RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLDR RALLYCROSSall WORLDyc RALLYCROSSros WORLDs RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDWORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS#91 august WORLD 2011 RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSAUGUST BRITISHWORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RALLYCROSS RUN WORLDFOR GRÖNHOLM RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDRALLYCROSS RALLYCROSSWORLD. WORLDCOM RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS Rallycross Briefing #91 august 2011 The present and the WORLD future go head-to-head

This issue is finished in the couple of days between the Marc Laboulle and have demonstrated the Norwegian and Swedish rounds of the European Rallycross potential of the transverse configuration. Engineers involved Championship. While the season is shaping up to be a great agree that the DS3 is a far superior base for the concept than one: four Supercar winners in four rounds and a handful of the C4. As Hansen gets race miles on the new car we will see How to get Rallycross World points between the top six in the series; Super1600 suddenly if these predictions are right. If they are, you are watching Rallycross World is produced monthly and distributed as a pdf document more open than we had expected and with a surprise new something that will change the face of the sport and bring You can subscribe directly or receive it as a subscription benefit at RallycrossWorld.com star waltzing on to the scene; Lars Øivind Enerberg seemingly about a whole new breed of Supercar. We also now offer a method for you to buy a printed copy or iPad version via MagCloud invincible in TouringCar – right now we also have an eye to the future. World wide print service and iPad magazine This week Kenneth Hansen Motorsport has put the first laps The MagCloud print-on-demand service now delivers on it’s new DS3 Supercar. A new model is always good. Having anywhere in the world. You can order a printed magazine to be Hansen back behind the wheel will add further spice to the delivered to your door simply by clicking the link on the left or Subscribe Get it free! Printed magazine iPad series. But it’s the technical aspect of the DS3 which is most from the back page. MagCloud also makes Rallycross World A direct subscription RallycrossWorld. MagCloud is a print You can download important, if the car is as good as Hansen says it is, and he available for iPad. Just look for the free MagCloud app in the to Rallycross World com is the essential on demand service Rallycross World to thinks it is going to be better than anything he has ever driven iPad App Store and then select Rallycross World from the cost €50 per year (12 Rallycross news that means you can your iPad through the before, this is the beginning of a new era. MagCloud magazine store. issues). website. As well order a printed copy free MagCloud app. Visit myriorama.com as enjoying all the of the magazine that This gives you the and follow the links feature of the site, will be delivered Mag Cloud magazine to Rallycross World to registered users can anywhere in the store, from where subscribe online. download their copy world. you can search for of the magazine for Rallycross World free within the app.

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Contents Click it! Copyright Advertisements in the pdf Rallycross World is published monthly by Myriorama 5 Top Story version of Rallycross Ltd. This publication may not be redistributed, copied or World are interactive – click reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the written 7 Diary Gallery on them to be taken to the consent of the copyright holder. advertiser’s website. Unless otherwise stated, all text and photographs are © copyright 12 Diary July Check the whole advert as Tim Whittington 2011. some have multiple links – and [email protected] 18 Rally drivers in Rallycross you wouldn’t want to miss anything, would you? Contributors: 24 Show me the money There are also links from Eddi Laumanns, Hal Ridge, Henk de Winter, Johan Dingenen some editorial items and we will This issue published : August 1 28 Solberg and son always try to offer a live link Next issue published: September 1 wherever we quote a website www.myriorama.com 30 Shoestring stories address in editorial. [email protected] myriorama 2 | #91 – August 2011 ©RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 3 Top story Ireland adopts RX150 Control-formula for ‘off-road buggies’ joins IRC

SVERRE ISACHSEN Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque European Rallycross Champion 2009 & 2010 Norwegian Rallycross Champion 2010 Rallycross Norden winner 2010

