Suzuki Cup: Conclusion in a classic setting

A slight drop in participants had, after all, been expected due to the switch from the normal 1.4 turbo gasoline engine to the electrically assisted mild hybrid model. However, with 15 registered drivers plus the Flammer Speed Team consisting of three additional people as well as two or three guest drivers, the Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup 2022 still cut a handsome figure as part of the 2022 Swiss Slalom Championship. Especially since the Suzuki drivers were fighting for fractions of a second in all positions. Quality instead of quantity.

Praise for all competitors
With current success reports after each race and analyses in the week after, we have honored the individual performances in each case on our homepage. Even Flavio Corezzola (gallery on the left, photo Denise Steinmann), who was usually last in the rankings, stood out in his own way by improving more and more and never letting his good mood be spoiled despite the red lantern. That's what you call sportsmanship.

The Cup coordinator, who also knows the scene as a driver, is full of praise for the whole group of participants anyway.

Christian Zimmermann: "There is nothing easier than the Suzuki squad. Everyone helps everyone and knows what it's all about here. I checked the cars often and there was never anything to complain about. Everything went cleanly and everyone seemed to want the other to succeed."

Three winners in seven races
The fact that the champion for once was not Marcel Muzzarelli but Fabian Eggenberger (center gallery, photo Ramon Hänggi) did the Cup good. It was an exciting duel at eye level, in which Sandro Fehr as overall third once interfered victoriously and which produced insane best times. This also caused astonishment and recognition in the national camp.

Only Patrick Flammer and Michaël Béring (gallery right, photo Peter Wyss) were able to break this trio in five of the seven races and secure one or the other podium place. While Flammer, as a hybrid pioneer, had already sensationally won the Ambri race in 2021, the Suzuki podium was a first for the man from Neuchâtel. However, in the 2022 season, which ended on June 25 in Chamblon, they did not manage to finish at the top of the Suzuki standings once. But that may well happen in 2023.

Generous prize money and bonuses
Because at the championship ceremony at the Emil Frey Classic in Safenwil, Sandra Fichte, who has been Head of PR & Marketing at Suzuki Schweiz AG for the past year, revealed on request that the success story would be continued with the racy Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid in 2023 on roughly the same scale. Details will only be worked out in the course of the next few weeks.

Therefore, nothing major is likely to change in the regulations. The prize money (5,000 Swiss francs for the champion in 2022, then 500 Swiss francs less each year until the tenth place) and the participation bonuses (300 Swiss francs per race event) will also remain generous. The best in the Swiss championships in slalom, mountain and rallies, which are organized by Auto Sport Schweiz, can only look on this with envy. In addition, the three best Suzuki drivers also received tire vouchers from partner Yokohama.

The exact regulations with the conditions of participation can be found on the Suzuki Switzerland homepage.

Final ranking Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup 2022

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