Seven days in rallycross, May 29

The massive 37-strong Supercar enry and Andreas Bakkerud’s battling drive to victory in the second round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship topped the news this week. For more of that, see our detailed stories from Saturday and Sunday as well as the popular new gallery review.

This week the new rallycross track at Mettet in Belgium saw action for the first time on Tuesday during a media launch for July’s Belgian round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. The day was attended by the leading Belgian drivers and one or two visitors taking the opportunity to try the track. Revealed on the day was a Marklund Motorsport VW Polo entry for former WRC star – and Belgium’s only FIA rallycross event winner – Francois Duval.

The Finnish Rallycross Championship held its first round last weekend, the new season starting at Honkajoki where title holder Joni-Pekka Rajala (Mitsubishi Evo) started as he had finished and topped the podium flanked by Aki Kartunnen (Skoda Fabia) and Ari Perkiomaki (Fiesta). Last year Rajala won both the Supercar and Supernational titles, frequently winning both class on the same day in events. Round one delivered a Supernational defeat at the hands of JP Peltokangas (Escort). The Autocross class was won by Jukka Lassila (Toyota MR2) and Jami Kallionaki was best of the crosskart field.

In Sweden the ascension day holiday was raceday in Arvika where the second round of the revamped national series was a standalone rallycross event, the Supercar class matched with Supernational. Johan Kristoffersson was in top form on home ground and qualified his VW Dealer Team Sweden Polo on pole for the final, Daniel Holten alongside in his OMSE Fiesta, the pair ahead of round one winner Sebastien Eriksson (Fiesta). Kristoffersson led from the start and was able to begin easing out a lead as Rob Larsson challenged Eriksson. Larsson’s run came to an end when he was forced to park his Audi A1 in the third lap. Kristoffersson took a clear win over Eriksson, Henning Solberg (Saab) snatching third from Holten in the last corner. Kevin Hansen started on pole and broke free of the Lites pack in the first lap, sprinting away to an emphatic victory. Rickard Goransson fought off a determined Kevin Eriksson who stopped after hitting his rival’s car, third place handed to Daniel Bjork. Ulf Eriksson surrendered the Supernational lead to Jimmy Holmkvist after taking his Joker Lap late in the race, Daniel Wall chasing the BMW pair home in third with his Volvo Estate. The Junior victory was taken by Andreas Persson (BMW E36). You can watch the event here.

Ahead of this weekend’s second round of the Danish Rallycross Championship at Ornedalen, a quick look back to round one that took place at Lovel on May 16. The surprise of the day came in Super1600 where Ulrik Linnemann made a poor start to the final, which allowed Daniel Svenningsen to take the front in his Supernational Honda Civic. Linnemann chased him down but was unable to pass, so Svenningsen took the win with Jacob Schnoor (Peugeot 106 Maxi) in third. Norwegian drivers Lina Maria Holt and Ada Marie Hvaal were fifth and sixth. In the national classes, Norwegian Tov Kaasin (Subaru) took the over two-litre win while Rune Staudt (Renault Clio) won the up to two-litre class ahead of Mikkel Jespersen (younger brother of former European event winner Morten) who returned after a three-year break from racing. The 1600cc class won by Jacob Wunderov (Honda Civic) who led home the similar cars or Emil Nielsen and Thomas Bodtcher.

Also up this weekend is the third round of the French championship which moves on to Chateauroux with JB Dubourg aiming to complete a hat trick of wins, and the rest of the pack under pressure to halt the newboy’s winning streak.

[portfolio_slideshow]