The July meeting of the Motorsport Ireland Rallycross wouldn’t say it was everyone’s cup of tea even now, but now Committee approved the introduction of the RX150 class in we’ve seen it here more people can see the value in the class DEREK TOHILL PAT DORAN JULIAN GODFREY Duratec 2.0 – 294bhp, 254Nm torque Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 810Nm torque Duratec 2.0 – 294bhp, 254Nm torque the Irish Rallycross Championship. and that it is attracting new competitors.” European Rallycross Champion, TouringCar British Rallycross Champion 2009 & 2010 British Rallycross Champion, Supernational Now in its third year running within the British RX150 promoter Willy Woods was delighted with the championship, the one-make formula for ‘off-road buggies’ has decision, “I’ve worked a long time for this so I’m very happy. appeared at all BRC events including those at Maasmechelen We already have several Irish drivers with RX150s and for in Belgium but was not permitted to run in Ireland until this them this is great, specially as the economy in Ireland has June’s BRC event at Mondello Park when it was included as meant that they haven’t all been able to race regularly in Britain a part of the championship package. On the strength of that this year. We’ll make sure the class is supported well in the showing, and the category’s continued success in attracting Irish championship and offer our usual rental service as well as +44 (0)1435 865999 competitors, it has now received approval in Ireland. providing back up for private owners at all events,” he said. SVERRE ISACHSEN “We approved it in our meeting this week and it will be In the same way that it forms a part of the package of Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque a separate class in the Irish championship events,” said classes within the British championship, the RX150 formula RACETUNERS.COM Winner, 2011 ERC round one, Great Britain Motorsport Ireland Rallycross Committee Chairman Michael will run in separate races and have its own finals within Irish FitzSimons, “There has been some resistance to it and I championship events. RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 5 Diary gallery Magic can’t keep the rain away It’s not that unusual to get some rain during the Swedish ERC round at Höljes, but this year the ‘Magic Weekend’ was struck by torrential downpours on Friday night. The traditional Friday evening support race was postponed, scruntineering delayed and parts of the campsite left flooded.

RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 7 Johan Dingenen damaged when Scheveneels crashed. whenScheveneels damaged was andthe inHolland the weekend following short car inJuly. at Maasmechelen event Problems the kept run championship –orlaplaps –inthe British/Belgian it’s Scirocco VW gave new his first Ronny Scheveneels firstbroke the car after cover, ayear Almost Belgian Blown away gallery Diary Rallycross World .COM

#91 –August 2011 |9 Diary gallery Now available in Ireland The RX150 category appeared in Ireland for the first time during June’s British championship qualifier at Mondello Park. The formula for ‘off-road buggies’ has will now be introduced into the 2011-2012 Irish Rallycross Championship, giving those Irish racers with the vehicles the opportunity to race at home.

RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 11 Diary July

official dealer: Diary

July 3 Øivind Enerberg continued his remarkable domination of the he uses in the European Rallycross Championship in the event At the end of a dramatic A final in the Swedish round of the class to win for the fifth time. which takes place in Los Angeles in the last weekend of July. European Rallycross Championship, Tanner Foust takes his second victory and the championship lead. The A final had been stopped and restarted after Andréas Eriksson rolled his Fiesta, the OMSE Ford team boss and racer then watching on with delight as Foust became the first double event winner of the year. Kenneth Hansen battled his way out of the B final and went on to take second place with his new Citroën DS3 after making a last lap pass on Sverre Isachsen who had fought Super1600: 1.6L @ 240 bhp • TouringCar: 2.0L @ 296 bhp on in second place despite his Focus suffering a puncture. Hansen finally made his pass in the last corner when the engine in Isachsen’s car stopped, the incident also allowing to snatch a last gasp third place. The drama in Super1600 came with the arrivcal of a new winner, Pole Krzysztof Skorupski arriving for his first ERC event and July 4 making things look very easy as he won at the wheel of his VW ’s participation in the X Games is confirmed. The www.zomermotorsport.com Polo. There was no change in the TouringCar class where Lars Monster Energy athlete will drive the KHM Citroën C4 that July 9 [email protected] The third round of the Swedish championship is won by tel. 0031 (0)548 - 361385 Patrick Ydrefalk who guides his Toyota Corolla to victory a potential winner, from start to podium at Kalix. Fredrik Tiger and Jimmy Holmqvist lead the chase and complete the podium. The TouringCar/2400 class is won by Linus Westman and Oskar Andersson wins the Junior category. ������� July 10 The British and Belgian championships appear together at Maasmechelen, the British racers paying a return visit to their neighbours who raced at Lydden in March. Jochen Coox won the event in his Skoda Fabia and was beaten only once all day, Julian Godfrey winning a third heat race and setting fastest time of the day – worth an extra five points in the British championship – in the process. Andy Scott was best of the British in the final, placing third after losing second place in the last lap when, having battled on in spite of a power steering failure, he was eased aside by Patrick Van Mechelen. The

