RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLDRallycross RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDWORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS#101 JULY WORLD 2012 RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSSEBASTIEN WORLD LOEB WINS RALLYCROSS IN HANSEN WORLD CITROËN 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 WORLDJRX makes RALLYCROSS delayed debut WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSSin ERC’s WORLD Swedish ‘MagicRALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSWeekend’ 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 WORLD #101 JULY 2012 Young drivers continue to shine

In the last few weeks we have seen the trend for young drivers to achieve success in Rallycross continuing; in this issue we take a look at the maiden ERC wins achieved by Ulrik RallycrossWorld.com How to get Rallycross World Linnemann and in Austria, the pair repeating RallycrossWorld.com provides news from all major Rallycross Rallycross World is produced monthly and distributed as a pdf document their successes in Sweden. events as well as rounding up National championships. Click You can subscribe directly or receive it as a subscription benefit at RallycrossWorld.com At the very top of the sport, the European championship is here to go to RallycrossWorld.com We also now offer a method for you to buy a printed copy or iPad version via MagCloud led by who, at this stage, appearts to be on course to take the crown. If Timerzyanov goes the whole World wide print service and iPad magazine way and becomes the title he would be the youngest champion The MagCloud print-on-demand service now delivers since 1975, a fact that offers a perfect example of just how anywhere in the world. You can order a printed magazine to be long it is that Rallycross has been dominated by 30 and delivered to your door simply by clicking the link on the left or Get it free! Printed magazine iPad 40-somethings. from the back page. MagCloud also makes Rallycross World RallycrossWorld. MagCloud is a print You can download The younger drivers, while increasingly successful, are not available for iPad. Just look for the free MagCloud app in the com is the essential on demand service Rallycross World to dominant, and that is providing the ERC with a tremendous iPad App Store and then select Rallycross World from the Rallycross news that means you can your iPad through the depth of talent, ability and range of potential event winners. MagCloud magazine store. website. As well order a printed copy free MagCloud app. as enjoying all the of the magazine that This gives you the feature of the site will be delivered Mag Cloud magazine you can download anywhere in the store, from where your own copy of the world. you can search for magazine for free Rallycross World within the app.

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Copyright Click it! Rallycross World is published monthly by Myriorama Advertisements in the pdf Ltd. This publication may not be redistributed, copied or version of Rallycross reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the written World are interactive – click consent of the copyright holder. on them to be taken to the Unless otherwise stated, all text and photographs are © copyright advertiser’s website. Tim Whittington 2012. Contents Check the whole advert as [email protected] some have multiple links – and 5 Top Story you wouldn’t want to miss Contributors: 18 Robin Larsson anything, would you? Eddi Laumanns, Hal Ridge, Henk de Winter, Dave Smeets, Johan 7 Diary Gallery There are also links from Dingenen 20 Less is more 14 Diary June some editorial items and we will This issue published : May 1 22 European championship always try to offer a live link Next issue published: June 1 16 Ulrik Linnemann wherever we quote a website www.myriorama.com 26 Shoestring stories address in editorial. [email protected] myriorama 2 | #101 – July 2012 ©RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 3 Top story Rocky start for JRX Hansen wins postponed first event in Sweden

Kevin Hansen won the first round of the new JRX Junior Rallycross Cup. Inset: Ada Marie Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque Hvaal led the final but had to settle for European Rallycross Champion 2009 second place. European Rallycross Champion 2010 European Rallycross Champion 2011 JULIAN GODFREY Duratec 1.6 – 225bhp, 181Nm torque After the first event was delayed because the cars were September, so that the drivers will have their initial six races in Winner, 2011 Super1600 ERC Belgium incomplete and the missing components had been lost in the JRX Cup in 2012.” transit, the JRX Junior Rallycross Cup made its debut in the In addition to the ‘electrical’ problem that delayed the +44 (0)1435 865999 FIA European Rallycross Championship at Höljes in Sweden. competitive debut of the JRX cars, the four-wheel drive The teams expecting JRX cars did not get the new racecars were presented in Norway, and raced in Sweden, machines until they arrived in Norway, the cars delivered equipped only with front-wheel drive. “There is a problem, RACETUNERS.COM in an incomplete state that left customers with the task of or what we think is a potential problem, with one part so we completing the initial build. Patience and goodwill were tested decided that it was best not to take any chances and run all further when it became clear that the missing components the cars with front-wheel drive in the first races and add the were missing were not going to be delivered in time to allow rear-drive when we are confident that everything is working the cars to race. On Saturday evening a statement was issued properly. It’s not really a problem, the prototype car was by the JRX staff announcing a postponement. It said: front-wheel drive when we drove it in Austria and it was only “The JRX team has tried its best to have the cars ready for going onto the loose and in the very long first corner that you racing in Norway, but due to missing electrical parts package, really felt the car would be nicer with four-wheel drive. From and although all efforts provided to find alternative solutions, it the outside you can’t see any difference,” said MAKS Events

