Les Paccots: The last freestyle of the masters
FINAL DECISIONS The new mountain champion Eric Berguerand can hunt for his track record at the last SM run without any worries. Titles are still up for grabs in the Berg Cup and the Junior SM. Unlike on the Gurnigel, the participants can expect beautiful autumn weather at the last race of the Swiss Mountain Championship 2019. Ideal, therefore, to race on the second fastest track in the SM calendar of Châtel-St-Denis [...]
Unlike on the Gurnigel, the participants can expect beautiful autumn weather at the last race of the Swiss Mountain Championship 2019. Ideal, therefore, to set a few more class records on the second-fastest route in the SM calendar from Châtel-St-Denis to Les Paccots in the canton of Fribourg.
The lone favorite
After his sixth title in the race cars after 2005 (then Coupe of the Swiss Mountains), 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, Eric Berguerand also wants to give it his all again. With 53.55 and 173.45 km/h averages, the 40-year-old Valais native set a new record time last year under pressure from Joël Volluz.
However, he will lack equal opponents this weekend. Volluz is already preparing his Osella FA30 for 2020 and dethroned champion Marcel Steiner doesn't particularly like this track. With nothing left to win or lose, he prefers to plan two starts at the St. Agatha hill climb in Austria (September 22) and Mickhausen in southern Bavaria (October 6). The runner-up title cannot be snatched from him, nor can Robin Faustini's aspired third SM final place.
The new champion, who could actually only be slowed down by technology or a fatal mistake, is nevertheless fully motivated for the last race of 2019.
Eric Berguerand: "I'm looking forward to Les Paccots, but at the same time I'm glad that the season is coming to an end this weekend. It was exhausting, but the work has paid off. And I hope that I can achieve another top result in the last race."
Fast guests from France
Only on duty as a helper for his son Robin at the Gurnigel, Simon Hugentobler returns to the race track with the newly acquired Osella PA30. With previous owners Cyrille Frantz and Benjamin Vielmi on two other Italian sports cars that already competed at the Swiss finale in 2018, Faustini and Hugentobler will have strong competition from France in the battle for the places of honor.
For the first time, the x-time French mountain champion Nicolas Werver will do the honors at this race in his Porsche 911 GT2. With Romeo Nüssli in the Ford Escort Cosworth and Frédéric Neff in the Porsche 996 GT3 R, he will make up the touring car victory.
A family celebration is brewing at Feigenwinters
Due to the absence of Gurnigel winner Roger Schnellmann, Andy Feigenwinter is also already set as Neff's successor as touring car mountain champion. Although the Basel-born driver has long since lost the need to do so, he wants to justify his well-deserved title win with another SuperSeries record in the Lotus Exige 430 Cup. He succeeded in this endeavor for the first time on this track a year ago, which, together with chassis improvements from Lotus-West, gave him plenty of confidence for 2019. In the meantime, four more records belong to him.
The Feigenwinters could cheer again on Sunday. Even if they deeply regret that Ronnie Bratschi had such a serious accident on the Gurnigel, Raphael Feigenwinter will move up to the third SM final rank at the expense of the man from Uri.
The junior just has to continue as he has done so far, always being the fastest SuperSeries driver with his Honda Integra behind his father, Chris Steiner in the Porsche 911 Turbo and Röbi Wicki, who is absent in Paccots. The ASS championship ceremony on November 22 in Bern could then become a family celebration that was still unthinkable at the beginning of the season.
Krebs or Bürki? Thomann or Siegrist?
As reported separately, Philipp Krebs as the leader in the Renault Classic Cup and Martin Bürki as the still unbeaten E1/IS-1600 driver will decide the Mountain Cup between themselves. If Krebs wins again, he will be champion in any case.
Rico Thomann, on the other hand, only has to finish. After three victories in the Berg-SM Junior, seventh and last place is enough for him to win the title if Pascal Siegrist wins. Since no Toyota GT86 from the Swiss Race Academy has ever fallen victim to a defect, the man from Winterthur can only beat himself.
The complete start list, schedule and championship standings are available at the following links.
motorsport.ch/en/automobile/swiss-championship/mountain-championship