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Supernationals cars were separated into British and Belgian his Supercar 306. Driving a two-wheel drive version of in the land of the midnight sun. Urban Bergström takes » The new Lessay venue for the French championship was groups for the finals; James Bird winning the former with the 306, Joao Sousa collects victory in ‘Division Two’. the victory in his Volvo V40 Estate ahead of the similar struck by heavy rain that left the loose sections very muddy. Steven Maris ahead among the home racers. Koen Pauwels car of Daniel wall and B final Andreas Sandberg in a more Samuel Peu mastered the conditions better than any of his (Fiesta) and Andy Martin (Polo) won the TouringCar and » Pauwels Motorsport boss Koen Pauwels admits that he is conventional S40. Linus Westman is the only double winner in rivals and claimed his second win of the championship ahead Super1600 finals. Other class wins were taken by Dave Bellerby building a new Ford Focus in which François Duval will tackle the two events, taking victory in the TouringCar/2400 section of Philippe Tollemer and Gaëtan Serazin. Laurent Chartrain (Suzuki Swift), Michael Duke (Hot Hatch), Ollie O’Donovan the Belgian round of the ERC at Massmechelen. The deal was with his Volvo 240 while Mattias Strömberg (BMW E30) (Citroën Saxo) was the class of the Super1600 field in (RX150), Richard Wakeling (Minicross) and Jim van den not due to be announced until the car was ready and tested, collects the 2150cc honours. qualifying, topping the order in the first two heats to take pole Heuvel (RST). but the Belgian event organiser let the cat out of the bag by but then losing out in the A final as Steven Bossard reasserted publishing an event advertising poster emblazoned with the July 16 himself and took yet another victory. Florent Bedeneau » René Münnich wins the third round of the German legend ‘With François Duval’. The fourth round of the Finnish championship, the splashed his way to the Division Three win and Yvonnick Jagu championship at the Ewald-Pauli-Ring at Schlüchtern. ‘Sambacross’ event at Kauhajoki is won by Harri Arola whose returned to the top of Division Four in his Audi A3. Austrian Willy Salzgeber (Focus) takes second place with July 13 unique Mazda RX7 is powered by a Nissan engine... Centre compatriot Ignaz Schneider (Lancia Delta) placing third. Best Buy announces that it will enter an OMSE Fiesta of attention in the event is WRC star whose » At the conclusion of the ‘Norrlandsveckan’, Sewedish racers Victory in the Super1600 category is taken by Rolf Volland in the fifth round of the Quaife MSA British Rallycross run in the ex-Minnikhanov/Simonen Fiesta VI Supercar came move on to Skellefteå where Fredrik Tiger emerges as the while Hans Kirchhof guides his Porsche 911 GT3 to victory Championship at Lydden for double World Rally champion to an end when he was forced to retire from the B final. The third different event winner of the week up north. Magnus in the Supernational class. Björn Brüning-Zedler (Citroën Marcus Grönholm. The Finn’s participation in the event is Supernational victory is taken by Jari-Pekka Kokko’s Escort. Larsson (Volvo 240) fights back from a non-finish in the first AX) won Division Five with Erwin Schmidt (Renault 5 aimed at backing up the British championship campaign heat to win the C, B and A finals in a truly magnificent run Turbo) topping the Division Six order. The event also saw the of Best Buy-backed racer David Binks, while associated July 17 to victory among the 2400cc competitors. The 2150cc class debut of a new car for Heiko Paries. The florist has chosen a sponsorship activities around the event are intended to help The slim Supercar field for the Dutch championship event is won by Mats Zetterström (Opel Ascona B). At the end of hairdresser’s car for his latest venture, but had to retire his finalise plans for Binks to contest the 2012 BRC in an OMSE at Valkenswaard was reduced to just two when Ronny the three-round, week-long tour Urban Bergström is declared unique MG TF early in the day with suspension problems. car. Scheveneels crashed his new VW Scirocco in the first heat. winner of the mini-series ahead of Tiger and Daniel Wall. The Later in the day Patrick Van Mechelen parked his TouringCar/2400 class is won by Joakim Evertsson who did » The third round of the Portuguese championship takes place » Moving on from Kalix to Piteå in its northern tour, the Impreza early in the final, so Jos Kuypers was the only finisher not win any of the events but emerged best of the bunch with a at Castelo Branco where Rui Sirgado takes the event victory in Swedish Rallycross Championship gets a midweek fixture in the class. Marcel Snoeijers gained a home victory with his fifth and two second places in his Volvo 240. Zetterström’s final Renault Clio in the Super1600 category while Luc Maris was round victory gave him the 2150cc win. best of the Supernational field.