JULIAN GODFREY JOS KUYPERS KOEN PAUWELS is now obvious that the first race of this new rallycross category partner Kenneth Hansen. Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 810Nm torque Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque Duratec 2.0 – 304.7bhp, 256.8Nm torque will be postponed one week, to Höljes, Sweden. Therefore, the Although all seven cars started in Sweden, reliability issues British Rallycross Champion 2011 Dutch Rallycross Champion 2011 Belgian Rallycross Champion, TouringCar 2011 team can now announce that they are finalizing all details meant that only two made it to the final which was won by for the next race. A replacement race is planned to be held in Kevin Hansen. RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 5 Diary gallery Better late than never The new JRX Junior Rallycross Cup series made its delayed debut in the Swedish ERC event where seven of the control-spec racers supplied by series organiser MAKS Events appeared. Marat Knazev won the first race in the qualifying heats while the final was won by Kevin Hansen.

RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 7 Diary gallery PG Tips Rally driver PG Andersson joined his neighbour Peter Hedström in one of the Olle Arnesson-owned Skoda Fabias at Höljes. The local super team almost had both cars on the podium, but Andersson was forced to retire from second place in the last lap with driveline problems. Hedström took the position.

RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 9 Diary gallery Håbørg’s new Corsa Norwegian TouringCar event winner Ole Håbjørg introduced his new Opel Corsa D-based challenger at his home event in June. It was tough weekend for the new car, but in Sweden the following week, Håbjørg worked the Corsa into the A final. A Euro campaign in 2013 is being talked about within his team.

RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 11 Diary June Diary

June 3 Joran Østreng (E30) and Øyvind Johansen Myhren (E82). June 4 The fourth round of the European Rallycross Championship Lars Øyvind Enerberg is top of the TouringCar class his Fiesta The second day of racing at Nutts Corner delivers another takes place at Nyirad in Hungary, the challenging track getting to the chequer ahead of Henning Nyberg’s Mazda RX8 first time winner in the Swift Sport championship, Graham returning to the schedule after a year in suspension. Timur and the BMW E30 of Erik Svartas. The Super1600 win is taken Rodemark heading north after being on duty for ’s Timerzyanov follows his win in the previous week’s Austrian by Asgeir Taraldsen (Peugeot 206), Trond Marthinsen (Citroën Monster Energy team in the Bavaria City Racing event at event with his second win of the year. Pushing hard in the Saxo) second and Thommy Tesdal (Opel Corsa) completing the Dublin (where Pat Doran drove) and racing his Swift to victory. A final, the Russian survives a brush with the wall in the podium. There is a Minicross win for Richard Wakeling, Craig Lomax Joker Lap section and emerges from the alternative section is best of the Stock Hatch field and the event is rounded out by marginally ahead of the American. Foust is second with Mats » The Clubmans Championship embarks on a dopuble a Superfinal in which Mark Francis adds to his SuperModified Super1600: 1.6L @ 240 bhp TouringCar: 2.0L @ 296 bhp Lysen completing the podium finishers. header at Nutts Corner in Northern Ireland where the big victory with another win. Duratec HE wins again in Super1600 while erases the memory susprise of the first day is a debut victory in the British of his slip in Austria with a superb drive to win in TouringCar. Junior championship for Kevin Hansen who beats Matthew June 9 Liam Doran is taken to hospital after a clash with Alexander Thomas, Charlie Bean and series leader James Ross in his Marcus Grönholm wins the second round of the Global Hvaal ends with his Citroën DS3 smashing into the wall. first event. Chris Mullen lands his first win in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship, the ‘Hoon Kaboom’ at Texas Motor championship. Michael Boak wins in Supernational, Irish Speedway. The Finn, winner of round one, is ahead from » The second round of the Norwegian Rallycross racer Graeme Colfer is best of the Stock Hatch field and Todd the start of the event and runs out the clear winner of the Championship takes place at Melhus and is won by Stian Crooks tops the Minicross order. final with Ford team mates and Brian Deegan www.zomermotorsport.com Haugan (Citroën Xsara) who leads home the BMWs of Hans flanking him on the podium. The event is hard on the cars, the [email protected] temporary structure used to create a jump causing damage to tel. 0031 (0)548 - 361385 many. survives the problems to bring his Hyundai a potential winner, from start to podium Veloster home in fourth, ahead of David Binks. Liquid power Grönholm

June 10 Gaetan Serazin’s relentless pursuit of the French championship continues in round four at Chateauroux where the Peugeot driver wins an event run in wet and very wet conditions. Serazin beats Jerome Grosset-Janin and Christophe Wilt in the Sunoco and R racing fuels are renowned for their final, pole starter Fabien Pailler slipping back to fourth place. consistency, quality and performance. We stock a wide Laurant Chartrain (Saxo) takes the Super1600 win ahead of range of unleaded and leaded racing fuels ranging from Doran Launay (Clio) and Eric Guillemette (Clio). Divisions 100 to 119 octane for immediate delivery to your door. Three and Four provide wins for established favourites Marc Please call our technical hot line for any enquires. Morize (Peugeot 207) and David Vincent (Clio III). Anglo American Oil Company Ltd June 15 +44 (0)1929 551557 (T) +44 (0)1929 551567 (F) With a successful test at Drex completed, Citroën announces [email protected] www.aaoil.co.uk that eight time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb will take RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 13

