Wins for Verkuringen and Tahko as new drivers enter British RX and World RX

The fifth round of the Rallycross Challenge Europe took place at Valkenswaard in Holland last weekend, where Belgian Johnny Verkuringen (Subaru Impreza) claimed victory. Former Super1600 racer Sven Seeliger (Seat Loen) finished a comfortable second and Mark Flaherty (Ford Focus) completed the podium after earlier contact with Mandie August (Audi S3), who finished sixth. Mart Tikkerbar (Ford Fiesta) was fourth with Hungarian Attila Mozer (Skoda Fabia) fifth. In the five-car Super1600 final, Jesse Kalio (Renault Twingo) won in a Set Promotion-run car, with Czech driver Josef Susta (Skoda Fabia) second and Wiliiem Veltman (Citroen C2) third. Thijs Heezen (Ford Fiesta) and Marcel Suchy (Peugeot 206) failed to finish. Roman Castoral (Opel Astra) won the SuperTouringCars- final again ahead of Ivo Van Den Brandt (Mitsubishi Colt) and Marco Wittkovski (Volkswagen Golf), while Steve Volders (Ford Escort) won the SuperTouringCar+ final with Filip Vanderheyden (Volvo S40) second and Davy Leysen (BMW E36) third. Ludo Hermans (Ford Escort) was excluded for not taking the joker lap.

Finnish driver Riku Tahko (Mini Countryman) won the sixth round of the Estonian Rallycross Championship at Laitse Rally Park, in a one-off appearance. Priit Karjus (Mitsubishi Evo) finished second and leads the championship, ahead of Oliver Oberg (Subaru Impreza). Janno Ligur (Skoda Fabia) won the Super1600 final despite suffering from engine problems on the final lap of the race, the Estonian managing to hold off Sami-Matti Trogen (Renault Twingo) to win and continue to lead the championship.

Former European Autocross Champion Nerijus Naujokaitis will debut a brand new Skoda Fabia Supercar at the seventh round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship at Loheac in France next month. The car is based on a Fabia R5 chassis and will be raced in the remaining Europe-based World RX rounds this season before planning to contest a full campaign in 2017. Testing of the new machine began this week in the Czech Republic.

The entry list for the Loheac event was announced on Thursday. Yann Le Jossec (Ford Fiesta) will stand in for Kevin Eriksson in the OlsbergsMSE team as Eriksson will compete at the RallyX Nordic Championship event at Solvella on the same weekend in a bid to score his second Swedish title. A range of French Rallycross Championship competitors and FIA European Rallycross Championship competitors will also race at the Loheac event, which includes the rallycross return of Ole Christian Veiby (Volkswagen Polo).

A number of new drivers will take part in the sixth round of the MSA British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill next week. 14-year old Morgan Wroot will make his debut in the MSA Junior Rallycross Championship having recently celebrated his 14^th birthday, while two-time European Gymkhana Grid Champion and British Drift Championship competitor Luke Woodham will race in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship for the first time, and for the rest of the season. Abi James will also make her first rallycross appearance in the Swift category, while Kirk Langley will debut in the RX150 Rallycross Championship division. Paul Easterbrook will race a Toyota MR2 in the MSA Supernational category for the first time, while Fred Ling will emulate his father Dave by racing in the British Rallycross Championship for the first time. A total of 87 cars will take part in the event.

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