Slalom-SM: Back to normality with class field

NEW PARCOURSE IN BIÈRE This weekend, the Swiss Slalom Championship and the Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup 2022 will start in Bière. For practice, several fast mountain specialists with potent racing cars will romp around in the 300-strong field.

Editorial - April 27, 2022

Lukas Eugster at the last Slaslom of Bière so far in 2019. On Sunday, all competitors are going in the other direction (Photos: Peter Wyss).

After the forced break in 2020 and a mini-season in 2021, the Swiss Slalom Championship will be held under normal circumstances again this year. It all starts this weekend at the barracks area in Bière.

Course in reverse direction
Unlike the last edition of 2019, the OC has changed the route.

OC President Nicolas Genoux: "We wanted to offer the riders something new after a two-year break. That's why we're going in the opposite direction this year. So where the start was in 2019 is the finish this year - and vice versa."

Philip Egli against four "test drivers
Because his long-time competitor and two-time Bière winner Marcel Maurer is taking a break this year, Philip Egli would be the lone favorite in the optimal Dallara (gallery left) with self-developed EPR engine based on Opel. But with Thomas Zürcher (Tatuus-LRM F4, 3rd Bière 2019) and Yves Hängärtner (Dallara-Egmo GP3), there are two other fast formula drivers on the grid. For lack of driving and testing opportunities in recent months, however, they regard the Bière slalom more as a functional test.

Six-time Swiss hillclimb champion Eric Berguerand (Lola-Cosworth), day winner in Bière in 2014, and Joël Volluz (Osella FA30) also take advantage of this starting opportunity with a view to the upcoming hillclimb season, which begins in Hemberg on June 11/12. In the straight and flowing sections, they can gain an advantage with their potent three-liter race cars.

Eugster wants to know
Lukas Eugster is also making a comeback after a two-year break with the Ligier-Honda from the sports car category. His declared goal is to take his first stage win, having already come close in 2019.

Lukas Eugster: "We still had a problem with the clutch during the Equipe Bernoise test days in Ambri. But we were able to solve that. And therefore I think we are ready."

Continuation of the touring car duel
In the touring cars, the title duel between Martin Bürki in the VW Polo (center gallery) and Christian Darani (right gallery) in the Fiat X1/9 will continue. Both are almost unbeatable in their classes E1-1600 and E1-2000 respectively. So in the end the class strength could be the deciding factor again.

In addition to them, Christoph Zwahlen (Porsche GT3), Jürg Ochsner (Opel Kadett) and Manuel Santonastaso (BMW 320) are also in the running for a top result in the touring cars at the slalom at the foot of the Col du Marchairuz, which was held for the first time in 1966.

Suzuki Switzerland as a pioneer
The Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup, which will hold its first race in Bière on Saturday, has a special premiere in store. Only the Swift Sport 48V Hybrid model is now eligible to take part.

This makes it the first one-make cup in Switzerland with an electrically assisted drive. With defending champion Marcel Muzzarelli, "runner-up" Fabian Eggenberger and multiple race winners Sandro Fehr and Patrick Flammer (won a race in Ambri in 2021 with the hybrid), the best from the previous year are participating with new cars. After the season opener, all other Suzuki races will be held in the same way as the slalom championship.