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all be new to us, compared with our rivals who are used to this Pedro Cokelaere (Honda Civic) is the victory among the up to run at Höljes in Sweden where rain produces an unpredictable type of racing, but we’ll be fighting every inch of the way!” 2000cc runners. event. Making the most of his chance to gain ground on rivals Hansen himself will oversee the X Games assault with Loeb, who are contesting the clashing X Games in Los Angeles, leaving the rest of the his team to tackle the Swedish round of June 23 Timur Timerzyanov takes his third event win of the year, the European Rallycross Championship at Höljes under the The scheduled debut of the new JRX Cup is postponed after leading home Peter management of his wife, Susann. “I will go to America but I components needed to complete the build of the cars are not Hedström and Stig-Olov have a very competent wife and she will be in charge at Höljes, delivered. The cars had been delivered to Lånke in Norway in Walfridson on a day I am quite sure that she can look after the boys at least as well an incomplete state and were assembled in the paddock but when local racers used as I can do it,” said Hansen. were unable to run when the last parts were lost in transit. home track knowledge to great effect. Hedström June 17 June 24 progressed from the B The second round of the Swedish rallycross Championship The first half of the 2012 European Rallycross Championship final to take second place, (for two-wheel drive cars only) is run at Strängnäs where Linus is completed with round five on the Lånkebanen at Hell near his best result of the Citroën Westmann (BMW E30) takes the victory ahead of a who’s who Trondheim in Norway. Branded ‘Rallycross in Hell’ the event year while Walfridson part in the X Games with a Citroën DS3 of Supernation; Urban Bergström, Daniel Wall, Fredrik Tiger… is won by Tanner Foust who gains his second event win of was reclassified fourth Supercar. The assault on the event, in which Hansen gained Class wins in the event are collected by “Gummse” (2400, the year on a day where the track had a direct effect on the after a protest from a debut victory in 2011 with Liam Doran, is at the request of Mercedes C-class) and Sebastien Eriksson (Junior, BMW E36). outcome of at least one A final and had caused suspension who was Red Bull. Loeb will race the car raced successfully by Timur breakages and punctures during the heats. Foust leads home moved up from fourth Timerzyanov in the ERC, Hansen Motorsport building a new » The Norwegian championship moves on to Dokka for its Liam Doran’s Citroën DS3 and the similar car of series leader to third. Rally star PG car for the Russian to continue his Euro campaign. third round where ‘Klasse 4’ for Supercars draws two entries Timur Timerzyanov. Andreas Bakkerud was on course for Andersson (right), also on “This is a wonderful thing for us to be doing,” said team boss and is won by Camilla Antonsen with Tony Lund Tjelle’s another Super1600 win when his Renault Twingo was halted home ground, had a brilliant run in his first Rallycross event Kenneth Hansen. “Citroën Racing asked us to do the car and Porsche 935 second. Stian Haugan tops the Supernational by a puncture. That left Ulrik Linnemann in charge and on his and would have taken second place had his Skoda Fabia not run it for Sebastien at the X Games. I had thought that there order, perennial front runner Terje Morstad second in his way to a second victory, only for the Stewards to penalise him suffered a driveline problem in the last lap. Ulrik Linnemann was nothing for us in America this year but this chance is BMW E46 and Herbjorn Haug (Mercedes C class) third. Lars and award the win to Ildar Rakhmatullin who claimed that his takes his second (third, see above) Super1600 win of the year fantastic. It’s been a lot of work because the time schedule Øivind Enerberg (Fiesta) is best of the TouringCar field again, Renault Clio II had been pushed by Linnemann’s Peugeot 207. while Robin Larsson takes on a beats TouringCar champion for getting a car their meant that we had to send the car that Henning Nyberg once again the runner up and with Daniel In his first ERC start of the year Lars Øivind Enerberg comes Lars Øyvind Enerberg to claim his second event win. Timur has raced and at the same time start to build up a new Holten gaining soem rear-drive practice in third place with back from a first corner crash in which he was the innocent car so that Timur can continue to race and do the events Fiesta. Trond Marthinsen returns to the top of Super1600, victim to bag the win ahead of Derek Tohill and the Volvo C30 » The delayed JRX Junior Rallycross Cup has its first event at in Norway and Sweden, we are nearly finished that now so beating Thommy tesdal and Mats Stenshøy (Saxo). of young Swede Daniel Lundh. Höljes. Reliability problems affect all seven cars at some stage everything looks good. of the event and only two drivers manage to make it to the grid “We tested with Sebastien at Dreux and it went very well, it’s » The Finnish championship moves to Joensuu for its third June 29 for the final in which Kevin Hansen beats Ada Marie Hvaal. amazing to work with drivers of that level and with so much round where Atro Määttä takes the win with his Ford Focus. The ‘Jump Practice’ session for the Rallycross event in X Hansen only just makes it over the finish line before his car talent. I know that he has been quite interested in Rallycross Pekka Keski Korsu (Focus) and Pertti Tapojarvi (Lancer Evo) Games is abandoned after crashes his also breaks down. for some time but this was his first chance to drive a Rallycross join Määttä on the podium. In the Supernational category Ford Fiesta Supercar into the landing side of the ‘Gap Jump’. car on a Rallycross track. We had a great event at X Games last Sami Kiskola’s Volvo S40 is caught between the Escort VIIs of Heikkinen suffered a broken ankle in the crash during which » A statement issued on behalf of Marcus Grönholm says year and of course I hope that we can be successful there again, winner Juha Pekka Peltokangas and third and fourth placed his car struck the landing side of the ramp, before falling that the form World Rally champion is recovering after his but it’s a real one-off and anything can happen,” said Hansen. Jari-Pekka Kokko and Joni-Pekka Rajala. into the gap on its roof and catching fire. despite his injury, X Games crash and that he has “full limb mobility”. He is “I love racing and I’m always interested in trying out new Heikkinen managed to get himself out of the car. Video expected to remain in hospital for observation until doctors categories. A week after the New Zealand Rally has finished, » The Hungarian and CEZ championships move on to the and pictures of the crash show that the car already had rear are completely satisfied with his condition. I’ll be in Los Angeles to take up the challenge set for me by Rabocsi Ring at Mariapocs in Hungary where the fourth round suspension damage as it entered the jump. As a result of the [his fellow Red Bull-backed athlete]. Rallycross of each is staged. Tamas Karai wins the Supercar class with his crash the gap was covered, turning the jump into a ‘table top’ » Sebastien Loeb wins the X Games Rallycross at the wheel of a here in Europe provides some very spectacular racing, but the Skoda Fabia. The Mitsubishi Lancers of Zoltan Vass and Balint and meaning that the Joker Lap section of the track, which Hansen Motorsport Citroën DS3. The car suffered suspension American version seems to be even more extreme. So, I didn’t Revesz complete the top three places. Zsolt Orzsag (Suzuki passed through the gap, was removed. damage during the practice stages of the event, but in the final need to be asked twice when the opportunity arose to race Ignis) wins in Super1600, Austrian Klauss Freudenthaler Loeb runs out the clear winner, beating and Brian against drivers like Marcus Grönholm in a 545bhp Citroën (Peugeot 206) and Czech Josef Susta (Fabia) leading the chase. June 30 Deegan. The victory is the second in as many appearances at X DS3!” said Loeb. The ever present Roman Castoral wins the Supernational class Rallycross practice at the X Games is delayed after Marcus Games for Hansen Motorsport who won with Liam Doran in Undertaking the event together with sponsor Red Bull, again. Grönholm crashes heavily. The Finn, winner of the first two 2011. Citroën Racing is pushing for a top result in the ‘one-off’ Global Rallycross Championship events this year, struck “an appearance. “We were fully aware of the importance that Red » The slim Supercar field was led home by Jos Kuypers exposed light base” after taking the revised jump, on board » Gaetan Serazin wins the fifth round of the French Bull attaches to the X Games Los Angeles when we agreed (Fiesta VII) in the third round of the Dutch championship video from his car appearing to show him cutting a left championship at Lavaré. The Peugeot driver is joined on to take part. Once we had actually committed to the project, at Valkenswaard, Ron Snoeck (Seat Leon) and Jan van Loon corner slightly too tight, his Fiesta hitting the obstacle. Rescue the podium by Christophe Wilt (Citroën C4) and Fabien we prepared for the event with the utmost seriousness,” said (Fiesta VII) the only other finishers. Things are a little more crews cut the roof off the car to remove Grönholm who was Pailler (Peugeot 207). Laurent Chartrain (Saxo) adds another Citroën Racing Director Yves Matton. “As it’s a one-off event competitive in the other classes, Marcel Snoyers (Renault Clio unconscious after the crash. Super1600 win to his tally for the year, Christophe Saunois for us, we don’t have to worry about managing our position II) beating davy Van Den Branden (Citroën C2) and Peter van (Toyota Corolla) and David Vincent (Renault Clio III) takes in the championship. There’s only one race and we are really de Wege (Toyota Yaris) to win Super1600 while Kristof Bex July 1 Divisions Three and Four while the Logan Cup series provides determined to try and win it. It won’t be easy because it will (Volvo S40) wins the over 2000cc Supernational section and The sixth round of the European Rallycross Championship is Fabien Grosset-Janin with his third win of the year. 14 | #101 – July 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 15 Overdue Euro win for great Dane Prince of Denmark Linnemann gains first ERC win