» The CEZ series moved to Kakucs in Hungary for its fifth round, the event also a qualifying round of the Hungarian and Czech national series. Home racer Zoltan Harsanyi (Mitsubishi Lancer E5) took the victory ahead of the similar cars of Csaba Spitzmüller and Czech Ottakar Vyborny. Petr Bilek (Skoda Fabia) emerges as best of the Super1600 field while the tiny TouringCar entry is led home by Austrian Sepp Strobl (Mazda RX8). In the absence of regular winner Roman Castoral who went out with engine problems in his Opel, The Supernational class was won by Austrian Klaus Freudenthaler and his Seat Ibiza. RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 15 Diary July

July 24 The seventh round of the French championship at Kerlabo received a boost when Belgian François Duval appeared at the wheel of a Pailler Competition Peugeot 207. Duval led the A final, but was beaten by Samuel Peu who, in a similar car, drove a brilliant tactical race and made good use of the Joker Lap to beat the former WRC star. Steven Bossard again proved unbeatable as he led home David Olivier and Laurent Chartrain. Florent Bedeneau (Mini V6) topped the Division Three order for the second time in a week while David Vincent was again best of the Division Four field in his Renault Clio II. The one-make Dacia Logan series got a new winner in Clement Dupont who led home Fabien Grosset-Janin.

» The first event in the four-round NEZ championship took place at Vilkyciai in Lithuania where title holder Camilla Antonsen (Fiesta VI) began the defence of her crown with victory over the Mitsubishi Lancers of Estonians Sten Oja and Helmet Palm. Ola Frøshaug (Volvo S40) claimed the Supernational victory with Latvian racer Ilgonis Krumins taking second in his BMW E30. The 2000 class is won by Reinis Nitiss (VW Golf III) while there was a home victory for Vaidas Navickas, the ERC regular topping the Super1600 order with his Skoda Fabia II. July 26 Belgian TouringCar racer Jos Sterkens will have the latest spec engine from Zomer Racing Engines for his home ERC roound in belgium. Dutch tuner Zomer has edged its TouringCar closer to the magic 300bhp mark and as well as powering Sterkens’ Volvo C30 (below), will have it’s latest 296bhp motors in the C30 of Pedro Bonnet and the Focus of Norwegian David Nordgård.

July 29 British racer Simon Horton unveils his second Supercar. The former StockHatch racer has built the new car after running a previous self built Impreza for two years. It will get its debut in the Dom Yates Memorial event at Blyton Duval (centre) led the A final but it was on July 31 which is being treated as a test event for the August Peu (right) who came through to win.

Bank Holiday Monday BRC round at Lydden. Naud/AFORManu 16 | #91 – August 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 17 Rally drivers in Rallycross Business and pleasure Rally drivers enjoy Rallycross, but crossovers need money

Rally drivers continue to flirt with Rallycross. In the last few weeks we have seen racing in the Norwegian ERC round, Mikko Hirvonnen tackling a Finnish championship event and the confirmation that François Duval will return to the scene of last year’s landmark victory and race again in the Belgian ERC counter at Maasmechelen. As a pre-cursor to this outing, Duval also raced in the French championship at Kerlabo in late July and there will be more participation at national level by top class drivers when Marcus Grönholm starts in the August Bank Holiday Monday British championship event at Lydden on August 29. The motivation for these outings is varied: Solberg, struck a deal to drive M Technologies’ Citroën C4 in Norway having sold the Fiesta Supercar he has owned for the last couple of years. The Norwegian WRC competitor begun his career in Rallycross and holds the sport close to his heart. His own team is in the process of building a Fiesta VII Supercar in which he intends to take part in a handful of events a year alongside his WRC outings. Unless there is a fairly major change in his plans, Solberg is the prime candidate to switch full time to Rallycross once his rally career is at an end. “I like Rallycross and it’s definitely something I can do when I’m finished with rallies. I like to drive in Rallycross but it’s not the first priority for me right now, I just like to race and I see a lot of friends and have fun, nothing more,” said Solberg. Younger, better positioned in the WRC where he is a Ford driver, and with, one would imagine, a longer career in front of him, Hirvonen spoke warmly of Rallycross having driven a Supercar Fiesta VI in the ‘Sambacross’ event that is traditionally a highlight of the Finnish championship. The Finn began his career in the Finnish equivalent of Bilcross or Folkracing, a controlled-spec, cost-controlled formula for virtually standard cars running on Rallycross and autocross tracks. It’s a background that meant Rallycross is far from anew experience and his eventual placing at the tail end of the A final in the Finnish event almost certainly reflects more on the potential of the car than on the driver. A winner already Already having appeared to have reached the end of his WRC career, Duval made his Rallycross debut in the Belgian ERC round in 2009. Then driving in two rounds of the 2010 championship – Britain and Belgium – he won at Maasmechelen, becoming the first Belgian driver ever to win an ERC event. This year he will return to Belgium to drive a new Pauwels Motorsport Focus, the first 2011 variant 18 | #91 – August 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 19 Rally drivers in Rallycross

