Renault Cup: Zürcher's victorious return
DOUBLE WIN IN HOCKENHEIM Five-time champion Thomas Zürcher returned to the Renault Classic Cup in Hockenheim. Driving Ralf Henggeler's Clio III, he won both races ahead of defending champion Denis Wolf. Johanna Amann captured her first podium finish. It is almost a tradition that the Swiss Clio drivers from the Renault Classic Cup start their season [...]
It is almost a tradition that the Swiss Clio drivers from the Renault Classic Cup do their season start at the "Prize of the City of Stuttgart" on the GP circuit of Hockenheim. Besides the Porsche Cup Suisse, this is the only championship sanctioned by ASS which still holds circuit races.
Unfortunately, only seven club members entered, including Thomas Zürcher, the five-time champion from 2012 to 2016. Had his colleagues expected him to compete with his Clio IV, which will be registered in the Cup from 2018, they saw themselves deceived. The Bernese appeared with the Clio RS III Cup of last year's runner-up Ralf Henggeler, which the latter has not yet been able to sell.
From the Clio IV back to the Clio III
Zürcher himself raced a new Clio R.S. IV in the Central Europe Cup last year. After being shot down at the final round in Hockenheim, he needed a new body. Because the rebuild was delayed, he decided to start with Henggeler's car.
With the best time in training and victories in both runs over half an hour each, Zürcher showed that he has not forgotten how to handle the older Clio III.
Thomas Zürcher: "Actually, I could only lose. Because everyone expected me to win, so I put myself under pressure. At the beginning, I had a bit of trouble braking because I was used to the brake boost from the Clio IV, which the Clio III doesn't have. Due to one or two braking errors, Denis Wolf came close to me in the first race."
The league leader is on two tracks
Before returning to the Central Europe Cup, Zürcher plans to compete in one or two Swiss races, including the Interlaken slalom (April 28) or the Red Bull Ring in May. He is not sure whether he will be driving his own Clio IV or Henggeler's Clio III.
Defending champion Denis Wolf took second place both times with his freshly foiled Clio III. Behind him, there was a large gap in each case, as three fast players - Daniel Borer, Philip Krebs (who only drives slaloms and hill climbs) and Stephan Zbinden - were missing.
Thus, with Patrick Gerber on the former Clio II Cup of his cousin Meverick Gerber, a newcomer came in the first race with a 48-second gap to a podium finish right away. Meverick himself had to forego the start with the Clio III bought by Sandro Zemp due to time constraints.
First podium for Johanna Amann from Austria
With a further respect distance behind Patrick Gerber, Primin Scheidegger and Johanna Amann fought for fourth place with their Clio III. While the Vorarlberg driver lost out, she was able to enjoy her first podium in the second race.
Because they arrived late for the pre-start, Gerber and Scheidegger had to start from the end of the pit lane. In the mixed field with slower participants of a regularity test, it was too difficult for them to catch up in the many laps. So they just didn't catch Angelo Figus, who was running in fourth place.
Third fastest overall in both runs was guest starter Marcel Müller as the only Clio IV driver out of competition.
Standings in the championship: 1st Zürcher, 54 points; 2nd Wolf, 42; 3rd Amann and Gerber, 25 each; 5th Figus and Scheidegger, 19 each.