more reliable and in 2012 Linnemann it has been just about perfect. This year there is also a new, cleaner, colour scheme and Linnemann started the year by using a British national event at Lydden as a test session, easily taking the win to set up his season perfectly. When the racing started, however, it began to look as though Linnemann was again destined to be a place man, fourth at Lydden and fifth in France… That all changed in Austria where the usual consistent in the qualifying heats held good into the final where Linnemann also had that slice of luck that every driver needs. It’s easy to see that he is regarded well among his peers by their reaction to his win, no-one could begrudge the Dane his first win. Linnemann followed the victory with second place in Hungary and was then first to the chequered flag in Norway, only to lose the win and be reclassified second in the Stewards’ room. The win, the newly improved appearance of the car, everything that the team has worked for, is a great uphill battle. Linnemann’s annual budget is much less than that of After four years on the ERC trail and several near any other front runner. Rallycross does not have a high profile misses, Ulrik Linnemann finally landed his first in Denmark, there is no TV coverage and the sponsors that win in Austria. Linnemann can attract to assist with his racing are mostly small local and regional companies. “The sponsors I have are very happy that we had a win and I managed to get some space in the newspapers at home but Rallycross is not on Over the last couple of years the labels applied to Ulrik television in Denmark so that makes it very difficult for me to Linnemann have been in the nature of ‘unluckiest driver’ or get sponsors because we don’t have a high level publicity, the ‘the best driver who hasn’t won a race’, but the Dane can now big companies that you need to get higher in racing don’t know replace those with one saying ‘winner’. about Rallycross,” says Linnemann who is the only Danish Some outings in the German championship meant that driver to contest the championship. Like many who have Linnemann had already been flagged up as being a quick guy worked hard to gain that first win at the top level, Linnemann before he started a European championship event and when says it has made a difference to his driving, “It feels so good he did arrive in the ERC he was quick to illustrate just why to have won a European event, I feel more relaxed. I always he came with a good reputation. He’s raced in the Super1600 believed that I could win, but now I know that I can win and category since joining the series but his form took a further that I will win more races.” step forward when the Skoda Fabia he first used was replaced At the moment Linnemann is completely focused on the with a Peugeot 207. During the first couple of years with the remaining events of the 2012 season but like most of the young new car there were sparkling performances and several times drivers that have come to dominate the Super1600 class he it looked as though Linnemann had an event in the bag, only has an eye on the Supercar category. “Of course I would like for it slip away. If there was a single reason for this, you would to drive a Supercar, but at the moment that is not possible have to say that the car appeared to need a little more love because we don’t have the money for it and I don’t think and attention; its reliability not always a match for the driver’s it’s possible to find that kind of sponsor in Denmark. If that speed. changes it would be great, but Super1600 is what we can do But as Linnemann has gained in knowledge and experience right now and I enjoy that because the racing is close, it’s very so too it seems that the small family-run team clustered hard in this class at the moment because so many drivers are around him has improved its game. Last year the car appeared equal,”he says. 16 | #101 – July 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 17 Robin Larsson wins on ERC debut The son also shines Robin, son of Lars, makes glittering ERC debut

