#ERC Finland: New stars shine, but old ones shine brighter

#ERC Finland: New stars shine, but old stars shine brighter

by Martijn Kösters

The European Rallycross Championship came to a wet Kuovola for the penultimate round. In every category there was the possibility of the title race being concluded this weekend, yet this didn't mean the weekend was only dominated by possible new champions. The weekend in Kuovola also saw some future stars trying to outshine the heroes of 2012.

In the Supercar category Tanner Foust was the only challenger to Championship leader Timur Timerzyanov, all be it only mathematically. The title fight was effectively ended by Foust himself when he revealed not to compete in next weekend's German round, as he will try to obtain the Global Rallycross Championship in 'Vegas. Nonetheless Foust started off well by being fastest in Saturday's first heat ahead of Citroën driver Liam Doran and Mats Lysen in his trusty Renault Clio. Timerzyanov concluded Saturday in fourth place.

New boy on the Supercar block represented a more than well-known name. Hansen, Timmy is better known for his outings in formula racing, yet after breaking with his team the son of 14-time Champion Kenneth had time on his hands to try different kinds of motorsport. Given the opportunity to drive a Citroën DS3 Supercar (previously used by Sebastien Loeb to win the X-games) he ended day one in tenth.

Old name, new tricks. Timmy Hansen brings a famous name back.

Super 1600 could see a fight between Andreas Bakkerud and Ulrik Linnemann who were both still in the title chase. Bakkerud supported a ten point lead coming into Finland. Though day one did not see many action between the two, as Linnemann had to deal with a misfiring engine he finished Saturday in 19^th. Jussi Pinomäki of the Set Promotion team had all the reasons to be content after day one, his two Finnish rookies Suninen and Wiman were first and second in the first heat, with fellow Finn Leppihalme in third and Bakkerud in fourth.

Where the Finns dominated Super 1600, the Touringcar division was an all Swedish affair. Robin Larsson continued to show form by beating main championship contender Anton Marklund in the first heat, with Daniel Lundh (in a Volvo) making it three Swedes in the top-3. Marklund's main rival Derek Tohill ended the Saturday in fourth.

On Sunday, the second and third heats saw similar drivers on top of the time sheets. Peter Hedström took Supercar pole by being fastest in Heat 2 and 3, Doran and Timerzyanov were second and third in both of sunday's heats. After three heats Lysen, Jeanney and de Keersmaecker were the other three drivers who qualified directly for the A-Final. Tanner Foust only just qualified for the B-final after P20 in heat 2 and a DNF in heat three. Timmy Hansen had to settle for the C-final, as he didn't make the top 10 in any session on Sunday.

As mentioned before, Joni Wiman dominated in Sunday's quali heats, with a first place in Heat two ahead of Minnikhanov and Färén. Heat three resulted in second place behind Skorupski for the young Finn. These good results meant Wiman would start the A-final from pole, alongside him fellow Finnish rookie Teemu Suninen and Minnikhanov on P3. Skorupski, Färén and Bakkerud complete the A-final. Linnemann didn't overcome his engine issues and would start in the C-final. In Touringcars Robin Larsson and Anton Marklund secured P1 and P2 in the A-final by finishing first and second in Heat Three. Though he won heat 2, Roman Castoral had to settle for 3^rd place on the grid, ahead of Tohill and Lundh.

Wet conditions added extra action into the game

Finals started great for Timur Timerzyanov, not only could he start from third in the A-final, that position also granted him the title as he only needed a single point for the title. Rival Tanner Foust did make it up to the A-final, as did Timmy Hansen all the way from Finale C. The A-final itself was dominated by Timerzyanov in his almost traditional style, he drove to a clear victory, his sixth of the season. Doran and Hedström completed the podium. Lysen finished fourth, only just ahead of Timmy Hansen and Tanner Foust, who ended his year with a mediocre result.

In Super 1600 would become a Set Promotion party. Without Ulrik Linnemann in the A-final, it would be a lap of honour for Andreas Bakkerud who only needed fifth in order to take the title. The race was won by Jussi Leppihalme, ahead of team mate Suninen. Skorupski came third and now holds second in the championship. As Skorupski would need to drop his score of seven points in Austria he can only score an additional 13 points in Germany, not enough to bridge the 17-point gap to Bakkerud.

Would the third champion of the day come from the Touringcar class today? Well yes, Derek Tohill never got in front of Anton Marklund during the final, who 'cruised' to second place and the title in Touringcars. Robin Larsson continued his end of season sprint by taking yet another victory, ahead of Marklund and Castoral.

Timerzyanov still seemed surprised with his title

At the end of the day we had three great champions in the names of Timur Timerzyanov for Russia in Supercars, Andreas Bakkerud for Norway in S1600 and Anton Marklund for Sweden in Touringcars. What Germany will bring? There are no titles left to race for, an invitation for all drivers to drive freely and put up a good show, next week in Buxtehude.