Motorsport: Bratschi is FIA Hillclimb Cup winner

After his third win of the season in Osnabrück, Ronnie Bratschi had the title in the FIA Hillclimb Cup for E1 touring cars practically in the bag. Theoretically, however, one of his pursuers in the championship could still have achieved the same number of points with victories in the last two races. As Bratschi had taken a vacation anyway and had planned a trip to the sea on the way there, he made the long journey to Lučine in Slovenia last week.

As none of his two remaining title rivals appeared out of nowhere, the driver from central Switzerland was also mathematically confirmed as the winner of the 2016 FIA Hill Climb Cup in Category 3 after the administrative checks. After unofficially improving his own touring car record in practice, another victory in Lučine seemed a formality. Because a competitor in front of him had thrown dirt and a liquid onto the track, which had not been indicated, the Swiss driver slid into the crash barriers with his Mitsubishi. "The car swerved under braking. I only touched the crash barriers lightly and could have continued. But it wouldn't have helped any more," he says, explaining his premature journey home to Seedorf UR.

With blunt weapons against Reto Meisel
The big goal for the season would thus have been achieved. Ronnie Bratschi is also leading the Swiss Hill Climb Championship for touring cars. But maintaining this position to the end depends on more than just his ability. As Reto Meisel's Mercedes SLK 340 is only homologated for Group E1 in Switzerland (abroad he has to compete in the E2 silhouette), it is unbeatable on paper. "I'm fighting with a 300 kilo heavier car with blunt weapons, unless it rains," Bratschi points out, "so I'm not forcing anything and will see how things go in St-Ursanne and Oberhallau. Maybe I'd rather ride somewhere abroad afterwards."

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Photos: Peter Wyss