Robin Larsson’s debut in the European Rallycross Championship could not have been better. The 19-year-old Robin Larsson, the 20-year-old son of former Euro champion Lars, took the A final win in his ERC Swede was on course for an impressive second place achieved debut. entirely on his own ability when the race win dropped into his lap. The victory, inherited when race leader Derek Tohill spun, was greeted with equal measures of pleasure and surprise, the young racer really not expecting to win on his first appearance in the ERC but stepping up to the mark and accepting the congratulations for doing so with maturity. From the top the only was is down. Larsson plans to take part in eight ERC events this year, the short season intended to give him a solid grounding in the championship before he returns for a full campaign and a title bid in 2013. The year is about learning lessons and in Hungary and Norway he gained plenty of experience, failing to score championship points in either event. Larsson, the son of 2006 and ’07 European champion Lars, established his reputation in Sweden’s ferocious Supernational class and has made the move to the European championship with a Skoda Fabia based on the chassis that he used in National events. “We have completely rebuilt the car, the engine and gearbox are different for the TouringCar rules and we changed a lot of other stuff to make the car as good as we can for this class,” said Larsson who is able to call on the experience of his father as well as engineers who steered him towards those two European titles. That kind of knowledge can reduce the learning curve dramatically, but there’s nothing that can beat racing your opponents and knowing what they will do. In the last couple of events that has been what Larsson has learned. “Hungary was quite hard, specially after Austria, but now I know more. Racing here is different from racing in a national event,” says Larsson who appears able to deal with defeat as well as he handled the surprise victory in Austria. A clash with ERC veteran Roman Castoral in the first heat in Hungary left him on the back foot there and when he was black flagged for causing a first corner crash in the opening heat in Norway, things also looked bleak. In the third heat Larsson was on the receiving end of some rough treatment. “These have not been good events but I know that I can do better so I just have to learn and use this experience,” he says. The most recent arrival in a growing line of young racers that is rising to the top of Rallycross, Larsson has the advantage and disadvantage of following in the footsteps of a successful father and the early signs are that he has what it takes to add to the family trophy cabinet. 18 | #101 – July 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 19 Smaller, lighter are watch words for Münnich’s new Skoda

René Münnich has crunched the numbers and is sure that a 1400cc is a competitive option in Super1600. Below: Marc Laboulle has also gone smaller, lighter with his Supercar Citroën Xsara.