of the model to be seen in the sport. Ahead of this outing, Duval recently undertook an outing at Kerlabo in the French championship, driving a Pailler Competition Peugeot 207 and finishing second to Samuel Peu in a similar car. Duval’s deal with Pauwels is funded in part by the rally driver’s long time backer, the brewery Gordon, with additional funding negotiated by Pauwels to pull everything together. Despite Duval’s status and reputation, along with his already proven speed and success in Rallycross, Pauwels has not yet been able to extend the deal beyond these limited outings. “It’s not easy, even with a driver like Duval who has a good name, it’s not easy to get the budget to do more races. I’d like to have him in the team for the whole season – I think we could challenge for the championship, but I can only do that if we have partners to bring the budget in,” he said. Pauwels’ experience is not a new one. When Jani Paasonen dipped into the ERC a couple of year ago it was with the intention of reviving a career that had run out of options as the WRC went through a lean spell and the number of seats for professional drivers became fewer. The Finn proved his pace and ability in a handful of outings over a couple of years but was never able to find the budget to make a full time switch. Likewise when his compatriot Harri Rovanpera tried his under-employed hand at Rallycross, it was only the absence of the necessary funding that prevented him from becoming more ;regularly involved. Racing for the Yankee Dollar Grönholm’s involvement in Rallycross has been different from the other rally drivers. The two-time world champion is, of course, in a different league regarding achievements and reputation, but he has only ever driven in Rallycross as a professional driver paid to ply his trade. Brought into Rallycross by OMSE boss Andréas Eriksson, Grönholm won in his first start and has never been anything less than competitive and professional in his subsequent events. His appearance at Lydden later this month is at the behest of Best Buy, the American electrical retailer whose colours the Finn has carried during his Global Rallycross Championship outings in the US this year. The difference could barely be more striking: Grönholm can pick and choose what he does and while he enjoys Rallycross and driving the cars, is certainly not hell-bent on making a career move – specially at a time when his name is linked with virtually every new manufacturer WRC programme. So while Grönholm is paid to drive and do the necessary accompanying schmooze with sponsors, others hold Rallycross in reserve, a direction in which they can steer their career when is no longer an option and another group are unable yet to secure the backing to make the career move into Rallycross. For the latter it is a sign both of the current economic climate, the commercial level at which Rallycross is operating and, perhaps, also a reflection that their own heyday has passed. Half-a- million Euros would allow a pro-driver to buy the best seat in the paddock and retain enough cash to live very comfortably. than any of those who would make the move to Rallycross are In motor sport terms that’s not a huge amount of money but able to secure. on current evidence you would have to say that it’s a lot more 20 | #91 – August 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 21 Rally drivers in Rallycross

