Report 2009

Final report dated 02 August 2009

1,500 spectators at Germany’s largest outdoor trial

At the right moment the sense of orientation came back: The Swede Emil Gyllenhammar had already covered more than 1,000 kilometres with his trial transporter from Gothenburg to Uslar-Fürstenhagen, on his way to the 15th International Night Trial of the MSC Weser-Solling. Then, on the last kilometers, the Scandinavian sat-nav gave up: destination unknown.

Using a map, Gyllenhammar somehow made it to Fürstenhagen after all. On the motor sports grounds, his sense of orientation was right again: At his night trial premiere, the 20-year-old electrician found the right way as the best of eleven drivers from five nations and won.

And with a big lead. Gyllenhammar scored only three penalty points when he drove through the four laps, which were divided into six obstacle sections each. While inspecting the key section of the course, Gyllenhammar had commented with a loud “Boahh” on the spectacular ascent of a five-metre high wooden transporter.

The mammoth obstacle did not upset him at its premiere in Fürstenhagen: “I started alone and did not orientate myself on the riders who already have experience with the course. I know how to drive under floodlights, we do that in the winter in Sweden too. The sections in Fürstenhagen are technically demanding, but that suits me,” was the clear conclusion of the winner, who usually races in the front regions of the Junior World Championships.

Behind the Swede a German duel took place in front of 1,500 spectators. The reigning German Champion, Jochen Schäfer from Schatthausen, only managed to distance himself from nine-time German Champion Carsten Stranghöner from Bielefeld in the last round and was visibly thrilled after crossing the finish line: “Great duel. Also the difficulty of the sections was just right. It was spectacular, but not dangerous. The atmosphere here was great again.”

Also the only 18-year-old student Romaine Tessariol from Toulouse in the south of France liked it. With his parents he had travelled 1,400 kilometres overnight to compete in Fürstenhagen. In the end, he finished ninth after a great effort. “I have completely forgotten the long journey now. Fürstenhagen is just great. The spectators cheered me on like a local. It’s great that I could be here,” he said after the race.

There were beaming faces among the organizers as well: “The effort was worth it, four weeks of set-up time have turned into four great night trial hours again. Now we’re celebrating until the sun comes up again,” said Dietrich Siemon, sporting director of the biennial event.

Andreas Hoffmeister, First Chairman of the MSC Weser-Solling, already has concrete plans for 2011: “Our club will celebrate its 50th anniversary in two years. The Night Trial will certainly be a highlight. But we are planning another event of a completely different kind, this time not over rough and smooth. At the moment we are looking for suitable areas for it. More will not be revealed yet”, Hoffmeister said with a somewhat mysterious look into the future.

Result 15th International Night Trial of the MSC Weser-Solling e. V. in the ADAC Uslar-Fürstenhagen from 01.08.2009: 1. Emil Gyllenhammar (Swe), 3 penalty points; 2. Jochen Schäfer (Schatthausen), 14; 3. Carsten Stranghöner (Bielefeld), 18; 4. Pavel Balas (Tch), 18; 5 Jan Junklewitz (Enger), 28; 6 Mirco Kammel (Brake), 29; 7 Christian Kregeloh (Schwelm), 31; 8 Timon Oster (Großheubach), 41; 9 Romain Tessariol (F), 52; 10 Ewoud Lalkens (NL), 80; 11 Marijan Griebel (Hahnweiler).