Less is more Downsizing returns to Rallycross

René Münnich’s decision to build his new Super1600 Skoda good. There are some more improvements to come on the in Rallycross, and appears to be coming to fore again now, Go back a few years and British Supercar racer Tony Bell also Fabia as light as possible and to run a 1400cc engine is bold engine, a better cylinder head and some other parts and we perhaps because the modern breed of cars are quite heavy. ran a smaller engine and lighter car with his unique Toyota but based on sound theory. The German racer and team owner hope that we can eventually get to about 235bhp with this Mtechnologies is exploring the theme with its ‘famous’ Citroën Corolla, a car that might now be viewed as being ahead of its reasons that with the ability to get very close to the power engine.” Xsara Supercar which it has re-engineered around a 1760cc time as it also had a transversely mounted engine… Further figures of a 1600cc engine, the choice to run a 1400cc and run The smaller engine is currently producing around 150nM motor that allows it to run the car at 1210kg while the more back still than Bell’s Group A/WRC-based challenger, Swedish a lighter car is a good one. of torque and on the current performance it seems that the conventional two-litre turbocharged cars go to the track legend Rolf Nilsson bucked the trend in the Group B days. The difference in weight between the different engine weight saving is worth more than the power loss. The big issue weighing 1300kg. The RS200 was viewed as being handicapped by it’s original capacities is 140kg, effectively 14% and so a significant saving. with the small engine has been reliability, Münnich and engine “We rebuilt the car to be lighter so that means we can use 1800cc BDT motor and the larger 2.1 BDT’E’ variant was That’s less weight to get going at the start and less mass to builder Trollspeed chasing a frustrating series of problems that a smaller engine. I think it’s possible that this is a good way swiftly homologated close to the end of the car’s life in , control in the corners, to stop under braking. To make the have sidelined the car several times. “Every time it has been to go if we can be light enough,” said team boss and driver primarily with a eye to use in Rallycross. Almost to a man, the most of any theoretical advantage, of course, the actual car something different, that’s why it’s taking so long to get right, if Marc Laboulle. The new Oreca-prepared engine is not the RS200 drivers adapted their cars to use the bigger capacity needs to achieve the target figures. “Even with this fat driver it was the same thing every time I’m sure we could have sorted only change, the ancillaries around it have been changed to engine, but Nilsson charted an alternative course and, having the car is on the weight limit,” says Münnich of his new Fabia it out much sooner,” said Münnich. optimise the small capacity unit and the Xsara has also been run the BDT’E’ engine in 1987 and the first part of the 1988 II, “We are able to get down to the weight limit so that is okay fitted with the latest Sadev transmission and larger, 17in, seasons, re configured his car in the mid-season summer break and this engine has 200bhp so it’s only about 20 less than a Previously diameter wheels as a part of the upgrading ‘downsizing’ and ran the second half of 1988 with a 1760cc BDT and a 1600 and when it’s working well you can already see that it’s The weight versus power theory has been explored before programme. lighter car. 20 | #101 – July 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 21 European Rallycross Championship Euro round up Others closing the gap, but Sweden still looks the best ERC event

Hungary retured to the ERC after being dropped in 2011. Left: Austria was lucky to make it on to the 2012 schedule, and delivered a good event.