Marcus Grönholm will race in the fifth round of the Quaife our brand awareness in Britain.” together and drive that car next year.” Grönholm starts among the favourites in the X Games and MSA British Ralycross Championship at Lydden on Monday Binks has already tested an OMSE car, driving in Sweden Grönholm will also attend a sponsorship function for Best his presence at Lydden will, naturally, raise the bar for British August 29. The former World Rally Champion will drive an last month in a test day also attended by Grönholm. “Marcus Buy over the BRC weekend. While it is his first appearance championship contenders. OMSE Ford Fiesta VII Supercar in the event, his participation did 40 or 50 laps in the day and just being at a test like that at Lydden, it is not new territory for OMSE who ran Tanner Although he had planned to add some European outings brokered by Best Buy which has backed his campaign in the and watching how the team works was a good experience for Foust in the first day of the 2010 BRC opener at Lydden to his 2011 British championship campaign, Binks has now Global Rallycross Championship and which also sponsors me. At the end of the day I got three runs, so just nine laps,” having been at the track a couple of days earlier for a pre- decided to focus on the national series and on plans for 2012. David Binks in the British championship. “We have had a said Binks who did well in the test, “The car was amazing, season media event. “The budget I have is for Britain and now that next year’s great year so far with OMSE and are excited to both extend a huge step forward from what I’ve got now and it felt as Before his BRC outing at Lydden, Grönholm will take plans are developing I want to concentrate on the British our relationship with Marcus in the US and put David into an though it was on rails. I had a bit more power for my last part in the X Games at the end of July where he competes championship and use any extra time to work on next year’s OMSE Fiesta for the 2012 British championship,” said Mark three laps and did a time that was under the record for the alongside Foust and Brian Deegan as OMSE bids to complete plans,” said Binks, “Having driven a new car and seen how Williams, president of Best Buy Financial Services. “Bringing track and close to what Marcus had done. Everyone was a hat trick of Ford victories in the event which it won in OMSE works I can also see that driving in ERC events now, Marcus to the UK, where he has so many fans, is a great way happy and I was amazed at the times as I was not on the 2009 with Kenny Bräck and 2010 with Foust. Unbeaten in with the car I have is not the best use of time or money, it’s to keep him busy in the US off-season and for us to extend limit. The whole thing has really fired me up to get the deals his American outings in the Global series so far this year, better to wait and do that next year.” 22 | #91 – August 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 23 Enerberg’s cash conundrum

Going all the way? Enerberg faces budget crisis in championship bid

During the 2009 season we began to hear about a young Norwegian driver who was making waves in Supernational events driving the TouringCar Fiesta in which Knut Ove Børseth was moving steadily towards the European crown. No- one knew much about Lars Øivind Enerberg, except that he appeared to be doing very well in what we already knew to be a good. In 2010 Enerberg showed up for the French ERC round, showed good pace and made it into the A final in his first international event. The young Norwegian was in the main event again Britain and then, bagged his first win in a magnificent performance in Hungary and followed that up with another victory in Sweden. And yet, despite what are quite remarkable performances, Enerberg somehow seemed to slip beneath the radar and his presence at the sharp end of the TouringCar field was accepted without question. Enerberg has been through the NBF’s Bilsporttalent training programme but is less polished in his off-track performance than contemporaries Mats Lysen and who won the scheme’s main award in 2009 and 2010 respectively. They too arrived with a family run team, but did so with more of a fanfair, more oompf, that elusive something that is so necessary in the armoury of the 21st century professional racing driver. Remaining with the 2010 series, Enerberg had a nightmare in Finland and non-scored (the only time he has done so), was second in Belgium, won in Poland and was leading in the Czech Republic when the car broke and forced him to reduce his pace, fifth place the result. Germany had brought a B final finish, the only time he has been out of the A final in a short career that, this year, has gone from strength to strength. So just how did this prodigious 21-year-old get to be so good, so quickly? “I did motocross when I younger, but it’s a bit crazy. It’s hard on the body, I broke my arms and legs. Motocross gives you a great feel for a machine and for racing, you get good balance there. You have to be strong and fit but when you get older the injuries can give you a lot of problems so I decided to drive in Rallycross, it’s safer!” The move to Rallycross was not random, there’s a strong family connection to the sport. Enerberg’s father Terje drove in the Supernational category in the 1990s and has a Norwegian championship title to his name. Enerberg now relies heavily on knowledge from his father and uncle, John, who prepare his Fiesta. “Father and uncle started Rallycross in 1990, I was just a couple of months old and they took me to every race, I grew up in the paddock, I like this stuff, it’s a life for me. I built this car 24 | #91 – August 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 25 Enerberg’s cash conundrum

