17.10.2025
Second consecutive title for Robin Faustini
How did our heroes fare on the hill this year? We asked the Midland pilots about their experiences and their conclusions for the 2025 season.
Robin Faustini has every reason to celebrate: seven races, seven victories, three new course records this year. Looking further back, Robin has been undefeated since autumn 2023 and has celebrated a total of 16 day victories in a row. But it wasn't always easy. Before the season, he struggled with problems, and in Osnabrück (Germany), Robin accidentally made contact with the crash barrier with his Nova NP01 Empa. His rivals were hot on his heels in every race in Switzerland. Nevertheless, ‘My best season so far,’ Robin notes. He is grateful for the strong team behind him. Without these people, he would not have been able to defend his title. The two-time Swiss champion is looking for a new challenge for 2026, but he doesn't want to reveal too much yet.
Michel Zemp is very satisfied with his year, finishing second in the overall standings behind Robin Faustini in his Norma M20FC Helftec-Honda, beating out vehicles with larger engine capacities. ‘It doesn't get much better than this,’ says Michel Zemp. Six podium places in the overall standings, five victories with a class record in his category; no defects or breakdowns. ‘I always felt comfortable in the car. Everything always worked,’ he says gratefully. He is happy to be going into the winter break and is starting preparations for the next season.
Victor Darbellay is very satisfied with his first season with his new Nova NP01. The man from Valais is also in his first year with Midland. He finds it motivating for the future that he has set new course records in his category in La Roche–La Berra and Ayent–Anzère and achieved a superb time in the Gurnigel hill climb. Victor Darbellay finished third in the championship. ‘For 2026, I plan to compete in as many Swiss Championship races as possible again – and to be among the front runners,’ he explains with a smile.
Marcel Steiner started the season with a completely new car, a Nova Proto/Helftec-Honda that he developed largely himself. He tried to get a feel for it in the first race, but had a defect in the second. He then struggled repeatedly with starting problems and fell well behind the leading trio as a result. In Osnabrück (Germany), he finished fifth among Europe's top competitors, which he later described as the ‘highlight of the season’. In Oberhallau, he crashed causing considerable damage to the car. He and his team repaired the car for the home race at Gurnigel. Unfortunately, he was plagued by technical problems there and was unable to compete in the third race. Marcel is now gathering his strength for next year. Then he wants to be back at the top, fighting for seconds.
Vanessa Zenklusen was disappointed with her season until shortly before St. Ursanne–Les Rangiers. She was unable to match her times from 2024. ‘I was simply 100 horsepower short,’ she says. Before Les Rangiers, she and her team got to the bottom of the problem. Since then, she has felt that things were looking up again. After the Swiss season, Vanessa Zenklusen competed in Mickhausen (Germany) and confirmed that her positive feeling was justified with an excellent second place. In Switzerland, she finished second in her category in all races in 2025 and ended up 31st in the Swiss Touring Car Hillclimb Championship.
Simon Wüthrich completely rebuilt his Golf before the 2025 season and got off to a successful start. He won races, celebrated touring car victories and led the Swiss championship in his category. This came to an abrupt end in St. Ursanne–Les Rangiers with a crash at the fastest point. Unfortunately, the Golf was a complete wreck. ‘The outlook for Turbiene Motorsport is to build a new car in 2026 and return to the starting line in 2027,’ explains Simon Wüthrich, disappointed but composed.
Images (c) 2025: Peter Hartmann, myrally.ch
Robin Faustini has every reason to celebrate: seven races, seven victories, three new course records this year. Looking further back, Robin has been undefeated since autumn 2023 and has celebrated a total of 16 day victories in a row. But it wasn't always easy. Before the season, he struggled with problems, and in Osnabrück (Germany), Robin accidentally made contact with the crash barrier with his Nova NP01 Empa. His rivals were hot on his heels in every race in Switzerland. Nevertheless, ‘My best season so far,’ Robin notes. He is grateful for the strong team behind him. Without these people, he would not have been able to defend his title. The two-time Swiss champion is looking for a new challenge for 2026, but he doesn't want to reveal too much yet.
Michel Zemp is very satisfied with his year, finishing second in the overall standings behind Robin Faustini in his Norma M20FC Helftec-Honda, beating out vehicles with larger engine capacities. ‘It doesn't get much better than this,’ says Michel Zemp. Six podium places in the overall standings, five victories with a class record in his category; no defects or breakdowns. ‘I always felt comfortable in the car. Everything always worked,’ he says gratefully. He is happy to be going into the winter break and is starting preparations for the next season.
Victor Darbellay is very satisfied with his first season with his new Nova NP01. The man from Valais is also in his first year with Midland. He finds it motivating for the future that he has set new course records in his category in La Roche–La Berra and Ayent–Anzère and achieved a superb time in the Gurnigel hill climb. Victor Darbellay finished third in the championship. ‘For 2026, I plan to compete in as many Swiss Championship races as possible again – and to be among the front runners,’ he explains with a smile.
Marcel Steiner started the season with a completely new car, a Nova Proto/Helftec-Honda that he developed largely himself. He tried to get a feel for it in the first race, but had a defect in the second. He then struggled repeatedly with starting problems and fell well behind the leading trio as a result. In Osnabrück (Germany), he finished fifth among Europe's top competitors, which he later described as the ‘highlight of the season’. In Oberhallau, he crashed causing considerable damage to the car. He and his team repaired the car for the home race at Gurnigel. Unfortunately, he was plagued by technical problems there and was unable to compete in the third race. Marcel is now gathering his strength for next year. Then he wants to be back at the top, fighting for seconds.
Vanessa Zenklusen was disappointed with her season until shortly before St. Ursanne–Les Rangiers. She was unable to match her times from 2024. ‘I was simply 100 horsepower short,’ she says. Before Les Rangiers, she and her team got to the bottom of the problem. Since then, she has felt that things were looking up again. After the Swiss season, Vanessa Zenklusen competed in Mickhausen (Germany) and confirmed that her positive feeling was justified with an excellent second place. In Switzerland, she finished second in her category in all races in 2025 and ended up 31st in the Swiss Touring Car Hillclimb Championship.
Simon Wüthrich completely rebuilt his Golf before the 2025 season and got off to a successful start. He won races, celebrated touring car victories and led the Swiss championship in his category. This came to an abrupt end in St. Ursanne–Les Rangiers with a crash at the fastest point. Unfortunately, the Golf was a complete wreck. ‘The outlook for Turbiene Motorsport is to build a new car in 2026 and return to the starting line in 2027,’ explains Simon Wüthrich, disappointed but composed.
Images (c) 2025: Peter Hartmann, myrally.ch