Austria in Pole position issues had been addressed as well, the event progressing Back on track Doran went off is quite fast and leads into a faster section, so Austria was only present in the 2012 European Rallycross smoothly throughout the weekend. The first four ERC events in Hungary, from its first appearance the fact that it is lined by an unprotected concrete wall seems Championship because the Polish event was withdrawn from While a track like Lydden is universally popular with drivers, in the ERC in 2006, were progressively better. There were out of place. Doran’s car was very seriously damaged, the kind the calendar. Ranked eighth of the ten events run in 2011, the places like Greinbach sharply divide opinions; some love its organisational hiccups along the way and the jump start system of damage that would end the season for many competitors. Austrian event at Greinbach’s PS Racing Center would have intricate nature; others say those same characteristics make at the Nyirad track was at the root of serious disputes more His crash was at the same point of the track that Kevin Procter bumped off the schedule in the ordinary way of things, but was it ‘Mickey Mouse’. At the end of the weekend it had produced than once, but generally the event was better each year and crashed in 2010, an incident that also inflicted heavy damage saved when the Poles withdrew, their absence meaning that some great racing, two first-time winners and the third facilities at the circuit were increased and improved. to the car involved. Safety at Nyirad was previously questioned only two events needed to be culled to accommodate the three different Supercar victor in as many championship events. This And then, in 2010, the whole thing imploded; trouble within when Lars Larsson was hospitalised after a big crash in 2007. returning rounds. was all good stuff, it’s just a shame that there were not more the organising club leading to a frayed and frazzled event that You can never make motor sport totally safe or risk free and Compact and technically challenging for drivers, the PS people there to see it but when faced the calendar was drawn slid off the bottom of the championship schedule. It was back the very fact that there is an element of danger, of running Racing Center usually produces good racing, but it was up event boss Erich Petrakovits found himself stuck between this year, a new organising team and new life breathed into the a risk, is what draws many to the sport. But risks can be organisational details and the veue’s small paddock that let it a rock and a hard place. His original date would have meant whole setup and things appeared to be right back on course. minimised, the effects of an accident can be reduced by the use down in 2011. a clash with the DTM’s visit to Spielberg, swapping dates Generally this was a decent event but one of the key factors of protective barriers. Determined to set the record straight in 2012, the paddock with the neighbouring Hungarian event avoided that but left that appeals to drivers about the track is also one of the things Overall, Hungary appeared to be right back on course in area had been increased in size, there was a new grandstand, him with the calculated gamble of running the event on the that gives them greatest concern and that was pushed home 2012, but as with all other organisers, those in charge need to resurfacing of the gravel sections and many other detail Whitsuntide holiday weekend, something cut last year’s 10,000 again by Liam Doran’s big A final crash. Whatever the rights keep their eye on the ball. changes. From the outside it appeared that the organisational gate by half… and wrongs of the incident, the fact is that the corner where 22 | #101 – July 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 23 European Rallycross Championship

Where were the spectators? If Austria should have offered thanks to Poland for its place in the 2012 series, the Norwegian organiser should at the very least have thanked its lucky stars. Ranked seventh in 2011, it just scraped into the 2012 series. There were few if any visible changes at the Lånkebanen in the year since the ERC first rolled into town. The timekeeping and results service had been an area of concern last year, the remedy sought being to bring in the Dutch Rallycross Timing outfit (which was also utilised in Austria) and which ran faultlessly throughout the event. The other area of timekeeping was less successful, each set of heats and the finals starting behind schedule. The most striking thing about the event is also the most disappointing and is that there were so few spectators there to watch it. Official figures put the crowd at 1500 on Saturday, 3500 on Sunday. This is less than last year and hardly the kind of development that anyone would have hoped for. As last year, the track itself presented the kind of challenge that drivers relish, but it was rough in places, causing punctures and suspension damage that had an effect of the outcome of at least one A final. Perhaps the additional use and wear created by running Supernational and the National Norwegian Junior category on a supporting programme was unwise in retrospect. The racing was good enough, the finals generally closely matched and there was plenty of action during the heats too. The nature of the track is a factor in that but the racetrack was not really in question. Other than running a little behind timetable, the event was reasonably smooth; the recivery of broken down or crashed cars was slow, but that is a problem that afflicts many events. The event just doesn’t yet have any sparkle is resides deep in the long shadow cast by all those Norwegian ERC events of old at Drammen. Rain, rain, go away For the third year in succession Finnskoga MK and Höljes had the wind knocked out of their sails by the weather. At 22,400 the crowd was a little down on last year, which in turn had been down on the peak of the previous event. When the rain arrives during an event, perhaps against the forecast, it has a bearing on what happens on the track but very little on the spectator turnout. In each of the last two years, however, it has rained heavily running up to the event or poor weather has been forecast for the ‘Magic Weekend’. In the face of predicted poor weather, some fans stay away. The crowd may have appeared smaller than ever at Höljes, but the visual appearance may have something to do with the work that has been done at the venue in the last year; the capacity of spectator areas enlarged by levelling ground and making space for a large temporary grandstand on the start straight. On the track, Finnskoga MK delivered the usual polished performance, although very unusually it was a little late in getting started with the racing. Notably outstanding in Sweden, as usual, was the recovery The crowd in Norway was down on 2011. Left: Höljes got rain again, but of crashed or broken down vehicles, and area in which many other Finnskoga MK still looks like the best organisers could learn much from the Swedes. organsier in the series. If Höljes does not quite shine like the beacon as did a few years ago it may be because other events are closing the gap to the organiser that, so far, would still appear to be best in class. And, perhaps, also because Höljes needs a new trick or two, an innovation or point of difference that might enable it to once again stand out from the crowd that is drawing in around it. 24 | #101 – July 2012 #101 – July 2012 | 25 Shoestring stories – the life of a low budget racer in the European championship

