Weekend tip: 49th Nat. hill climb Gurnigel
TITLE DECISIONS The 49th Gurnigel National Hill Climb will take place next weekend with international participation. The penultimate round of the Swiss Hill Climb Championship is likely to see two titles decided. The weather forecast is good at the moment, the starting field is full - nothing speaks against the spectators being treated to the best motor sport at the 49th Gurnigel National Hill Climb next weekend. At the [...]
The weather forecast is good at the moment, the starting field is full - there is no reason why spectators should not be treated to the best motor sport at the 49th Gurnigel National Hill Climb next weekend.
The penultimate round of the 2018 Swiss Hillclimb Championship is likely to decide two more titles. Only in the Renault Clio Classic Cup is the matter already settled.
First match point for Marcel Steiner
Marcel Steiner only needs a mathematical eleventh place to secure the racing car title at his home race, as he did last year. Of course, he will not be content with that in front of many fans from the region, but will fight for victory right up to the last meter.
In practice, only Robin Faustini can stop him from winning his fifth title after 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2017, and in theory Marcel Maurer.
Faustini would have to win the group with his Reynard-Mugen K01 at the Gurnigel and a week later in Les Paccots (which has never been the case before) and Steiner would have to drop out twice at the same time.
Maurer would have to do the same with the Tatuus-Renault Midland and hope for a total failure of all the otherwise faster racing sports cars, as in Massongex on July 8. It is unlikely that they will do him the favor, but not unthinkable.
At Steiner Motorsport, the champagne can already be chilled.
Marcel Steiner: "Robin and Marcel could still catch me in the championship, but not under their own steam. That's why I think it's unlikely. But you're only champion when it's mathematically certain. Only then do we celebrate."
Finish brings Thomas Schmid the title
Thomas Schmid would also have to go completely against the grain to avoid becoming champion in the Junior Mountain Championship. The St. Gallen native already has three outright victories to his name.
The Bernese Marcel Wälchli and Sven Indermühle, who practically grew up with a view of the Gurnigel, are trying to prevent his fourth triumph in their long-awaited home race. Even if Wälchli, who has already finished second in Reitnau and Anzère, should actually win, Schmid only needs one finish.
Even eighth and last place would give him the points he needs to secure the title. As in Steiner's case, however, the budding Junior champion (and also the leader in the Junior Rally Championship) is not satisfied with defeats.
Title battle in the touring cars is coming to a head
In the Hillclimb Cup, which is led by last year's Junior Champion Rolf Reding in a Toyota GT86 from Eventcenter Seelisberg, and in the Hillclimb Championship for touring cars, the decision will most likely not be made until the final on September 16.
It is certain that the 2018 touring car champion will be Ronnie Bratschi (Mitsubishi/E1), Andy Feigenwinter (Lotus/SuperSeries Competion) or, as in 2017, Frédéric Neff (Porsche/InterSwiss).
After deducting a scratch result, they are only eight points apart. A lot will therefore depend on their form on the day at Gurnigel and their technique, and in Feigenwinter's case also on the minimum participation in the SuperSeries in Les Paccots, which is usually a rather weakly attended race.
Full racing program on both days
On Saturday, the training runs (two for the REG riders, three for the NAT/INT licensed riders) on the Gurnigel start at 7am. Field 1 (REG) will hold its two races in the afternoon.
If there is not enough time on Saturday until 6 pm, the third practice session of the Nationals will continue on Sunday from 7 am to 8 am. The first of two races will then start at 8.15 am.
More information about the race can be found on the homepage.
