ERC/GRC Rallycross Review: Action on and off track

ERC/GRC Rallycross Review: Action on and off track

by Martijn Kösters

Double the action this weekend as both major Rallycross series had an outing on either side of the globe. The Global Rallycross Championship had its first of two events in Las Vegas (with a race at SEMA in four weeks time) and the European Rallycross Championship went for its final spin at the Estering in Germany.

Although the Global Rallycross Championship had its final on Saturday evening local time, we will start of with the ERC since important developments took place over the weekend. As you may know, next year's FIA Rallycross Championship is undergoing some changes including a new promoting party, IMG. As IMG basically organises this championship, she has the right to select venues on which to stage events, meaning some tracks might be left out. This has resulted in the formation of a break-away series, going by the name of FIA Rallycross Challenge. The Challenge will use the same Rallycross regulations written by FIA. One issue is that the series has yet to be approved by the FIA, who will not be overly pleased with two European Championship in the same class of motorsport on roughly similar tracks. To Be Continued...


Back to on-track action, the ERC came to Buxtehude for round ten out of ten of the season. All the titles were awarded last week, but championship standings provide enough excitement for 2^nd and 3^rd place in the championship. In Supercars Liam Doran, Davy Jeanney and possible Alexander Hvaal hoped to profit from #2 in the standings Tanner Foust. In Super 1600 Skorupski, Leppihalme, Linnemann and Rakhmatullin had a chance at taking 'silver' for the 2012 championship. Touringcars had less battles still in the championship, although Robin Larsson could reward his great run in the second half of the season with third place in the Championship.

The A-finals on Sunday saw plenty of action, with some of the favourites being caught out in crashes. In Touringcars Anton Marklund and outgoing champion Lars Oivind Enerberg retired from the gravel trap. Robin Larsson took his fifth victory of the season, and his fourth from the second half of the season, giving him maximum points from the second half of the year. Ole Habjorg finished second ahead of Castoral, Enlund and Lundh. Both Koen Pauwels and Derek Tohill were absent from the A-final.
Ch. Result: 1. Anton Marklund 142pt., 2 Derek Tohill 121pt., 3 Roman Castoral 115pt.

In Super 1600 it took a few tries to decide a winner. Jussi Leppihalme caused a red flag in the first take of the A-final, and also had to retire. Take two saw chaos in the first corner, leaving Joni Wiman unable to compete. Eventually Teemu Suninen, who was fast all weekend took the win ahead of this year's champ Bakkerud and Sergey Zagumennov.
Ch. Result: 1. Andreas Bakkerud 138pt., 2 Krzystof Skorupski 114pt., 3 Jussi-Petteri Leppihalme 113pt.

In Supercars, a spectecular crash saw two cars out after the first lap. Peter Hedström hit the armco barrier on the inside, sending his car across the track into the path of Pavel Koutný, who as a result barrel-rolled along the armco, and straight over Hedström's car. After the restart, Liam Doran profited from both Tanner Foust's and more surprisingly Timerzyanov's absence from the final to take the win. Jeanney second, Stig-Olov Walfridsson scored his best 2012 result with third.
Ch. Result: 1. Timur Timerzyanov 148pt., 2 Liam Doran 104pt., 3 Tanner Foust 100pt.



Over in the United States, the Global Rallycross Championship worked off round 5 out of 6, with the Discount Tire-America's Tire Cup concluding already this weekend. Tanner Foust wanted to score here, he skipped the European Rallycross round in Germany (and others) in order to take a shot at the GRC. Foust did not let himself down by being fastest in practice and eventually taking the win. Fellow Rockstar teammate Brian Deegan finished second ahead of 2011 European Champion Sverre Isachsen, Toomas Heikkinen and Stéphane Verdier. Foust's win secured him the Discount Tire Cup, which he also won ahead of Brian Deegan. This result also puts him another step closer to the Global Championship, as he increases his Championship lead on Brian Deegan to 16 points.
The GRC will be finishing at the SEMA centre in Vegas, during the last weekend of October.

Vegas showdown to conclude Global Rallycross Championship

GRC Preview: Vegas showdown to conclude Global Rallycross Championship

by Martijn Kösters

After last weeks European semi-finale produced three new champions, there is another championship decider awaiting, on the other side of the pond. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway sees the finale of the Global Rallycross Championship, with six drivers mathematically still with a shot for the title.

The standings prior to this weekend: Tanner Foust leads the championship with 62 points, with a comfortable lead of 12 points on Samuel Hubinette. Brian Deegan is third with 49 points. Further down Grönholm (43 points but absent this weekend), Binks (42), Block (40) and Verdier (39) could mathematically still take the title.

Though it seems most likely the focus this weekend will be on Foust, Hubinette and Deegan. Foust can comfortably start his weekend with the notion that a 6^th place in the Final would grant him the title by default. Surviving the heats and cruising in the final will be his target, but taking the title in style and amusing the crowd is more fun, Foust will now that. Note that Foust's worst result was a sixth place during the X-games which were dominated by Sebastien Loeb.

Hubinette (Saab 9-3) and Brian Deegan (Fiesta) will be trying their best for maximum points, rightaway from the first heats as an extra point are awarded for winning your heat. A win would be absolutely necessary for Hubinette and Deegan, giving them 20 points. Note Hubinette's best result was second place in New Hampshire, and Deegan finished third three times in a row in the last three events.

The sub-championship complementing the Global Rallycross Championship is much more exciting, and far, far from over. The Discount Tire-Americas Tire Cup takes scores from three events (Texas, New Hampshire and Las Vegas) to crown a champion. Because only two race in the DT-AT Cup have been driven so far, there are no less than 12(!) drivers capable of the title. Foust and Deegan are sharing the lead on 32 points, Hubinette follows on 28, Pastrana fourth on 23, with Grönholm, Binks and Block in his wake on 21 points.

Plenty of contenders, and in typical Vegas style a big prize up for grabs, 25000$ for the Winner of the Discount Tire-Americas Tire Cup. All will be decided this weekend, ESPN2 starts coverage at 6:00PM (EDT) on Sunday. Keep posted on our twitter as we expect youtube videos to pop up early next week.