Hungary hunky-dory Aside from a small misfire in the first free practice, caused by a broken wire, the car ran without fault. We changed the set- up slightly, the car handling well all weekend. The one major Hal Ridge escapes the clutches of the police for ERC race in Nyirad issue we had to try and deal with during the event was the lack of feeling through the brake pedal. We attempted a number of things to change the feel, including changing the bias slightly and it did make a difference, but I think ultimately we need to Hal Ridge made it be at least using better pads in the front, something that needs to Hungary, his epic sorting for next time out. trip met by an epic As I said the Nyirad track was one that rewards racetrack. commitment, not something I had on the Saturday I must say, in part I was lacking in confidence from the brake issues. However, on the Sunday after a stern talking to from both Dave, and indeed myself, things were different and I felt I drove harder and possibly better than I ever had done. I’ve never claimed to be great behind the wheel, but the fact in wet conditions we normally do well, when power isn’t an issue but in the dry we get destroyed by the same people we beat in the wet, brings us to the same conclusion yet again, we desperately need more power! As usual in Hungary we were all over people in and through corners, but are lost on straights and up hills. Without going to Sodemo and Set Promotion, I think we are almost at the limit of what we can achieve with the the 1.6 Renault engine. Having spoken to some very helpful and friendly people who have attempted the same thing previously, we are going to be stuck at somewhere a little under 200bhp. Slightly frustratingly had I spent the same money and resources on a Citroen / Peugeot engine we would have 220bhp+, no problem. We are going to try one more modification to the engine that we are using now, then I think the only real solution is to build a de-stroked two-litre engine to go in the Twingo, and with the better So we made it to Hungary, and what an amazing circuit! I suspension set-up and all round improved package it should suppose it’s what you would call a real drivers circuit. Big stand us in good stead. undulations, tight technical turns, blind crests into fast big The Twingo itself has started to make some real progress. commitment corners, it has it all really. I don’t think there are The rear bodywork is almost totally sorted, and this week many drivers who would go there and claim not to enjoy it. I have received the two components required to fit the Nyirad is by far and away the best track I have driven on in old one as a spare. The standard clutch did survive although ferry to Dunkirk on a sunny Thursday afternoon none of it felt multiplier into the steering set-up. This means we can now the ERC, and I think the only one to rival it will be Holjes, but it did slip quite badly off the line. This is of course due to so bad. Once we got to the circuit, having been stopped twice take the steering multiplier from the Clio and make a steering I will have to wait until next season before we race there, that the massive amount of grip that the Avon Tyres produce in by Austrian police, we still had a lot to do and eventually got column for the Twingo, without making the Clio immovable. date is already inked in the diary with permanent marker! comparison to even the best normal road going tyres that the to scruiteneering at 6.55pm on the Friday (5-minutes before The steering wheel position has never been perfect for me The lead up to our trip to Hungary could have been clutch is designed for. We elected not to change during the it closed!). This was one of the rare occasions where we failed, in the Clio, so in the Twingo we are making sure its right by smoother. With just a few days to go before we were due event though as I didn’t feel that it was a bad enough problem and it wouldn’t be until the following morning that we passed, fabricating bracketry to get it all in the right place. In doing to leave I wrote here in Rallycross World that I had been to make the difference between doing much better or not, partly thanks to Rolf Volland who helped us out massively. this, we can also sort out the location of the seat, handbrake, concerned about the condition of the clutch in the Clio but especially as the replacement we had could have broken and One technical issue we managed to avoid prior to Hungary gear lever and switch panel. Some crucial jobs that will be a we had checked it and were going to put it back in. The clutch put us out of the event all together. was having an out-of-date seat. I only noticed by chance while big step forward. Once these parts have been mounted in place plate had some hairpin cracks developing in it, and at the last With the decision to change the clutch again being made so browsing through the documents for the Clio the week before the rest of the interior can be dry built before being taken out moment we decided to not use it for Hungary, it could totally late, it left us with a lot to do and little time. The two nights that the seat in the car had been out of date for the whole 2011 again for the shell to be shot blasted and painted. fail at any moment. So at the 11th hour we sourced a brand before leaving for Hungary each saw about three hours sleep, season. Obviously a massive oversight on my part, but amazing It’s going to be a busy month ahead. I am looking forward to new, more standard clutch set-up from a two-litre Clio and and as we left there was still work to do, this had been out of really that it had not been picked up at any of the events we did the third round of the British Championship at Mallory Park, adapted it to fit my flywheel. The thought behind this was our control as we were still waiting for some small parts to last season. In the week prior to Hungary I managed to borrow it’s been ages since I was able to travel to an event the night that a two litre Clio is good for over 200 bhp as standard, and be delivered. These are the times that the pleasure goes from an in-date seat just in case, and a good job too as we would before racing and be home within a matter of hours after it has since I don’t have that much power and my car is lighter than what we do, and makes you question whether it is all worth never have passed scruiteneering without it! all finished. See you there! a standard car, it should survive one event, we would take my while. These thoughts don’t last for long, and as we sat on the The event itself in Hungary was one of mixed feelings for us. halridge.com 26 | #101 – July 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #101 – July 2012 | 27 - 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 RALLYCROSS 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 WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDJ RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSSYearbook WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDJ RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSSWORLD.COM WORLDRallycross RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD