Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup: The future belongs to hybrids

PREVIOUS As the first Swiss one-make cup, the Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup will be held with hybrid models starting next year. Participants and new car buyers can look forward to generous rewards.

Peter Wyss - November 7, 2021

Patrick Flammer was the first driver to win a Suzuki race with the new Swift Sport Hybrid in Ticino (Photo: Denise Steinmann).

The Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup 2021 came to an end with a simple but all the more heartfelt and intimate championship ceremony at Auto Zürich. It was a short season, consisting of only two events in Frauenfeld and Ambri, because all other National Slaloms were cancelled during the year.

Nevertheless, the fifteen best drivers will receive the promised prize money totaling over 20,000 Swiss francs. In addition, there will be tire vouchers from partner Yokohama and other non-cash prizes.

Hybrid is trump
Sandra Fichte, Head of PR & Marketing at Suzuki Schweiz AG since September 1, has gasoline in her blood, just like her predecessor Jürg Naef. Therefore, for her and the Emil Frey Group, it was out of the question that the brand trophy with the largest number of participants would be continued in 2022.

However, the majority will have to purchase new sports equipment, as only the new Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid will be permitted. For marketing reasons, this makes sense, as the Safenwil-based company is now the first organizer of a championship with hybrid models.

That quite a few participants are not happy about the vehicle change is equally understandable. Despite the request to reconsider the admission criteria and perhaps also to offer the previous gasoline-powered cars a platform on the side, nothing is likely to change in this decision.

As fast as normal gasoline engines
The final race in Ticino showed that the newcomer has potential. Patrick Flammer decided the first of the two slaloms at the Ambri airfield on October 2 in his favor with the hybrid model from the fleet of the Flammer Speed Team from Glarus. Newcomers Michael Bering and Rico Thomann also shone in their performances, which they can now regard as an investment in the future.

Michael Bering: "Of course, the Swift Sport Hybrid is a bit slower on paper. But you have to move with the times. We've proven that you can drive fast with it, too. And it's certainly fun."

3000 francs discount
While Bering (gallery left) and Flammer already have new cars, many of their previous Suzuki colleagues are considering whether to go along with the vehicle change or take a break. This also applies to the old and new champion Marcel Muzzarelli (gallery on the right).

As a bonus, Suzuki Switzerland is offering a discount of 3,000 Swiss francs to all new customers. The net price of the Swift Sport Hybrid, which is ideally suited as an everyday car, is thus just under 23,000 francs.

The success bonuses will remain the same in 2022, i.e. 3000 Swiss francs plus a Yokohama voucher of 1500 Swiss francs for the champion down to 200 Swiss francs for 15th place overall. Those who contest at least three races will be reimbursed 300 Swiss francs per event.

The tight points system with 50 points for the race winner and one less for each of the next-placed drivers will be retained. Each driver can deduct one strike result, and there is no longer a team classification.

It is impossible to predict how many of the eight races currently listed in the provisional SM calendar (April 10, Romont; May 1, Bière; May 15, Frauenfeld; May 21-22, Ambri 1 and 2; June 19, Bure; June 26, Chamblon; September 25, Drognens) will take place as planned. But everyone is hoping for a return to normality with a varied racing season.

Suzuki PR manager Sandra Fichte, Cup coordinator Christian Zimmermann (2nd from left) and Yokobo boss Marc Hintermaier (right) with the three first place winners of 2021 (Photo: Jürg Streun).

Well informed with AutoSprintCH
The exact regulations with the conditions of participation can be found on the Suzuki Switzerland homepage. Like Yokohama and Yokobo, the company responsible for tire service, Ecstar engine oils, MultiLease as well as Inoxcar (exhaust), AutoSprintCH as media partner continues to be one of the supporters of the Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup.

Background information about this year's and previous races can therefore be found on our informative homepage with just a few mouse clicks (in the Suzuki Cup search window).