Motorsport: New start-up at Sauber and Fach

A week after the last GP in Hockenheim, the Formula 1 teams had to take a 14-day summer break, during which the doors to the workshops in Hinwil also remained closed. The Sauber management used the time to fill a vacant squad position. Thus, the 43-year-old Spaniard Xevi Pujolar was signed on as the new chief engineer. The Catalan has already been working in Hinwil for a few days, but will not take to the race track until the Singapore GP. Pujolar most recently acted as race engineer at Scuderia Toro Rosso.

The Sauber team tackles the race on the longest GP circuit in Belgium and the fastest at the Autodromo di Monza with a new aerodynamics package. The wish remains the same for both the team and its fans: the first points must be scored to knock Manor out of tenth place in the championship. Last year, Marcus Ericsson managed to do this both times, unlike Felipe Nasr. "We were able to set quite decent lap times in both races. That's what I'm hoping for now, of course," says the Swede. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

Specialist team wants to return to the top of the table
Fach Auto Tech has higher goals in the Porsche Supercup. Matteo Cairoli is only two points behind Sven Müller after six of ten rounds. The Italian and the German with Swiss roots have each won three races so far. Meanwhile, Philipp Frommenwiler showed a clear upward trend before the summer break, which he intends to continue towards the podium in Belgium.

Just how far ahead the Schwyz-based team is looking is demonstrated by Cairolis' test appearance in two Carrera Cup France races at Spa in May - the Porsche factory junior cleaned up twice. "We therefore feel well prepared," says Alex Fach. "Our goal is to come home with the overall lead." If not to Spa, then to Monza.

www.sauberf1team.com
www.fachautotech.ch
Photos: Archive