Motorsport: A feat by Ronnie Bratschi
One week after his group victory in Slovakia, Ronnie Bratschi went one better in Italy. After the big hill climb in Verzegnis (Italy) was abandoned, the man from Uri was declared the day's winner in his Mitsubishi. Ronnie Bratschi came to the mountain race Verzegnis near Udine in Friuli, which is part of the FIA Hill Climb Cup and various national championships, in addition to his own [...]
Ronnie Bratschi was helped by his own skills and the weather at the Verzegnis hill climb near Udine in Friuli, which is part of the FIA Hill Climb Cup and various national championships. The huge number of participants (over 280 cars) was reflected for Ronnie Bratschi in the strong competition in his group E1. After the two practice runs, it came down to a duel between the man from Uri with his 600 hp Mitsubishi and the Austrian Karl Schagerl in a similarly potent VW Golf Turbo 4×4. In light rain, Bratschi finished only about 1.5 seconds ahead of last year's record set by another Austrian. Schagerl could not come close to paring the best time, nor could Marco Iacoangeli in his three-liter BMW as best of the Italian faction. Because a huge thunderstorm hit the area after another interruption, the event was stopped.
Looking forward to the duel Bratschi vs. Meisel in Hemberg
The defending champion in the FIA E1 Cup was thus declared the day's winner after just one race run of all touring cars. "Everything really went right, the Mitsubishi works perfectly," said the 29-year-old from Uri, delighted with his great success. Due to the abortion, Reto Meisel with his Mercedes SLK 340, which was classified in the group E2 silhouette, was not used either. In Switzerland, Meisel is thus allowed to drive in Group E1, just like Bratschi. Spectators can look forward to their first duel in their home country at the Hemberg hill climb on June 11 and 12.
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Photos: FIA
