Oberhallau hill climb: Steiner victory on anniversary 🎥
NO RECORD The weather gods had little mercy on the Swiss racing community in Oberhallau. Until Saturday noon, the anniversary edition remained dry. After that, the 100th anniversary was hit by a rain front.
The first race scheduled for Saturday afternoon had to be partially postponed to Sunday morning. But the weather was not much better on the actual race day. Instead of the 15,000 spectators who came last year, the organizer counted about. 9000 fans for Saturday and Sunday. Even the course record of 1:07.56 min could not be beaten under these conditions.
Marcel Steiner with fastest time
Only six riders managed to break the 1:20 mark. The fastest time was set by Marcel Steiner in 1:17.327 min in the third and final run with his LobArt-Honda/Helftec. In the addition of the two best runs, Steiner was also in front at the end - just one second behind, last year's winner Eric Berguerand had to settle for second place in his Lola FA99. Christoph Lampert from Feldkirch (A) came in third on his Nova Proto NP01. The SM points for 3rd place went to fourth-placed Joël Volluz on Osella FA30.
For the further course of the championship, Steiner's victory in Oberhallau (from a neutral position) is the best thing that could have happened. After six of eight races, the man from Berne leads with 137:117, but adjusted for strike results, the two are tied. So the last two races will be decisive.
Best result for Thomas Amweg
Considering the gap, Thomas Amweg achieved his best result of the season so far as SM fourth in Oberhallau (gallery on the right). A weekend to forget was experienced by the Oberhallau winner of 2021: Robin Faustini.
The Aargauer had a water damage and could only start for the second run. Behind the top 5, Joël Burgermeister (Tatuus F4) once again secured victory in the Formula race cars up to 2000 cm3. Second place in the small class went to veteran Roland Bossy on his Dallara Spiess F311. Third place went to the young Lionel Ryter from Valais. The 23-year-old polymechanic from Martigny is driving his first season and ousted veteran Marcel Maurer from the podium with two strong runs.
Good time for Roger Schnellmann
Among the drivers who went under 1:20 at least once was Roger Schnellmann (center gallery) and his Mitsubishi Evo 8. The fastest touring car driver found better conditions in the second run and took advantage for a time of 1:18.504 min. Second place behind Schnellmann went (as usual so far this season) to the fastest Interswiss driver Bruno Sawatzki in the Porsche 991.1 Cup. Third place went to Frédéric Neff from the Jura, also in a Porsche, but driving in the E1 since Anzère. Simon Wüthrich in the Turbiene Golf did not quite match Neff's time. The man from Langnau, who like Steiner runs on synfuel, won the duel in his class (E1 up to 3500 cm3) against Bruno Ianniello (Lancia Delta S4).
Other winners at a glance
Among the other class winners in Oberhallau were: Anton Büeler (Mitsubishi Evo RSC, N/ISN up to 3500 cm3), Daniel Kammer (Toyota Yaris, Super S to 3000 cm3), Stefan Schöpfer (Audi 50, IS up to 1400 cm3), Jannis Jeremias (VW Polo, IS up to 1600 cm3), who defeated Rudi Oberhofer and Beat Oertig, Stephan Burri (VW Scirocco), who won the IS to 2000 cm3against local hero Jürg Ochsner (Opel Kadett) and Patrick Vallat (VW Golf), Armin Banz (Opel Kadett C, IS up to 2500 cm3), Martin Oliver Bürki (BMW E33, IS up to 3000 cm3), Dominic von Rotz (Audi A4 Quattro, IS up to 3500 cm3), Beat Rohr (Audi 50, E1 up to 1400 cm3), Martin Bürki (VW Polo, E1 up to 1600 cm3), Christian Bralla (Fiat X1/9), who won the E1 to 2000 cm.3 sensationally against Fabien Houlmann (Peugeot 205) and Sébastien Cocquoz (Opel Kadett GTE) as well as Hermann Bollhalder (Opel Speedster, E1 up to 3000 cm3.
As in Les Rangiers, victory in the Renault Classic Cup went to Thomas Zürcher. The podium was completed with RCC leader Michael Schläpfer and 2019 champion Philip Krebs.
TCR drivers gave each other nothing
The duel in the TCR between Hyundai driver Mathias Schläppi (gallery left) and Opel Astra driver Patrick Flammer was exciting, with Schläppi having a half-second advantage in the end. Third place went to Danny Krieg. For the first time, all TCR participants drove on synfuel.
Mathias Schläppi: "I am pleased that all seven participants switched to Synfuel without hesitation. We will also be using the synthetically produced fuel on the Gurnigel. It's time to set an example." The future was also at the start in Oberhallau. Good thing.
In the KW-Berg-Cup, Erwin Buck in his VW Spiess Scirocco secured the day's victory with an overall time of 2:58.035 min from two race runs. Second place went to Bernhard Permetinger in a BMW Z4 GT3 with a time of 2:59.712 min, ahead of third-placed Claire Schönborn in a VW Golf 1 STW with a time of 3:02.541 min.
... and so the season continues:
- September 9 and 10, Gurnigel
- September 16 and 17, Châtel-St-Denis - Les Paccots
Ouelle: Auto Sport Switzerland
Photos: Eichenberger, Payerhofer, Video: FreeCampLife
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