Seven days, June 6

The second round of the French Rallycross Championship topped the weekend’s action. The biggest national championship in the sport moved on to Chateauroux where title favourite Jerome Grosset-Janin took the event win in the Chanoine Renault. Grosset-Janin led home Christophe Wilt, who followed from his great form in round one to challenge again here, and “Knapick” who also enjoyed a second strong event with his Citroen DS3. There was a new winner in Super1600 where Jean-Baptiste Dubourg (Clio) claimed the event win from Adeline Sangnier and David Olivier. Jonathan Pailler topped the Division Three order while Jimmy Terpereau backed up his round one win with a second victory in Division Four. The championship was joined for the first time by its new one-make series as the Renault Twingo Cup hit the ground. Completing a great weekend the for family Grosset-Janin, younger brother of Supercar winner Jerome, Fabien, became the first Twingo Cup event winner. Tom Daunat and Aurelien Crochard completed the podium finishers with former JRX racer Firmin Cadeddu placing sixth.

The Swedish championship moved to Arvika for its second event of the year. Supercar was again no more than a demonstration event in which Johan Kristoffersson ‘won’ ahead of Norwegian Stein-Egil Jenssen. The large capacity Supernational category is the big pull in Sweden and here Fredrik Tiger (BMW E36) beat round one winner Daniel Wall (Volvo V40) while Norgwian champion Stian Haugan crossed the border and came out of the skirmish with third place in his Citroen Xsara. The 2400 section was won by Linus Leise (BMW E30) with Fredrik Larsson’s unusual Hyundai Accent in second place and Mattias Ohlsson in another E30 BMW third. Carrying on where he left off at Strangnas in round one, Tommy Johansson (BMW E36) won the Junior category.

Julian Godfrey won his first event of 2013 at Mallory Park; round four of the British Championship, extending his lead at the head of the table in the process. Ashley Simpson got back to Supernational winning ways following a second place at Knockhill. Graham Rodemark won the Suzuki Swift final and took the lead of the championship; while European championship front runner Liam Doran make a guest appearance in the category. Andy Gwynn won in Super1600 with Kris Hudson winning BMW Mini category, his first victory of the year after a string of second places. John Lyme beat Craig Lomax in the HotHatch class in a close race but nothing could stop Marc Scott (RX150) and Kevin Hansen (Junior Swift) from taking their fourth win from four starts.

The week then started with a Monday announcement that US motocross legend and FMX pioneer Brian Deegan would make his first rallycross appearance outside the US in the fourth round of the European Rallycross Chanpionship at Kouvola in Finland. An X Games rallycross gold medalist and front running GRC racer, Deegan has spoken openly of his desire to race in Europe and will join compatriot Tanner Foust in this weekend’s event.

Former F1 racer Mika Salo tested an Albatec Racing Peugeot 208 Supercar in Finland. Salo, who has driven in the Finnish Rallycross Championship was buoyed by his run in the car and is keen to get a competitive event in a top class car under his belt. Commentary work in the Canadian GP will keep him away from Kouvola.

British Touring Car Championship event winner Andrew Jordan continues to chip away at his plans to race again in rallycross and tested an OMSE Fiesta at Strangnas.

The media day ahead of the Finnish round of the FIA Rallycross Championship is run at Hyvinkaa where Marcus Gronholm and son Nicolas (racing in the lower categories of the Finnish championship) show up. Five-time European champion Matti Alamaki is also on hand with one of his X-R’cer simulators which keeps media and racers occupied during the day.

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