Portugal is go

The paddock here in Portugal is gearing up for round two of the FIA European Rallycross Championship. The sun is out and the spectators are already starting to fill the grandstands.

Albatec Racing is ready to embark on its first event as a two car team. However, it isn’t a pair of Peugeot 208s that fill the awning here, a delay in parts forcing the second 208 to miss Montalegre this weekend. Michael De Keersmaecker will drive the car that Andy Scott used at Lydden, with Scott using a hired Peugeot 207 from French Supercar champion Gaetan Serzazin.

“I haven’t driven the car yet”, says Scott.  “It’s a shame not to have both new cars here but the 207 is a good car and the important thing is that we are both driving and the team can make progress. Michael has tested the 208 and has already given good feedback.”

Hansen Motorsport are also in a relaxed mood, their trip to Portugal from Sweden broken up with a visit to engine builders Oreca in France where they also tested the cars mid-week.

Liam Doran is back in his ‘European’ DS3 this weekend, having used his father Pats chassis at X-Games Brazil last weekend. Also straight over from Brazil, Anton Marklund is using his second VW Polo this weekend. The car made its debut in Brazil driven by Buddy Rice and with Marklunds car suffering damage in the final of the X-Games event the Swede has switched to the newer version here.

Free practice gets away at Montalegre in just over an hours time, with heat one commencing at 13.30.

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