with my father and uncle and now they prepare the car and do the technical work,” says Enerberg, who agrees that as a team they appear to have an edge on the opposition, “I think we have something, but it’s the whole package we have, the way the car is built, the setup in the car, the engine, the driver too. It’s everything that works together.” When Børseth moved to the TouringCar class he did so having established a very good reputation in Supernational and having dabbled in the ERC with a Supercar. Not unknown and highly rated, Børseth’s pace was not questioned and most assumed that his own BM Sport squad was responsible for the Fiesta. “We rented the car to Børseth in 2009, only we knew that the technical stuff and the ideas in the car was ours, outside of Norway no-one knew about us, everyone thought Børseth had built the car and he got a lot of glory out of that,” says Enerberg Unbeaten so far in 2011, Lars Øivind Enerberg would appear to be the clear favourite for the without any hint of anger or regret that he may, perhaps, have TouringCar title in the European Rallycross made more of his team’s involvement and achievement. Championship. The Norwegian, however, says With some strong national results under his belt in 2009, and he does not have the budget to complete the the car back in his possession, Enerberg looked to Europe in season. 2010. “We didn’t make it to Portugal for the first race last year because the car was not finished so we tried to do France, England and Hungary just to test the car and see if there was any place for me in this business; if I could be competitive, if I could win any races. In the end we won three races and almost got the bronze medal, but I had some bad luck in the Czech Republic. It was still a much better year than we could have expected. “This year I want to win the championship, that’s the goal but we need some more money before we can finish the season, I have money for Belgium and Holland but I need to find more money to do the last three rounds. I only have my family in team, we have no sponsors, only the family. It’s a big team because there are a lot of us, but that’s nice! I have one or two small sponsors but there is some pressure now. It’s not pressure on the track, I just sit in the car and drive, that’s the easy part for me, but there’s a real pressure off the track to find it’s not necessary; I like to drive the cars, so I drive for fun! I more money so that I can do the last three races.” don’t hold back, I go for it. I like to drive so I drive the car as Given the shortage of budget, there are questions to fast as I can,” he said. be asked. With victories in the first four rounds of the Right now Enerberg’s future plans extend no further than the championship, Enerberg had achieved a maximum points next few weeks of the summer and his efforts to try and secure score for the first half of the ten-race series. So, with no the additional budget necessary to complete a season in which possibility to add anything to his total for the year, why did he he can only lose the TouringCar title. With the best will in the take part in round five? And, why, when he so often qualifies world, the rest have not come close this year, five wins in five on pole for the A final in two heats, does he risk the car by starts is a remarkable achievement at any level. driving in the third? “First I have to find money for this year. Of course I want to “I have to be in Höljes because this the best race in the drive Supercars but for me that is so far away because they cost European championship; 30,000 spectators, a really nice track twice what this car costs. We will see what happens, first we and it’s only three-hours from home, that’s nothing. You have will try to finish this year and see how things go, but I think I to be here. I cannot add anything to my score; I have 80 points, will drive this car next year too,” he said. that’s the maximum in the first half of the championship. This On driving ability and results alone Enerberg would surely be is about testing, looking after the car, taking some points from a safe bet for any sponsor, but these days that is rarely enough the closest rivals; Tohill and Pauwels, and because I love to to bring in the level of support necessary for a professional drive the car. That’s also why I race in the third heat even when racer. 26 | #91 – August 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 27 at Höljes Fun run for Solberg Former World Rally champion and son drive in CrossKart demo at Höljes

A week after his older brother Henning drove in the During the Norwegian ERC round, Henning Solberg said that Norwegian ERC round, former World Rally Champion he will build a Rallycross car in which to undertake three or Petter Solberg attended the Swedish round of the European four events a year [Rallycross World #90]. Petter, however, has Rallycross Championship. The younger Solberg took to other plans at present. “At the moment I’m busy with a Pikes the track at Höljes, but only to drive a CrossKart in a Peak project, that’s something different and an event I want to demonstration run on Sunday afternoon in which his nine- do. I might do a Rallycross car sometime but at the moment year-old son Oliver also took part. I’m not old enough!” said the younger of the Solberg brothers. Solberg, who started his career in Rallycross, has previously Solberg also played a small part in Sverre Isachsen’s early form visited ERC events in Norway and now as then spent time in the event, advising his compatriot to run rally tyres catching up with old friends and former rivals as well as on his Focus when rain blew in and affected the timed practice proudly giving his young son a little glory. “Oliver is leading the session and first qualifying heat on Saturday afternoon, Norwegian championship for his class in CrossKarts. There are Isachsen using the tyres to set fastest times in both sections of 80, 125, 250 and 650cc versions and he’s in the smallest ones at the event. the moment,” said Solberg who drove a 650cc machine during the demonstration of the category.

