Timerzyanov wins again

Timur Timerzyanov’s demeanour indicates that he is here to win, the Russian is perhaps more serious than ever this year and, having been forced to miss the first round of the championship, has struck back in force in the following events. In Hungary Timerzyanov claimed his second event win in succession, propelling himself into the championship lead ahead of Tanner Foust who, having missed last weekend’s Austrian event, also bagged a strong result and finished second.

Timerzyanov gained his second event win.  © Tim Whittington/RallycrossWorld.com

The A final had plenty of action. Foust had the tables turned on him in the first corner and was eased wide, Timerzyanov leading from pole with B final winner Davy Jeanney coming through the first lap scrum in second place ahead of Foust and Alexander Hvaal. Jeanney and Foust fought for position, and Timerzyanov increased his lead. But when the leader took the Joker Lap he very nearly threw everything away, sliding wide in the hairpin and only just managing to hold off Foust – who had already done his Joker – on the exit.

In the last lap, with the Joker Laps all done, Timerzyanov looked safe, Foust second but not close enough to challenge and Jeanney down the order after a late Joker. The drama was not yet done, Liam Doran battling back into the midfield after a slow start, clashing with Hvaal and being sent into the concrete retaining wall at the fast downhill turn five. As Timeryanov, Foust and Mats Lysen – the latter driving impeccably today – climbed onto the podium, Doran was removed the medical team for precautionary checks. Hvaal, who had had earlier in the A final tangled with Michael De Keersmaecker, the Belgian ending the A final as a crash victim for the second weekend running, placed fourth.

The other A finals were more restrained affairs, Andreas Bakkerud taking a lights to flag win in Super1600 where, as pole staretr Ulrik Linnemann had feared, second place on the grid turned out to offer more grip. Linnemann chased for all he was worth, running second virtually all the way. Bakkerud made good use of the Joker Lap, extending his lead in a late pass through the alternative section as Linnemann became hung up containing a determined challenge from Krzsyztof Skorupski.

After the crushing disappointment of dropping a sure win last week, Derek Tohill struck back like the true racer that he is and absolutely dominated the TouringCar class. Fastest time in all three heats preceded a text book drive in the A final where, after the first corner, no-one came close to the Irishman as he notched up his second win of the year.

Anton Marklund worked his way into second place ahead of Roman Castoral, last week’s sensation Robin Larsson this week’s crushed flower on his way home before the finals even started after finishing just one heat.

[portfolio_slideshow]