Renault Cup: Duel with an unexpected outcome

PREVIOUS DECISION Although Philipp Krebs marked the new class record in the Renault Classic Cup at the St-Ursanne-Les Rangiers hill climb, defending champion Denis Wolf won. As a result, the young Bernese secured the championship title early. Philipp Krebs practiced psychological warfare in the run-up to the race by challenging Denis Wolf in the newer Renault Clio RS III Cup on the fast track from St-Ursanne to [...]

Only they had time and desire for the fast track in the Jura and offered a good show there (from left): Dario Kasper, Patrick Gerber, Denis Wolf and Philipp Krebs (photos: Peter Wyss).

Philipp Krebs practiced psychological warfare in the run-up by assigning Denis Wolf the role of favorite with the newer Renault Clio RS III Cup on the fast track from St-Ursanne to Les Rangiers. But the 2002 champion showed what is possible at the wheel of an older Clio II Cup.

With his tried and tested black car fitted with new Yokohama slicks, Krebs not only beat the current record of last year's winner Ralf Henggeler with a time of 2'23.36, but also the average speed of Daniel Borer with a Clio II on the shorter track used until 2015.

Philipp Krebs gave everything in the first race run, even came slightly across at the garage and drove a new Clio track record.

Run repetition as a handicap
Denis Wolf also drove faster than anyone before in a heavier but stronger and better braking Clio III, so with Krebs leading by exactly seven tenths, things seemed clear before the second race run.

However, the results are only counted up at the end. Because Patrick Gerber had an accident with his Clio II on the Petit Susten, there was a repeat run for the three competitors who had started after him - more did not start in the Jura for various reasons.

This turned out to be a handicap for the leader.

Philipp Krebs: "My tires were already too hot due to the run repetition. In the forest, I hit a guardrail slightly and lost some momentum. So I lost the two seconds on my first running time."

Actually, there should be two winners: Denis Wolf and Philipp Krebs congratulate each other on their achievements.

Joy and disappointment
The young defending champion, on the other hand, was only two tenths of a second faster than before and was then three tenths ahead of the old chestnut, er, crab, in the addition.

Denis Wolf: "I would never have thought that Philipp would undercut the record in such a way. But I was looking for my chance with two almost identical times under Henggeler's previous record."

For the defeated, joy and disappointment balanced each other out.

Philipp Krebs: "I'm enormously happy about the new class record, but of course I would also have liked to win. But when you can fight with each other like this, it's really fun. For the championship and the Berg-Pokal, the rank doesn't matter anyway."

Denis Wolf: On the way to the championship title, you sometimes have to include the sidewalk in the ideal line.

The championship is decided
Correct. After both had recalculated at the finish of Les Rangiers, it is clear: Even with maximum participation in the remaining three hill climbs - the regulations of the Renault Classic Cup take into account the class strength since 2018 - Denis Wolf can no longer be toppled from the throne. Congratulations!

Third place went to Dario Kasper with his Clio III even before Patrick Gerber's retirement. For the driver from Märwil, this was the best result in the Renault Classic Cup so far.

Dario Kasper finished third and thanks to Denis Wolf now knows how fast a Clio III really is.

Adriatic Coast instead of Schaffhausen Klettgau
Next Sunday in Oberhallau, Philipp Krebs is the sole favorite. On the one hand, he already won there last year, on the other hand, the old and new champion is missing. Denis Wolf is in fact following an invitation to the DTM race in Misano, where he will meet his Bernese Canton colleague Nico Müller.

The second place in the championship is normally also out of reach for Krebs. On the other hand, René Schnidrig will probably pass convalescent Thomas Zürcher (shoulder operation on August 14) in Oberhallau to take third intermediate place.

Marc Beyeler and Stephan Zbinden will also take advantage of the absence of the five-time champion to move further up the final standings. A complete Bernese championship podium in the Renault Clio Classic Cup 2018 is therefore as good as certain.

renault-classic.ch

 

(Visited 276 times, 1 visits today)

More articles on the topic