Petter Solberg did a couple of laps in a 650cc CrossKart at Höljes where his son Oliver (right) also drove. Solberg also gave Sverre Isachsen a steer on tyres when the weather turned on Saturday. 28 | #91 – August 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 29 Shoestring stories – the life of a low budget racer in the European championship Found! An exhausting month for Mr Ridge

Ridge (right) and mechanic Dave Tullet keep an eye on Michale Boak’s progress at Maasmechelen. The Clio is now ready to race for the first time

Johan Johan Dingenen since France. Dave Smeets

Mr Whittington did eventually find me. The annual trip to alternator bracket needed strengthening after the alternator standard seal around the steering column no longer formed a My trip to Belgium for the British event gave me a good Glastonbury is one of the only things I would allow to get in had come loose at Essay. Of course this meant most of the seal… look at the circuit. Belgium and Holland will be the first ERC the way of an ERC round. The similarities in running a music front of the car has to be dismantled.Once the car was back The car then made its trip to Leeds and Tony Law Exhausts, rounds I have done outside the UK where I have had prior festival and a Rallycross team are greater than you would together it was ready to go to Tony Law Exhausts in Leeds for where it spent a week and had a new four-branch manifold knowledge of the circuit. I last raced at both in 2007, albeit in a believe... But that’s a whole different story. its new exhaust manifold, at least that was the plan. fitted. The job Tony Law Exhausts did is fantastic and very Stock Hatch class Peugeot 205 GTi. The Joker Lap in Belgium Despite our problems in France, which I highlighted last After travelling to Belgium to work on the MB Motorsport professional. The exhaust used all the space that we had made has changed recently and it looked very rough three weeks ago, time I wrote here in Rallycross World, we are making big Audi TT TDi at the British event in Maasmechelen at the available too which made the work all the more worthwhile. but otherwise the circuit is the same as it was. Valkenswaard steps forward at every event we go to with the Clio, making start of July, I had a good look at several other S1600 Clios and The item is exactly what I asked for, and both interesting and in Holland has also got a new Joker Lap, which I am yet to both performance modifications and changes to enhance the decided that we needed more clearance for the new exhaust useful was the fact that their ideas were the same as the ideas see, but again I don’t think the rest of the circuit has changed. car’s reliability. So far we have done six ERC rounds, and at to fit between the subframe and the bulkhead and under the I had collected from looking at other Clios (there will be more This will certainly be a help for the first practice sessions at the every event have made a significant step forward from the car. So, on our return it was decided to move the steering rack on Tony Law Exhausts next month). events, as I won’t be spending those valuable few laps feeling last, which is incredibly encouraging. We have made yet more down about an inch to allow the subframe to be adapted to Another trip to the rolling road a JabbaSport was then on the my way around quite as much. modifications before Belgium and Holland, so I really hope we give more room for the exhaust. This was a lot of re-fabrication cards, since we had the mapping ‘issues’ in France, and the new Unfortunately there has again been no chance for testing, but can see some more improvements there! in itself, but it’s always the knock-on effect of everything else exhaust manifold was now also attached. This went well again, every time I get in the car I am more confident in it. This isn’t After the French ERC round we had a smaller list of jobs to on these bespoke cars that turns a relatively simple task into and although we still don’t have as much power as I would a good reason not to go testing, of course, but the situation is do than usual after an event – or so we thought. The first thing hours and hours of work. With the rack moved, the steering like given how much we have put into the engine compared such that we have once again run out of time. to do was to sort out the engine mount problems we had again column then needed lengthening, and then the angle adjusting to what I know others have put into theirs for larger quoted Ultimately the best testing is racing and, as I have said experienced in France. We decided not to try and repair the since it no longer met up with the rack. The bracket that holds power outputs, I am happy that what we do have is very usable before, we take every event as another extended test, so fingers engine steady that has failed on more than one occasion but the steering column in place also acts at a clutch pedal stop, and drivable and will ultimately be reliable. There is no way I crossed for two good weekends racing in Belgium and Holland instead start from scratch. However, the gearbox still had to but this was now also in the wrong place so the clutch pedal can afford an engine rebuild every second event if we lose that where we can hopefully have some good results and make come out to have the casing repaired again, and the aluminium and stop also needed changing, as did the bulkhead where the reliability. more progress with the car. 30 | #91 – August 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #91 – August 2011 | 31 - WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDWebsite RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSJ WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSMagazine WORLD WORLD

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