GRC
Review: Speed makes quite the entry in Rallycross
by Martijn Kösters
Global Rallycross, Year three, Episode one: 'Blasting in Brazil'.
by Martijn Kösters
Global Rallycross, Year three, Episode one: 'Blasting in Brazil'.
Yes
Rallycross on the other side of the pond got underway at the
Brazilian X Games in Foz de Iguacu. A field that included former F1
stars, a NASCAR and Daytona 24h hero, European Rallycross stars and
last year's GRC champion contained all everyone could wish for.
The venue, an almost full dirt track in what seemed like the heart of the jungle provoked different opinions. From a spectator's point of view it was difficult to see the action because of the large amounts of dust being kicked up, with drivers seeing even less when driving through that dust. Because of the track being sprayed with water prior to each race the drivers faced constantly changing conditions, starting on a sort of muddy surface the track would dry out during the race with the surface changing to sandy and after that to fine, slippery dust. Travis Pastrana admitted his powerful Dodge Dart had traction problems all weekend round.
The venue, an almost full dirt track in what seemed like the heart of the jungle provoked different opinions. From a spectator's point of view it was difficult to see the action because of the large amounts of dust being kicked up, with drivers seeing even less when driving through that dust. Because of the track being sprayed with water prior to each race the drivers faced constantly changing conditions, starting on a sort of muddy surface the track would dry out during the race with the surface changing to sandy and after that to fine, slippery dust. Travis Pastrana admitted his powerful Dodge Dart had traction problems all weekend round.
Action
got underway with the heats of four cars which would see the top two
proceed to the final. Heat one was fought out between Toomas
Heikkinen, Ken Block and Liam Doran. Doran being spun round by Block
in the very first corner, diminishing his chances of qualification
for the final. Heikkinen and Block cruised to P1 and P2.
Heat two saw Nelsinho Piquet, Brian Deegan, Travis Pastrana and Bryce Menzies take to the track. Piquet took a cheeky jump start, responding to the red lights going out rather than the green ones coming on. A penalty eventually dropped him back to 3rd place, meaning he had to compete in the last chance qualifier to make the final. At the front Deegan and Pastrana took the top two spots.
Heat three out of four had Foust, Arpin, Sandell and Neves lining up. Once again it turned out the venue in Brazil offered little opportunities for overtaking, partly because of the dust but mostly because of the limited traction in combination with the short straights. Foust lead from start to finish with Steve Arpin following him into the final.
The final heat was also the most interesting one. Not only because two debutees lined up (Scott Speed and Buddy Rice), but also actionwise. In turn one Rice made contact with Speed sending him round and giving Anton Marklund the opportunity to take the lead. Yet nothing was lost for Speed yet, he used his Joker Lap, which is a shortcut rather than a longer way round in European Rallycross, to take second from Buddy Rice. After this move Speed chased down Marklund, passing him going into the final lap. Speed and Marklund qualified for the final.
Last Chance Qualifier offered two more tickets to the final for those who finished 3rd or 4th before. The LCQ offered more problems for Liam Doran, dropping the clutch at the start saw the whole field pass him, and sent Menzies up the rear of his car. Their chances of a final ticket were virtually gone. Out in front Rice took the lead from the start with Sandell close behind. Piquet and Neves would just miss out on a ticket to the final.
The final uses a different format to the heats. Rather than four cars ten drivers would now line up and drive a ten lap race rather than six. The first corner proved to be a fierce battlefield after the start with everyone aiming for the inside line. Some top drivers including Ken Block, Tanner Foust and Travis Pastrana would either retire or sustain damage after a tumultuous start. After four laps the race was red flagged because of cars and debris scattered around the track.
The race was restarted over its full length but without Block, Foust and Pastrana. Heikkinen had the best restart with an aggressive move on the inside of turn one, keeping Speed and Arpin behind him after lap one. Toomas Heikkinen opted to take his joker lap early increasing his lead a little. Lateron in the race we saw Scott Speed gradually closing in on Heikkinen. Him still having to do his joker there might be an opportunity there. As the chequered flag came closer Speed still hadn't done his Joker Lap. Speed kept it cool in the Brazilian heat and dived round the inside of the final turn, taking Heikkinen in the final lap of the race and taking the gold. Speed finished first, Heikkinen 2nd, with late qualifier Sandell taking the bronze.
Heat two saw Nelsinho Piquet, Brian Deegan, Travis Pastrana and Bryce Menzies take to the track. Piquet took a cheeky jump start, responding to the red lights going out rather than the green ones coming on. A penalty eventually dropped him back to 3rd place, meaning he had to compete in the last chance qualifier to make the final. At the front Deegan and Pastrana took the top two spots.
Heat three out of four had Foust, Arpin, Sandell and Neves lining up. Once again it turned out the venue in Brazil offered little opportunities for overtaking, partly because of the dust but mostly because of the limited traction in combination with the short straights. Foust lead from start to finish with Steve Arpin following him into the final.
The final heat was also the most interesting one. Not only because two debutees lined up (Scott Speed and Buddy Rice), but also actionwise. In turn one Rice made contact with Speed sending him round and giving Anton Marklund the opportunity to take the lead. Yet nothing was lost for Speed yet, he used his Joker Lap, which is a shortcut rather than a longer way round in European Rallycross, to take second from Buddy Rice. After this move Speed chased down Marklund, passing him going into the final lap. Speed and Marklund qualified for the final.
Last Chance Qualifier offered two more tickets to the final for those who finished 3rd or 4th before. The LCQ offered more problems for Liam Doran, dropping the clutch at the start saw the whole field pass him, and sent Menzies up the rear of his car. Their chances of a final ticket were virtually gone. Out in front Rice took the lead from the start with Sandell close behind. Piquet and Neves would just miss out on a ticket to the final.
The final uses a different format to the heats. Rather than four cars ten drivers would now line up and drive a ten lap race rather than six. The first corner proved to be a fierce battlefield after the start with everyone aiming for the inside line. Some top drivers including Ken Block, Tanner Foust and Travis Pastrana would either retire or sustain damage after a tumultuous start. After four laps the race was red flagged because of cars and debris scattered around the track.
The race was restarted over its full length but without Block, Foust and Pastrana. Heikkinen had the best restart with an aggressive move on the inside of turn one, keeping Speed and Arpin behind him after lap one. Toomas Heikkinen opted to take his joker lap early increasing his lead a little. Lateron in the race we saw Scott Speed gradually closing in on Heikkinen. Him still having to do his joker there might be an opportunity there. As the chequered flag came closer Speed still hadn't done his Joker Lap. Speed kept it cool in the Brazilian heat and dived round the inside of the final turn, taking Heikkinen in the final lap of the race and taking the gold. Speed finished first, Heikkinen 2nd, with late qualifier Sandell taking the bronze.
