Motorsport: Quiet start, loud finish
The 2016/17 FIA Formula E Championship kicks off in Hong Kong this weekend and this year's hill climb season ends with the FIA Hill Climb Masters in Sternberk, Czech Republic. The Swiss have a chance of success at both venues. Three months after the breathtaking finale in London, where Sébastien Buemi secured the title thanks to the additional points for pole position and the fastest race lap, the [...]
Three months after the breathtaking finale in London, where Sébastien Buemi secured the title thanks to the additional points for pole position and the fastest race lap, the FIA Formula E is set to start its third multi-year season. It kicks off with the Hong Kong ePrix, a new race on the 1.86 km city circuit at the harbor of the Chinese metropolis.
The man from Vaud and the Renault team are not only the defending champions, but are also considered favorites due to their clear best times in the test drives. As the Renault Z.E.16 is practically a new car, its drivetrain has been optimized in many details for the third season. New competition comes from Jaguar and a Renault customer team, while Audi is now also entering as a works team with Team Abt Schaeffler.
Eric Berguerand: Daughter's birthday instead of defending his title
Swiss hillclimb racers have to travel far to take part in the 2nd FIA Hil Climb Masters. The first one took place in Eschdorf (L) in October 2014, while the Ecce Homo hill climb in Sternberk in the Czech Republic, which is known from the EBM but shortened to 3.3 km, has been awarded the contract for 2016. Eric Berguerand, who won the gold medal in the FIA-regulated racing cars two years ago, beating European champion Simone Faggioli, will not be defending his title. "It's too far away for me, I'd rather celebrate our daughter's first birthday at home with my family," explains the four-time Swiss hill climb champion.
Following the withdrawal of Reto Meisel (defect) and Marcel Steiner (accident damage), the surprising winner of the day in Mickhausen, Romeo Nüssli in a Ford Escort, and Roger Schnellmann in an equally strong Mitsubishi are the Swiss spearheads. Together with Fabien Bouduban (Norma-Honda) and Frédéric Neff (Porsche), they form a team that will compete against 13 other teams for the Nations Cup medals. In 2014, Switzerland took silver behind Italy, although this classification is not based on best times, but on the smallest difference between the two fastest riders. The mountain race can be followed live on YouTube.
www.fia.com
Photos: Archive
