Jurassian drivers delivered a series of strong performances across European motorsport events last weekend, highlighted by Jimmy Froidevaux’s seventh-place overall finish at the Swiss Hill Climb Championship stop between Châtel-Saint-Denis and Les Paccots.
Froidevaux Leads Jurassian Contingent at Les Paccots
The 2,325-meter hill climb event on the Fribourg roads drew a dozen competitors from the Jura region among a competitive national field. Driving a Norma M20F, Froidevaux of Charmoille clocked the fastest time among Jurassian entrants, securing third place in the E2 SportCars class up to 2,000 cm³ with a time of 1’55’’937. Aargau native Robin Faustini set the overall pace at the 2,325-meter course, dominating the scratch classification in 1’35’’839 aboard his Nova MP01 amid favorable weather conditions.
Class Victories and Podiums Across Categories
Several other regional drivers captured class honors during the Swiss championship round. In the SuperSérie category, Sylvain Chariatte of Courgenay triumphed in his Honda Integra Type R with a time of 2’29’’646. The Classic class for cars up to 2,000 cm³ went to Robin Terrier of Coeuve, who piloted his Opel Astra F GSI 16V to victory in 2’27’’244, ahead of Patrick Röthlisberger of Eschert in a Fiat 131 Racing Gr. 2. Jean-Louis Fleury of Châtelat claimed first place in the 2,001 to 2,500 cm³ class in an Opel Ascona B.
Additional podium finishes included Arnaud Donzé of Bure, taking second in InterSwiss (1,601 to 2,000 cm³) in a VW Golf HPR, and Fabien Houlmann of Montmelon, who finished second in the E1 class of the same engine displacement in a Peugeot 205. In the regional standings, Julia Bieri of Alle secured second place in Interswiss driving a Renault Clio 2 RS.
Rally Campaigns and International Outings
Beyond the Swiss hill climbs, regional drivers contested events in France and Belgium. Clément Piquerez and Caroline Ioset competed at the Rallye du Suran in Bourg-en-Bresse, France. Over 130 kilometers of special stages in their Citroën C2, the crew finished eighth in the R2 class out of 14 starters and 75th overall among 156 entries.
In the Belgian Ardennes, Sébastien Joray contested the Mont Sainte-Cécile hill climb in a BMW E35. Joray won his class, placing seventh among touring cars and 17th in the overall scratch classification. Meanwhile, Thierry Mathez participated in the opening race on the Charade circuit near Clermont-Frand in France, driving in tribute to a recently deceased acquaintance before withdrawing from the second heat due to emotional exhaustion.
