Hächler & Fankhauser win Swiss Nationals Round 2
Round 2 of the Swiss Nitro Onroad Nationals took place at Aigle over the weekend with Silvio Hächler with the 1:8 win and Patrick Fankhauser making it 2 from 2 in 1:10. A lack of grip made for a challenging day of practice on the Friday as drivers tried to find a set-up for the conditions. In qualifying it would be Hächler who would take the TQ despite a small problem in Q2 after a mistake and the fourth & final round of qualifying being cancel due to rain. Unfortunately, it rained on Sunday morning and the track was wet. It was therefore decided to reduce the time of the finals from 45min to 30min and to finish the race before 3pm, as there was a threat of rain by then. The semi-finals took place mostly on a damp track, which then gradually dried out.
A few drops of rain fell before the 1:10 final, but it was possible to race on dry tyres. Rolli Josua got off to a great start and took the lead ahead of Top Qualifier Fankhauser, but then Fankhauser, winner of the season opener, picked up his pace and took home the final. Josua’s great performance took second place and third was Bühler Philipp who also did a perfect final finishing only 3 seconds behind Josua. In the 1:8, Hächler after some initial grip problems then took off, leaving Round 1 winner Mattia Pesenti and Christophe Pethoud to battle for second position for more than 2/3 of the race, swapping position several times.
Unfortunately, the strong windy conditions did not make driving any easier and occasionally led to a number of mistakes. With 5 -minutes remaining, Hächler had more than a lap of a lead, but unfortunately he had gearbox problems and was only running in first gear. Pesenti took advantage of the situation and tried hard to make up the gap but ran out of time finished second just over 1.5seconds off the winner with Pethoud completing the podium.
Top 3 Final 1:8
1. Silvio Hächler – ARC
2. Mattia Pesenti – XRAY
3. Christophe Pethoud – ARCTop 3 Final 1:10
1. Patrick Fankhauser – INFINITY
2. Josua Rolli – XRAY
3. Philipp Bühler – XRAY
Thanks to Mattia Pesenti for report and image
