Arosa ClassicCar: Cautious optimism 🎥
INTERVIEW WITH THE RACE DIRECTOR The 2020 Arosa ClassicCar hill climb should start in about four months. Long-time race director Ueli Schneiter explains why it will not be decided until July. The trailer for the 2020 edition arouses anticipation. Hopefully it will not be dampened by the cancellation. By the end of August, all Swiss mountain races have been canceled. The Arosa [...]
The trailer for the 2020 edition arouses anticipation. Hopefully it will not be clouded by the cancellation.
By the end of August, all Swiss hill climbs have been canceled. The Arosa ClassicCar would thus be the first event of this kind in the current year on the first weekend in September. Not only race director Ueli Schneiter hopes for this, but the entire Swiss motorsport community.
Preparation in Indonesia
For the Bernese, this event has long since become an affair of the heart. Since last year, Ueli Schneiter has been living in Jakarta with his Indonesian wife Yantti, where he looks after "Arosa" from afar.
In mid-June, he will then arrive in Switzerland on the only possible scheduled flight of Singapore Airlines, in order to deal more intensively with the hill climb for historic vehicles after a few visits starting in July. Provided that the 16th staging does not have to be postponed to 2021, because the containment of the Corona virus still does not permit any major sporting events in late summer and fall.
Ueli Schneiter: "When we started with the announcement and the rider registrations at the end of March, September was still a long way off. Although many people are cheering us on, it's not up to us whether the race can actually take place now. But I still have a small spark of hope."
Already made large expenditures
Schneiter shares this cautious optimism with his colleagues from the core OC. They decided not to make a decision until the first week of July. Waiting that long (and hoping for a miracle) can be justified.
Ueli Schneiter: "If we cancel only then, the costs are not much greater than now. We have already spent a lot of money, and only then will new expenses be added. At the moment, no one knows what will be at the end of August."
Restrained Marshalls
The race director - for whom the Arosa 2020 event would be the 13th time he has held this responsible position - also senses that there is a great deal of skepticism on the personnel side. Schneiter needs 130 licensed marshals in addition to many other helpers.
By the beginning of May, only about 30 had signed up. But since he ideally still has two months, he is not yet very worried about not meeting the required quota.
Important event for Arosa
In the event of a cancellation, Schneiter would not see the officials or the drivers as the biggest sufferers, but the community of Arosa. Under the patronage of Arosa Tourism, the ClassicCar mountain race is one of the most important events of the entire year for this vacation region.
Ueli Schneiter: "This would be bitter for Arosa. Two thirds of the hotels are already fully booked. For all those who are fully behind it, it would be a tragedy."
Worries about the future of motorsport
At least the experienced chief functionary, who has been race director at more than 40 SM races and other events since 1987, can announce that the Arosa hill climb is secured for 2021. What will happen after that depends on many factors, primarily financial, of course.
Ueli Schneiter: "I am afraid not only for us, but also for the future of motorsport as a whole. Because no one can yet estimate the worldwide consequences of this crisis."
