Berg-SM: Change of brand of the champion
FROM LOTUS TO PORSCHE Andy Feigenwinter loves challenges. The new one is called Porsche 997 GT3. In 2020, he wants to defend his SM title in Group IS with the help of MB Motorsport. The Lotus Exige is sold. In the second year with his Lotus Exige 430 Cup, Andy Feigenwinter proved in an impressive way that many [...]
In his second year with his Lotus Exige 430 Cup, Andy Feigenwinter impressively proved that many underestimated him in the previous year. It was only at the end of the 2018 season in Les Paccots that the 52-year-old from Basel won in record time for the first time in the SuperSeries Competition. If the group hadn't been shorthanded twice, it would have been enough to win the championship title outright.
From envy to respect
He made up for this in the past season. After winning the duel with Lotus V6 champion Dino Wintsch in Hemberg, the initial envy turned into respect from all sides. On a dry track, Feigenwinter then just missed his own record in Paccots and was deservedly congratulated on his first Swiss championship title. A success with an announcement.
Andy Feigenwinter: "I'm a very ambitious person, so I also looked to see which class was ideal for me. I push everything to the limit. After all, everyone does it to win. The 2019 season was then a blast with the title as the crowning glory."
Lotus back to St. Gallen
Feigenwinter enjoyed this for a long time, but the Lotus era is now history. He was able to sell the Exige back to Lotus-West in St. Gallen. Branch manager Norbert Sieber, who contributed a lot to the success with his technical know-how and the preparation of the sports car, will certainly find a new buyer.
As early as the final phase of the championship, the sanitary and sewer renovation specialist from Reinach was already thinking about how he should shower his opponents in the future. Because his favorite brand, Ferrari, is not suitable for hill climbs, the name Porsche had been buzzing around in his head for a long time.
Variety
Soon the decision was matured: It must be a 997 GT3, in order to go with it in the group Interswiss - where a too small the number of participants is no more risk - on points hunt. No easy undertaking, since it has here already some fast Porsche people. But Andy F. is looking for just such challenges.
Andy Feigenwinter: "I couldn't achieve more with the Lotus. I need a change and want a proper, relatively modern GT car with a top chassis and paddle shift. I'm a newcomer to Porsche, but I want to fully attack right away. I'm looking forward to racing against all these cracks. But I don't think I have much chance of winning the title in my first year. I'll be happy if I can beat them..."
A second spearhead from MB Motorsport
Although the sales have not yet been concluded, Feigenwinter no longer wants to make a secret of his change of class. Especially since he will certainly be asked about it at Auto Sport Schweiz's championship celebration on November 22 and doesn't want to beat around the bush.
Feigenwinter has also already made provisions in terms of support. From 2020, he will be driving for MB Motorsport, the team of multi-champion Martin Bürki. With Philipp Marti, who used to be close to Feigenwinter in the Erbacher team and later worked for Widbergmotorsport on Porsches, among others, the shrewd businessman has brought on board a specialist in the field of this type of vehicle for the race weekends. On the racecourse, "Phippu" also lent a hand to Bürki's VW Polo in 2019.
Where the new constellation will lead will be known in September 2020 at the latest, after the conclusion of the Swiss Mountain Championship. Not only Andy Feigenwinter, but also she will benefit from a change.
