Rally: Who disturbs the duel of the Jonathans? 🎥
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CURRENT Friday and Saturday, the fifth and penultimate round of the Swiss Rally Championship will take place in Ticino. Can Kevin Gilardoni repeat his last year's victory?
Grégoire Hotz (center gallery) was 5.7 seconds behind winner Kevin Gilardoni at last year's Rally del Ticino. And the veteran knows exactly where he lost it. The now 49-year-old now has the opportunity to take revenge.At the 25th edition of the Rally del Ticino, the eight-time Swiss rally champion from Boveresse (NE) attacks once again. With co-driver Pietro Ravasi, Hotz will start in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. Last year's winner Gilardoni (with co-driver Corrado Bonato) will rely on a Citroën C3 WRC+.
Jonathans separated by 17 points
As the two are only guest entrants, everything revolves around the duel between the two Jonathans as far as the championship is concerned: Jonathan Michellod (right gallery) versus Jonathan Hirschi. 17 points separate the two, who have settled the rallies between them so far. Hirschi won three rallies in 2023, Michellod one. The 17 points are by no means a comfortable cushion for Michellod. The man from the Valais has taken part in all the rallies so far. This means that the worst result will be deducted from his score at the end of the season. Hirschi, on the other hand, skipped the Rallye de Bourgogne. He therefore already has a strike result and can score full points in Ticino and at the end of October at the finale in Valais.
Pilots provide pure excitement
It would be a bit premature to take out the slide rule before the Rallye du Valais. One thing is certain, however: If Hirschi (with co-driver Michaël Volluz) wins in Ticino, a fourth place in the finale (with a Michellod home victory in Valais) will be enough for the Neuchâtel native to successfully defend his title. It will be exciting in any case, also because Hirschi will be making another vehicle change in Ticino - the third this year. After the VW Polo that burst into flames at the Rally Monte Carlo, Hirschi has already competed this season with Citroën and most recently with Hyundai. In Ticino, he will be out in a Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo, just like title rival Michellod.
Sergio Pinto from the Valais wants to know it
Behind the quartet Gilardoni-Hotz-Michellod-Hirschi, Sacha Althaus (with Lisiane Zbinden as co-driver) and Yoan Loeffler (with Marine Maye) are hoping for a top result. Althaus is in third intermediate place with 105 points. He would like to successfully defend this position until the end of the season. The chances of doing so are good. Firstly, because Althaus is having his strongest season yet this year. And secondly, because the competition is taking a break. Fifth-placed Thibault Maret will be missing in Ticino, as will sixth-placed Mike Coppens. Both have announced that they will be back on the grid at their home rally, the Rallye du Valais, at the finale from October 26 to 28.
However, Althaus will have to watch out for one driver in Ticino: Sergio Pinto (left gallery). The fast driver from the Valais regularly scores points with his Alpine A110 RGT and is only ten points behind Althaus in the championship.
Swiss Rally Cup with five teams
Among the 53 male and female participants in Ticino, there is also a junior at the start: Jérémy Michellod. The younger brother of Jonathan Michellod thus already has the championship in the bag. The pursuers Quentin Claire and Damien Lovey can no longer catch up or overtake him, regardless of the result at the final in Valais.
Five teams are registered for the Swiss Rally Cup. There will be a duel between the leader Alphonse Kilchenmann (Suzuki Swift Sport) and Claude Aebi (Renault Clio RS).
In the VHC, the historic class, six teams are on the grid. Eddy Tapparel (Porsche 911 SC) and Steve Gaspardi (Opel Corsa GSI) are among the favorites. The clear leader in the overall classification Pascal Perroud (BMW M3) is not at the start.
First start is Friday at 9 pm
The rally kicks off on Friday evening, September 29, with the first special stage starting at around 9 pm. The program includes a total of six special stages (one on Friday, five on Saturday). A total of 305.96 kilometers will be covered, of which exactly 80 kilometers will be classified.
The video (above) shows some of the highlights from last year.
rallyticino.com
Photos: Eichenberger, Cornevaux. VideoDemaTV
Source: Car Sport Switzerland
