Motorsport: Last duels in the slalom championship

Until the very last rider crossed the finish line, the outcome of the penultimate SM run at the Drognens armory in Romont remained open. Due to the rain-soaked track in the first race run, the dry second run was decisive for everyone. After Philip Egli in his Dallara-Opel F3 had been clearly faster in the wet, Marcel Maurer in the Tatuus-Renault, who had started after him, turned the tables and claimed the day's victory with a lead of 236 thousandths of a second.

For Philip Egli, however, the fourth defeat against Marcel Maurer in nine races so far has no consequences. The man from Zurich is still second in the SM even after deduction of the strike result, which he already took at the beginning of the season in Bière, and he even has the chance to become champion. Martin Bürki, however, would have to experience a pitch-black day in Ticino, because third place in the E1 class up to 1.6 liters is enough for the Bernese to win his fourth slalom title in any case.

Martin Bürki and Marcel Muzzarelli are favorites
As often before, Martin Bürki showed himself in masterful form in Romont. Although he drove to safety, Martin Bürki completed the 2.95-kilometer course in the optimally tuned VW Polo in the third-best time of the day! He thus ousted Jean-François Chariatte from the Jura region in the TracKing sports car from the overall winners' podium by 125 thousandths. Marcel Maurer and Jean-François Chariatte settle the third SM rank between themselves at the Ambrì airfield.

"I'm making every effort and, as always, I'm preparing meticulously. But you're never safe from a defect, and besides, it could be that I crash a boot...", Martin Bürki remains cautious. Marcel Muzzarelli sees himself in a similar role as favorite in the Opel OPC Challenge, which will feature two races at the finale organized by Equipe Bernoise. The defending champion would have to be dogged by bad luck to beat his permanent opponent Thierry Kilchenmann.

www.equipe-bernoise.ch
Photos: Peter Wyss