RallycrossRX Round Nine: Germany

The final round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship, presented by Monster Energy takes place this weekend at the Estering, Germany (Sept 21 – 22).

Built in a former quarry, the Estering features elevation changes and blind corners more similar to Scandinavian circuits than the middle-European tracks visited by RallycrossRX in recent events.

The circuit is based in the Lower Saxony region, about 30 km’s south-west of Hamburg. Local town Buxtehude has been described as the ‘The Fairytale Capital of the World’, Brothers Grimm ‘The hare and the hedgehog’ is set there. We will let you decide who in RallycrossRX 2013 are the hare and the hedgehog.

With the paddock situated inside the middle of the track, spectators can locate themselves on the high banking along the outside of the circuit, with great vantage over the majority of the lap, and the hustle and bustle of the paddock, without missing any of the on-track action. The outside of the first corner is a prime spot to watch from, that guarantees action.

From the bank on the outside of the last corner fans can see the start and finish, the flowing technical loose section and the joker lap, which produces a great spectacle in Germany as the cars exit the longer route right onto the finish line. As has happened on many occasions before, races are won and lost in that final dash for the finish line, this weekend the RallycrossRX Supercar championship could be won and lost in those few yards.

Liam Doran drove to victory in Germany last season, which was also the final round in 2012. Then race was a duel between Doran and Davy Jeanney to sure second in the championship behind runaway champion Timur Timerzyanov. The British driver came out on top in that battle, and is looking forward to the event this weekend.

“Germany has always been one of my favourite tracks; probably because I normally do well there,” says Doran. “It’s a very flowing track with a lot of loose gravel which means you can drive very aggressively. On the other hand it’s also got some very tight places with barriers both sides.

“The start is a nice long stretch which means you get good speed into the first corner. The first corner is one I’ve always enjoyed, and a couple of years ago I pulled off a very stupid move that somehow worked, I went around the outside of everybody. It’s a 180 degree corner which you can basically put the car in backwards on gravel before you go round the corner, the corner itself goes round on tarmac where the grip comes then back onto dirt. Then there’s a massive stretch on loose which is actually quite hard because you’ve got to find traction, it’s not just a case of burring the throttle like it usually is in rallycross, so you have to find the grip.

“The bottom of the circuit is when it gets technical with barriers on both sides. It gets very slippery so there it’s a matter of left foot braking a lot to keep the car balanced going around the tight areas. Then the finish section is one of the toughest in the European championship. It’s a left and right, again with barriers either side. If you miss the initiation turn-in point between both corners you completely mess up both of them and ruin your lap time.

“The joker lap is very slow and again technical, but it’s something that works. It’s exciting, especially because you can actually see the traffic alongside you. It’s one of the only tracks where you can see what’s going on with the other cars that you’re racing; even though you are going slower you know where the other car is. It’s a good track and hopefully we can go well there.”

With the Supercar champion yet to be crowned in RallycrossRX 2013, Timur Timerzyanov, Davy Jeanney and Timmy Hansen all arrive at the final round with a shot at the title. Fast competitors like Doran, Andreas Bakkerud, Stig-Olov Walfridson, Anton Marklund, Alexander Hvaal, Frode Holte and the rest of the RX field will all be out to get one final good result of the year. That could both influence the championship standings, and provide some brilliant racing.

The contest will be fascinating.

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