Motorsport: Thomas Zürcher is already champion

Their names are a bit tricky: although his name is Thomas Zürcher, he is a Bernese. And the Renault Classic Cup, which he won for the fourth time in a row, doesn't really feature classic vehicles from the French manufacturer. Club colleagues compete in their own championship, sanctioned by the Swiss sporting authority, with older and partly rebuilt Renault Clio II and III cars, for which there is no longer an official Renault Cup.

Disqualification due to incomplete underwear
After an unsuccessful start in Hockenheim, Thomas Zürcher set off on a winning spree in the following slalom, the second circuit double-header in Spielberg (A) and the hill climbs, which only re-entrant Daniel Borer was able to stop in St-Ursanne. In Oberhallau, he continued to defend his title and was particularly proud of the fact that he equaled the Renault track record held since 2007 by local hero Mathias Hedinger. Meanwhile, Daniel Borer was unable to stand up to him as the ASS stewards disqualified him for incomplete fireproof underwear after the first run. Seven drivers from other fields were fined 200 Swiss francs each because of this.

Contested home game on Gurnigel guarantees action
Zürcher now has one goal above all: to win the home race at Gurnigel on September 11, which will be difficult against Philipp Krebs (2nd place), who was already in excellent form in Oberhallau, as he has the same in mind. In addition, his Clio II is older and weaker than the Clio III RS, which is now used by the majority in the Classic Cup, but 150 kilos lighter and more agile. So what sets the old and new champion apart? "Thomas is a perfectionist and ambitious," his opponents and colleagues think. "And of course he has talent, too."

www.renault-classic.ch
www.yokohama.ch
Photos: Peter Wyss