Weekend tip: Showdown on four fronts 🎥
TITLE AND MEDAL AWARDS In Portugal, Switzerland competes with four drivers in the biggest hillclimb race of the year. The DTM winner is determined at the Norisring, and the GT Champions in Spain. Everything can be seen on TV or the Internet. The fast track of Rampa da Falperra from the perspective of an Eastern European touring car driver in the Simular. After three years, [...]
The fast track of Rampa da Falperra from the point of view of an Eastern European touring car driver in Simular.
After three years, the fourth FIA Hill Climb Masters 2021 will take place on the outskirts of Braga, Portugal's third largest city, via Falperra up to the sacred village of Sameiro. Thomas Amweg (Lola-Cosworth B99/50 F3000), Ronnie Bratschi (Mitsubishi Evo VII RS), Reto Meisel (Mercedes SLK 340 Judd) and Michel Zemp (Norma-Honda) form the small but fine Swiss delegation.
Classified in the category for touring car and GT cars according to FIA regulations, i.e. according to performance factor, Bratschi and Meisel have legitimate hopes of winning gold, silver or bronze.
Bratschi and Meisel with medal chances
The fast track, which has been shortened to just under three kilometers, and its pitfalls are well known to Meisel since the 2019 European Championship round (¨ner more than 5 kilometers), when he set a new touring car record with his own car, which was classified in the E2 silhouette at the time.
Bratschi, on the other hand, has the advantage of a brilliant season in the 2021 European Hillclimb Championship and a Mitsubishi that has undergone continuous development. It's going to be exciting, because the direct opposition between the two Swiss is bigger and stronger than at any other mountain race.
Due to their underpowered vehicles, Amweg and Zemp simply want to look good in the world-class field and measure themselves against comparable competitors.
Faggioli, Merli or Schatz?
The favorites for the day's victory and gold in their categories are the European champions Simone Faggioli and Christian Merli from FIA category 2 of the racing sports cars and the French champion Geoffrey Schatz in the Norma sports car.
Its Oreca turbo engine is not subject to any power restrictions in the Open category. Even the best Brits with their methanol-powered lightweight rockets won't be able to do anything against it.
In total, more than 150 drivers from 19 nations are named (Start list without absentees like Robin Faustini, who has signed off). 15 country teams, including the Swiss but not the Germans, will also take part in the Nations Cup for uniformity.
Ten TV cameras for the live stream
The Portuguese organizer and the FIA are making an effort to make the hill climb accessible to the general public, while tens of thousands of spectators (including some from Switzerland) are expected on site in late summer weather.
The livestream (Sunday only, from 10am CEST), livetiming, updated start lists, schedule and information are available at this Link available.
Quartet fights for DTM title in Nuremberg
While the FIA Hill Climb Masters has the character of the Olympic Games, races with Swiss participation at other venues mark the end of three international championships.
Normally, the Norisring race on the 2300-meter short circuit around the historic stone grandstand in Nuremberg is the annual summer highlight. Now it marks the end of the first DTM season with GT3 sports cars.
Unfortunately, Nico Müller (Audi R8) and Philip Ellis (Mercedes) are no longer eligible for the title. For both, it's primarily about one last top result. Ellis, the DTM rookie from Zug, could thus secure what is still a very good fifth final place.
In the supporting program, Lucas Mauron (Audi) and Yann Zimmer (BMW), two more Swiss hope for another podium in the final two races of the DTM Trophy for GT4 cars.
Both DTM races are available as usual from 1 p.m. (start 1.30 p.m.) on SAT.1 or all practice sessions, qualifying sessions and the race rounds (also of the DTM Trophy) via the streaming platform Grid DTM as well as on YouTube View
Emil Frey Racing wants to deliver again
Those who want to witness the decision in the GT World Challenge Europe 2021 will also have to go online - if not on site in Spain. Emil Frey Racing still has a lot at stake.
At the fifth endurance race of the year, the Safenwil-based team will have to successfully defend its third place in the overall standings and claim victory in both the drivers' and team standings in the Silver Cup. All three Lamborghini trios are required for third place overall, while the three Swiss drivers Alex Fontana (already Sprint Cup Silver Champion), Ricardo Feller and Rolf Ineichen have set themselves the goal of winning the Silver Cup.
The three-hour race starts at 3 p.m. on Sunday. To see it is on the YouTube channel of this race series.
VLN return of Manuel Amweg on KTM GT4
GT3 cars are also fighting for overall victory at the last round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (formerly VLN). Patric Niederhauser is the only Swiss to try to have a say here with an Audi team, as is Frédéric Yerly in a VW Golf GTI TCR in the SP3T class.
After the car's accident at the last race, the man from Freiburg wants to build on previous class successes with the German team. Meanwhile, his brother-in-law Manuel Amweg (younger brother of the mountain driver competing in Portugal) returns to the Nordschleife in a German team in a KTM X-Bow GT4.
As usual, the elaborately produced livestream can be viewed on a TV set or laptop from 8:30 a.m. (race starts at 12 p.m.) on VLN.com, YouTube, Facebook and Twitch.tv track
GP Turkey as Japan replacement
Finally, it's Grand Prix time again, this time in Turkey. As in 2020, the race in Istanbul has been added to the F1 calendar, this time as a replacement for the canceled Japanese GP. As a tribute to its engine partner Honda, Red Bull Racing is therefore appearing in white and red livery.
SRF1 will report live from qualifying on Saturday from 12:50 to 14:10 and on Sunday the live broadcast will begin as early as 12:20 (until 14:55), in each case on SRF zwei.
