Suzuki: Eggenberger's masterpiece
SLALOM ROMONT At the fifth slalom in Romont, Fabian Eggenberger surpassed himself. His fabulous time with the 1600cc Swift only amazed his opponents in the Suzuki Grand Prix and also himself... In training, Fabian Eggenberger and Sandro Fehr, who recently celebrated the first victory of the season in Bière, were still moving with their times [...]
In practice, Fabian Eggenberger and Sandro Fehr, who recently celebrated his first win of the season in Bière, were still on a par with each other with their times. But in the race, the man from Zurich struck mercilessly...
With virtually new and optimally adhering race tires on his Suzuki Swift Sport, Eggenberger managed the near-perfect run on the 2910-meter course. Neither Fehr nor Eggenberger had thought his time of 2'18.661 possible.
Hunt for the group victory
In the second race run, the clock even stopped at 2'18.088. But due to a small gate error, ten penalty seconds were added. However, the time from the first race was enough for a clear class win in the L2-1600 and the internal Suzuki standings.
Fabian Eggenberger: "I've never been under 2'20 before and didn't think I could beat that. I tried it again in the second run, because even the group win was within reach. Unfortunately a pylon slipped slightly. But I am mega happy about this victory. My thoughts about the line choice paid off..."
Nevertheless, the garage owner from Dübendorf missed out on the group victory in L2 by only half a second. This went to Raymond Stofer on a Mini Cooper S ahead of Gaetan Heyer on an Opel Astra G OPC and Eggenberger.
Sandro Fehr: "Hats off to this performance".
With his second run time in 2'20.057 Sandro Fehr came in second. He was just as pleased about this as he was about Eggenberger's performance.
Sandro Fehr: "Fabian has delivered his masterpiece. He is the king this year. Last year it worked out for me in some races, but he was often unlucky. I myself came in at 2'19 once last year, which everyone already thought was crazy. Now I was close again and so I am satisfied. But I don't see how I could do 2'18... Hats off to this performance."
In third place, Bruno Bleiker put himself on the class and Suzuki podium for the first time this season, 1.7 seconds behind Fehr. Gilbert Denzer came in fourth. In sixth place, Igor Rodella was fifth best Suzuki.
Next stop Chamblon
Because double starts are not permitted in Romont, Heiko Leiber, as a multiple runner-up or third-place finisher with the Eggenberger car, had to forgo the start. Not least for this reason, the participation of six drivers was as weak as never before in the current season.
The opportunity for revenge comes next Saturday morning at the Chamblon slalom. There, all the top people will be at the start again.
By the way: Last year's winner, but in the absence of Sandro Fehr (who drove and won the OPC Challenge), was... Fabian Eggenberger.
