Paccots: The last duels in the mountain SM
LAST MOUNTAIN RACE The hill climb on the route from Châtel-St-Denis to Les Paccots on Sunday marks the conclusion of the 2018 Swiss Hill Climb Championship. In addition to the battle for the day's victory, two title decisions in the touring cars will ensure excitement. The clear favorite for the day's victory at the 38th Châtel-St-Denis-Les Paccots hill climb is Eric Berguerand. As at Gurnigel, the Valais [...]
The clear favorite to win the 38th Châtel-St-Denis-Les Paccots hill climb is Eric Berguerand. As at Gurnigel, the man from the Valais in the Lola FA99 can be expected to set another course record, especially as fine autumn weather is forecast.
Although Berguerand faces opposition from Joël Volluz, who is contesting his second race after Oberhallau with the rebuilt Osella FA30. In addition, Volluz has held the record for the second-fastest track on the SM calendar since 2015.
But whether the latter is already in a position and willing to stand up to the five-time champion is doubtful. The younger of the two from the Valais does not plan to do so until 2019.
Steiner's decision not to start creates suspense
Missing will be Marcel Steiner. After securing the SM title at Gurnigel, the old and new champion will refrain from participating with the LobArt-Mugen.
Indirectly, this creates suspense in the fight for the third podium place in Les Paccots. After finding out the cause of the failure at Gurnigel and fixing the problems (broken cables), Robin Faustini will be back at the start with the Reynard K01 at the final.
Faustini's father, Simon Hugentobler, already handles the Osella PA30 so well that he can be expected to finish on the podium. The same goes for Frenchman Cyrille Frantz in a newer and more powerful Osella PA30 with an AC Cosworth (like Berguerand's).
It is also completely open who will be runner-up and SM third in the racing sports cars. Marcel Maurer, who is in second place, can no longer score full points with the Tatuus-Renault, which is underpowered in contrast to the three-liter cars, but Balmer, Faustini and Berguerand, who are far behind him, can.
But just, only on Sunday evening is counted up in Les Paccots....
Advantage Neff
With another victory, with or without a new IS record, Frédéric Neff in the 500 hp Porsche is once again touring car mountain champion. Only if he drops out (as in Massongex) or is pushed far back in the Interswiss Group classification due to problems can Ronnie Bratschi still become champion. At the same time, Neff can also win the IS Trophy.
Whether Bratschi will start after the recent technical problems (cylinder head gasket blew at Gurnigel, also the hydraulic line from the center diff was broken), the man from Uri will decide at short notice.
If the 750 hp engine in his Mitsubishi does not run cleanly after an extensive repair by Friday evening, he will not travel to Châtel-St-Denis. Especially as the FIA E1 Hill Climb Champion would be champion even in Neff's absence if he had problems.
Roger Schnellmann, E1 and touring car overall winner at Gurnigel, remains safely at home. His goal was to qualify for the FIA Hill Climb Masters in Gubbio in mid-October.
As the current third-best E1 driver behind Bratschi and Kessler, Schnellmann would have met this requirement without applying for a wild card. Romeo Nüssli can still foil his plans, but would have to win in E1 record time to do so.
Lack of competition in the SuperSeries
After the Gurnigel race, three drivers are at the top of the standings with 110 points each. Since, in contrast to the Swiss Mountain Championship of the touring cars, two results are deducted, Rolf Reding (Toyota GT86), who has been leading since the beginning of the season and dominating the SuperSeries up to two liters, has the worst cards.
As feared, Reding's class is weak, so that the half points for another victory would be of no use to him.
Because there are also too few competitors in the complete production car group, Andy Feigenwinter (Lotus Exige) is also out of the running as an SM title candidate.
Advantage Bürki
On the other hand, Martin Bürki (VW Polo E1) and Christoph Mattmüller (VW Scirocco) can once again score full points with their 1600cc cars. If MB wins as usual - most recently at Gurnigel in a fantastic record time - the title will go to him.
It would be his third in the Mountain Cup after 2014 and 2015. And the next one, the sixth in the Slalom Championship, can be secured by Martin Bürki one week later in Drognens.
