that we got the car to the finish line in one piece and had enormous fun in the process. I really like the sound of this car. A podium was within reach, but the Escorts were just catching up, while I was rather slowing down."
The following video by maxisound74 (merci!) shows how the cars from the VHC group look and sound. Valliccioni has starting number H1, Keller H5. Jenot (H2) and Bérard (H3) follow in between:
Return in Ticino and Valais
Keller will have to forego the Rallye du Chablais due to time constraints. He will return at the end of August for the Rallye Ticino, which he sees as practice for the start of the Rallye du Valais.
In 1991, he was the last rally driver from German-speaking Switzerland to win the grand finale in the Valais in a Mitsubishi. There is no question that he will also have a say in the victory in the VHC group by then.
