Switzerland: With fresh impetus to the hill climbs
In two months' time, Hemberg will herald the start of the Berg-SM 2022. Some of the top drivers will be competing abroad before then. We asked them about the state of affairs.
There is no more idyllic destination for the Swiss mountain races. All of Hemberg pulls together to make this motorsport event in Toggenburg a success. The next time on the weekend of June 11/12 as a prelude to the Swiss Mountain Championship 2022.
After two and a half years of organizational break, which followed the last mountain race Hemberg in June 2019, it was not so easy and natural to get back into the swing of things, admits OC President Christian Schmid.
Return of Eric Berguerand
The situation is likely to be similar for some drivers who have not competed in any or only a few hillclimb races since then. Above all Eric Berguerand.
The six-time Swiss mountain champion, who has been reigning since the end of 2019, has barely touched his ideal Lola-Cosworth and only got behind its wheel again this Wednesday at a small circuit in France.
During the functional test, the father of two wanted to find out whether he still felt any driving pleasure at all. He certainly does. He wants to try out his first race on May 1 at the Bière slalom before he starts defending his title in Hemberg.
Marcel Steiner's second turbo run-up
Although scheduled, his challenger Marcel Steiner has also had little practice since the last SM run in 2019. The newly developed turbo power unit from Helftec for the LobArt sports car proved prone to failure in several test runs in 2020 and 2021, but should now be ready for action thanks to more robust pistons.
The first planned event is the International Hill Climb Abreschviller in Lorraine (F) on April 30/May 1.
Marcel Steiner: "I can't assess the potential yet. I hope that we have worked in the right direction."
Robin Faustini keeps the ball flat
The only national day winner since the 2019 SM final was Robin Faustini last year in Oberhallau. But because the man from Aargau was not satisfied with the handling of the Osella FA30, he has since put a lot of work into the shuttered race car.
He has no illusions about the future because of this "insane success," as he calls it himself.
Robin Faustini: "Eric and Marcel didn't start in Oberhallau, plus I was lucky with the weather. It's nice to have won, but if things continue normally in 2022, then I and the car have to step up. I'm motivated, but it won't be easy to win another race."
Thomas Amweg changes the F3000-Boldien
An old overall winner's car will appear in a new guise at the Swiss hillclimb races in 2022. Thomas Amweg's sponsor Phimmoracing alias Hans Peter has added the former Reynard 95D F3000 of Jean-Jacques Dufaux and Joël Volluz to its fleet.
The race car has since received a number of improvements, also in terms of safety. Amweg explains its advantage over the Lola B99/50, with which he won at Gurnigel in 2019, with the better power-to-weight ratio.
Two occasional starters in the Osella FA30
Keyword Volluz. Just like three years ago, the Valais native will be contesting one or two hill climbs, but is not aiming for the championship. With his Osella FA30, Volluz is sure to have a say in the day's victories wherever he competes.
The same model will also be entered by the German Alexander Hin in Oberhallau and St-Ursanne. The "home builder", who is getting faster with age, has acquired the Osella FA30 previously driven by Christoph Lampert from Vorarlberg.
Michel Zemp dreams of promotion
For the time being, Michel Zemp can only dream of such a three-liter racing car. The man from Langnau wants to improve further with the Norma-Honda and break into the phalanx of the "big guys.
Zemp admits that he is hoping for the chance to drive a vehicle from the most powerful class for the day's winners one day. He undoubtedly has the talent for it.
Search for successor to Andy Feigenwinter
In the touring cars, it is certain that Andy Feigenwinter will not defend the title he won in 2019. Runner-up Roger Schnellmann wants to compete with his Mitsubishi monster "on a whim", but because there are only "good" hillclimbs left (after the cancellation of Massongex), probably at all of them. With such a powerful car, however, it always depends on the defect witch, he weighs up his chances of winning the title.
Meanwhile, fellow Mitsubishi driver Ronnie Bratschi is concentrating on the European Championship. Because it was uncertain whether there would be enough starters in his Group 1, he skipped the opening round in France (with him there would have been even four instead of only three necessary top cars). He is also thinking twice about making the long journey to Portugal and then on to Spain half a year after the FIA Masters, with the risk of only scoring half points.
Fred Neff in the Porsche Turbo Monster
Back to Switzerland. Two resounding names return to the mountain with new racing cars. Frédéric Neff's Porsche GT2 R is nearing completion. The biturbo developed by Eggenberger Motorenbau could produce around 900 hp, if the Bernjurassian has his way.
Initially, however, he will drive with reduced power, which should still be enough in the InterSwiss group against the expected Porsche GT3 armada, even during the learning process, if the technology plays along.
Martin Bürki's affair of the heart
And finally, Martin Bürki is bringing back a car that is associated with many memories. From the family of his friend Jürg Beiner, who died three years ago, the busy garage owner was able to acquire the BMW M3 GTR V8 that the man from Graubünden raced in slaloms until 2018.
The multiple slalom champion and Berg Cup winner has invested a lot of time in the rebuild and has already completed a successful test drive under racing conditions at Hockenheim.
Martin Bürki: "It's a matter of the heart for me to achieve a few more good results with this car. I know it well and know that I can realize its potential."
In Group E1, many a turbo and/or all-wheel-drive driver will have to dress warmly.
