Slalom Ambri: Martin Bürki's move
The 2021 Slalom Championships will end this weekend with two races in Ambri. The title favorite is once again Martin Bürki - because he wants to be consistently so with the help of his team. When the Frauenfeld Auto Race Days took place on July 17/18, there were still three other events on the calendar for the 2021 Swiss Slalom Championship. What remained, after cancellations [...]
When the Frauenfeld Auto Race Days took place on July 17-18, there were still three other events on the calendar for the 2021 Swiss Slalom Championship. What remained, after the cancellations of Drognens and Bière, was the National Slalom of Ambri.
Smart and courageous decision by Equipe Bernoise
If the people responsible for the Equipe Bernoise had not already had a double event in mind in the summer, the championship criteria would therefore not have been met. The National Sports Commission changed these already in July to the effect that three races must be the minimum number for the awarding of the title.
And so the second SM run 2021 will be held counterclockwise on Saturday at the Ambri airfield and the third and last clockwise on Sunday. Except for the direction and start/finish, both courses are identical with a length of 3190 meters and 55 gates.
Egli, Maurer or Riva after all?
Eternal rivals Philip Egli in the Dallara EPR and Marcel Maurer in the Tatuus Renault will battle it out for the day's victory. Local hero Tiziano Riva in the Reynard F3000 is hardly a contender due to a lack of driving experience despite more horsepower.
The weather will undoubtedly tip the scales, as rain is forecast for Sunday. Advantage Maurer, who prefers such conditions and takes risks for it.
Porsche drivers' all-around competition
In the absence of the usual turbo monsters, Porsche drivers Drack, Koch, Jenni, Tarnutzer and Zwahlen will duke it out for victory in the Touring Cars/GT with Patrick Flammer - terrific winner in 2019 - in the Opel Astra TCR.
For the former slalom champion Christoph Zwahlen, important SM points are also at stake, which is why he is exceptionally not racing in the Interswiss group but in the E1 over three liters due to the larger class size.
Class size matters
Keyword class strength - this is exactly the crux of the matter as far as the outcome of the 2021 Mini Championship is concerned. After Frauenfeld, nine names were in first place in the SM intermediate ranking with a full 20 points. After the two Ambri races, there will still be five at best, as four of them are not competing.
If one takes into account the class opponents beaten by each, which is the criterion for ex-aequo classifications, then Jürg Ochsner with his Opel Kadett from the IS-2000 is ahead of Christian Darani in the Fiat X1/9 from the E1-2000 and Martin Bürki in the 1600cc E1 Polo.
Against a Reto Steiner in a Ford Escort, Marco Geering in an Opel Kadett (Ambri winner 2019) and former runner-up Manuel Santonastaso in a BMW 320, Ochsner has a harder stand than high-flyer Darani or Bürki, who has been unbeaten in slalom for years. Originally the Oberhallauer did not want to start in Ambri at all...
Martin Bürki calculates and acts
Because the latter is known to be good at math, the defending champion has taken precautions. The question to his drivers from Team MB Motorsport, how it would be with a participation in Ambri, they have not overheard and answered clearly.
On Saturday, he will be joined on the starting list by a dozen MB drivers, and on Sunday by as many as 16. A move that many competitors will turn up their noses at, but which is absolutely legitimate.
Plan thwarted
Moreover, it only came about out of necessity after Bière's cancellation. Because Bürki would otherwise have competed directly against the logical title favorite Daran at the end of October with a bigger engine in the VW Polo in order to test or try to beat the Ticino driver.
Martin Bürki: "It's nice that my team helps out and that we harmonize so well. I do a lot for them, now they do it for me. Some have even solved extra licenses, which is good for ASS and the organizer."
Of course, Bürki is aware that if he manages to win two classes against his "real" opponents Eggimann and Werthmüller, who are on a par with him in terms of performance, the eighth slalom title would not have the same significance as the previous ones. But when it comes to something, the Bernese just always does it one hundred percent.
Decision in the Suzuki and Renault Classic Cup
The Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup will also be decided in Ticino with one race each on Saturday and Sunday, as will the Renault Classic Cup. For the Suzuki drivers it is the second double event after Frauenfeld. The champion will come from the quartet of Muzzarelli, Eggenberger, Fehr and Flammer.
Among the Clios, who have already completed several races on the circuit abroad as well as in Frauenfeld and Oberhallau, the already five-time club champion Thomas Zürcher is the clear favorite (see Intermediate ranking).
A livetiming is available at this Link. Start lists, schedule and further information can be found on the homepage of the organizer.
