SM start: Greg Hotz chases ninth title
AMBITIOUS RETURN The 2019 Swiss Rally Championship begins in France, and the favorite is an old acquaintance: Greg Hotz returns after four years with an R5 car and a clear objective. The 2019 Swiss Rally Championship kicks off on Friday evening with the Rallye Pays du Gier near St. Chamond, not far from Saint-Etienne. Of 130 teams entered, 26 come from the [...]
The 2019 Swiss Rally Championship begins on Friday evening with the Rallye Pays du Gier near St. Chamond not far from Saint-Etienne. 26 of the 130 teams entered come from Switzerland.
For the first time, Ivan Ballinari is competing as the defending champion. The first Swiss Rally Champion from Ticino will be tested by Grégoire "Greg" Hotz right at the start of the season. While "Bally" does not have all the SM rounds in his schedule at the moment, the 44-year-old from Neuchâtel has a clear goal: a ninth SM title. Ballinari has already won the French race four times, most recently last year, Hotz twice until 2015.
Well prepared
Hotz captured his eighth title in 2015 with a Peugeot 207 S2000. With a Skoda Fabia R5 from tuner Balbosca, with which Sébastien Carron already celebrated three championships, he now has the best possible car for the title fight.
Greg Hotz: "My long-time co-driver Pietro Ravasi and his children spurred me on. In addition, rallying is part of my life. My clear goal is to win as many races as possible in order to have a say in the title. The pressure is on, but I know the scene and the team very well. That's why I'm confident and have also lost an extra 14 kilos to start the season fit."
Many contenders for podium places
Increasingly stronger in his few outings last year was Michael Burri, who, like Mike Coppens, is driving another Fabia R5. Steeves Schneeberger, who at times led the SM standings in 2018 with his Ford Fiesta R5, is now relying on Quentin Marchand's announcement. Last year's co-driver of junior champion Thomas Schmid replaces his wife Isa Schneeberger.
Ivan Ballinari also has a new and experienced navigator in Marco Menchini, who is not yet very well known in Switzerland. Finally, Joël Rappaz and Jean-Marc Salomon will also be competing with powerful Ford Fiesta R5s. Excitement in the battle for victories and podium places is therefore guaranteed right from the start.
Junior and Clio champions do not compete to defend title
The Rallye Pays du Gier, which is being held for the 30th time, also already counts towards the Rally-SM Junior, the Renault Clio R3T Alps Trophy and the new Trophée Michelin. In the Juniors, there will certainly be a new champion, as Thomas Schmid wants to move to the international arena (ERC) (but has not yet been able to find the budget).
Julien Camandona switches from the BMW M3 from the VHC to a modern Renault Clio IV R3T. In contrast to the Junior-SM, the R3T Alps Trophy is stronger than ever. In the absence of champion Olivier Courtois (F), "Charly" Beck from Germany, Ismaël Vuistiner (2017 champion) and Nicolas Lathion (2017 Junior champion) are among the first contenders for victory.
The start of the first stage with two special stages will be at 7 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, three SS have to be mastered twice each. Of 311.5 kilometers, 158.6 km will be driven on best time.
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