Motorsport: Mountain sprint with resounding names

Racing fans from eastern Switzerland are spoilt for choice: Should they travel to the more distant European Championship race in the canton of Jura this weekend, where the Swiss hillclimbers meet the best Europeans? Or do they stay in the region and visit the 4th Historic Mountain Sprint Walzenhausen? Both would be worthwhile. Because although the former race track in the canton of Appenzell is not about best times, it offers thrilling motorsport.

Attractive field of participants with around 200 starters
On August 10, 1986, the last "real" hillclimb race, whose origins date back to 1910, took place on the 1.9-kilometer course from Walzenhausen to Lachen. Twenty-one years later, the first hill climb with demonstrations of historic and modern racing cars took place in 2007. The response was so great that it has been held every 3 years since then. The approximately 200-strong field of participants, divided into several groups of racing vehicles with two, three and four wheels, is better than ever for the fourth new edition.

Marcel Fässler drives in the legendary rally Audi Quattro
The best-known names are Fredy Lienhard and Markus Hotz, who will certainly not be underdriving their March-BMW Formula 2 race cars. The star guest is three-time Le Mans winner Marcel Fässler, who will also be driving an Audi Quattro, a rally car from the 1980s, up the hill at a brisk pace. In addition, he will be available for autograph sessions from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Cyndie Allemann and the Moto2 rider Dominic Schmitter from eastern Switzerland will also be presenting themselves to the public.

The exact two-day program and the complete field of participants are available for download on the Internet.

www.bergsprint.ch
Photos: Archive