Renault Clio Cup: The best take a break
FROM REITNAU TO HOCKENHEIM At the Reitnau hill climb, Philipp Krebs won ahead of René Schnidrig, as in the two previous races. Nevertheless, there will now be a change at the top of the table. Unlike in the Interlaken slalom or in Hemberg, Philipp Krebs' third victory of the season in the Reitnau hill climb was clear. The closest to him was again his [...]
Unlike at the Interlaken Slalom or in Hemberg, Philipp Krebs' third win of the season at the Reitnau hill climb was clear. His private buddy René Schnidrig again came closest to him. This time, he distanced him by several tenths in both runs and thus relegated him once again to second place by 1.24 seconds.
Philipp Krebs: "I'm proud of the two 1'02 times. In such heat, they didn't go any faster in the past either. With the Clio II, I certainly had certain advantages that I was able to implement. I stayed patient and didn't overrun the car."
Schnidrig's break
René Schnidrig, as the fastest Clio III driver, was therefore also satisfied with the place of honor.
René Schnidrig: "Our transmission is shorter. Only at lower temperatures could we have left second gear in on the switchbacks. Now my chance is probably over until the Ambri slalom in October. Because Anzère is Philipp's lane, also Gurnigel. In Les Rangiers and Oberhallau I can not start for professional reasons."
Beyeler's progress
Third place was secured by Marc Beyeler in his Clio III, his first podium in a hillclimb race after finishing third in the 2018 Romont slalom.
Marc Beyeler: "The goal was actually 1'03 times. After I was only fifth in the first run and didn't manage that, this podium comes as a surprise. I tried to just ride clean because of the heat and that obviously paid off with two low 1'04 times. Last year I was trying to do too much and ran the car over. Now I'm driving finer, which I think makes a difference."
Zbinden's mistake
Still third after the first run, Stephan Zbinden with his unmistakable Clio III slipped to fifth place after a driving mistake.
Meanwhile, Cup newcomer Michael Schläpfer (Clio II) retained his fourth place despite a second time almost a second slower. Just 44 hundredths behind Beyeler and 14 behind Zbinden, Primin Scheidegger finished sixth in another Clio III.
Off to Hockenheim ...
Their hour could, no, will strike this weekend. For the second time since the season opener at the end of March, the Swiss Renault drivers will compete in two rounds at the Hockenheimring as part of a German event. It was only clear on Tuesday that they would be allowed to do so, after Auto Sport Schweiz promised all NAT-only licensees that it would issue the required INT-C license at short notice. Based on previous experience, this did not seem necessary because the national licenses were sufficient before one of the German organizers protested.
... but without cancer and Schnidrig
The cancellation would also have been regretted by Krebs and Schnidrig, who do not compete in circuit races for time and cost reasons. Nevertheless, nine drivers from the Renault Classic Club are entered, who can now decide the two race wins among themselves after the go from Bern. Among them are Denis Wolf (Clio III) and Tom Zürcher (Clio IV RS), who return from their 2019 moved race cars for this circuit race in the Cup touring car.
In March, both race wins in Hockenheim went to Patrick Gerber in a Clio II, who subsequently saw no land in Interlaken (last) and in Reitnau (8th). After Hockenheim, there will certainly be a new leader in the standings, who will be either Zbinden, Schläpfer, Gerber or Scheidegger.
renault-classic.ch/pdf's/Intermediate_rankings/2019/04_Intermediate_rankings_2019.pdf
