Klausen race: Beat Müller is virtual winner 🎥
DONE The new technology makes it possible. Beat Müller from Berg am Irchel, who has never been to the Klausen Pass in person, won the first virtual Klausen race.
For the 100th anniversary of the Klausen Race, the traditional 21.5-kilometer course was digitally recorded and prepared to the 1922 standard so that it could be run on modern simulators exactly 100 years later to the day.
At the finale in the Swiss Museum of Transport, the participants competed without helmets and seat belts, just like back then. This time, however, on five simulators made in Switzerland by the Horgen-based company RacingFuel Academy AG.
Rudolf Caracciola's best time beaten
Background: Rudolf Caracciola, friends were allowed to call him Caratsch, won the world's longest hillclimb race a total of five times until 1934 in a Mercedes W25 with a record time of 15 minutes 22 seconds.
Around 100 years later, this best time from back then was beaten by just under a minute. However, not without paying the necessary respect to the heroes of that time.
Driving without fear of fatal abyss
Overall winner Beat Müller, center gallery: "Only now do you really realize what the performance of that time really means. I have only recently discovered driving with a simulator: what appeals to me most about hill climbs is the unpredictable. However, the fear of the fatal abyss is missing on the simulator."
The Zurich project manager, who has never been to the Klausen Pass, wants to and will soon make up for a visit from the Klausen Pass; after all, in addition to the victory, the first prize donated by the Glarnerland and Uri Tourism Associations - an overnight stay in the new Klausen Pass Hotel - entices him.
Overall victory only narrowly missed
With a gap of around two seconds, Marc Sokolowski (gallery, left), who was underestimated in the run-up, almost managed the overall victory. Now the Lucerne native in second place is also looking forward to an overnight stay in the hotel on the pass.
Third place went to simracer Kevin Ott (right gallery) from Brugg, who can look forward to a voucher from Emil Frey Classics. Ott also has experience of slaloms in real racing.
Ranking list virtual Klausen race 2022
- 1. beat miller 14:35.4
- 2nd Marc Sokolowski 14:37.402
- 3rd Kevin Ott 14:48.43
- 4th Patrick Kaufmann 15:00.550
- 5th Renato Breny 15:00.72
- 6th Patrick Häusermann 15:07.989
- 7. robin doenni 12.04
- 8th Peter Affentranger 15:14.804
- 9th Dominik Hirsiger 15:35.154
- 10th Hanspeter Winter 16:17.738
- 11. Patricia Kellerhals 17:30.886
Dancing was on an Auto Union Type A 750 Kilo Formula 1934.
Plan for repetition next year
And what will happen in 2023?
Organizer Wani Finkbohner: "The race was extremely well received by all participants and it can be assumed that there will be a second edition in 2023. As of now, the 1922 version of the virtual race can also be run in all centers."
