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#102 AUGUST WORLD 2012 RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSSTARS RETURN WORLD FOR RALLYCROSSERC’s BENELUX SUMMER WORLD BONANZA 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 WORLDRETRO MOVEMENT RALLYCROSS GROWS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSSAS RALLYCROSS WORLD CATCHES RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSTHE HISTORIC MOTOR WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSSPORT FEVER 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 #102 AUGUST 2012 Half way, but only four WORLD left as ERC regroups

In rough terms we are at the end of the European Rallycross doing the chasing; Hvaal, Foust, Doran etc. need to win events Championship’s summer holiday, half time in the series. But as if they are to get on level terms, and that’s a recipe for fun! we did six rounds before the summer there are now just four left and the pressure is on. RallycrossWorld.com How to get Rallycross World Those four races come in two pairs, the Benelux double- RallycrossWorld.com provides news from all major Rallycross Rallycross World is produced monthly and distributed as a pdf document header that was reconstructed last year forming rounds seven events as well as rounding up National championships. Click You can subscribe directly or receive it as a subscription benefit at RallycrossWorld.com and eight in August and followed by a lengthy gap before here to go to RallycrossWorld.com We also now offer a method for you to buy a printed copy or iPad version via MagCloud the final pair form something of a sting in the tail: Finland and on consecutive weekends providing two quite World wide print service and iPad magazine different events as well as a significant journey. The MagCloud print-on-demand service now delivers Elsewhere in this issue we cover the return to the ERC of anywhere in the world. You can order a printed magazine to be two drivers capable of getting into the A finals and challenging delivered to your door simply by clicking the link on the left or Get it free! Printed magazine iPad the championship regulars. For those going for the title there from the back page. MagCloud also makes Rallycross World RallycrossWorld. MagCloud is a print You can download is everything to play for, Timur Timerzyanov leads the scoring available for iPad. Just look for the free MagCloud app in the com is the essential on demand service Rallycross World to and has been the most consistent driver over the first six iPad App Store and then select Rallycross World from the Rallycross news that means you can your iPad through the rounds. His game plan may now be different from that of those 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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Click it! Copyright Advertisements in the pdf Rallycross World is published monthly by Myriorama 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 on them to be taken to the consent of the copyright holder. advertiser’s website. Unless otherwise stated, all text and photographs are © copyright Contents Check the whole advert as Tim Whittington 2012. some have multiple links – and [email protected] 5 Top Story 20 Scott back to Europe you wouldn’t want to miss anything, would you? Contributors: 7 Diary Gallery 22 Strong start for Retro Rallycross 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 14 Diary April 24 Holte back and planning for 2013 always try to offer a live link Next issue published: September 1 18 Foust not first wherever we quote a website www.myriorama.com 26 Shoestring stories address in editorial. [email protected] myriorama 2 | #102 – August 2012 ©RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 3 Top story Historic chance Can Retro initiative provide new growth in Rallycross?

SVERRE ISACHSEN YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque Rob Gibson revived his MG Metro 6R4 for European Rallycross Champion 2009 Retro Rallycross. Inset: Erich Petrakovits will European Rallycross Champion 2010 run his Escort in a demo race in Austria. European Rallycross Champion 2011 JULIAN GODFREY Duratec 1.6 – 225bhp, 181Nm torque Winner, 2011 Super1600 ERC Belgium Classic and historic and represent the fastest to race them, fans and racegoers have enormous enthusiasm +44 (0)1435 865999 growing areas of motor sport in many countries, so the recent for older cars, those that remember them the first time around launch of Retro Rallycross in Britain, and plans for a similar anxious to see them again, while younger generations appear demonstration event in Austria next month, appear timely. captivated by the character of classics. cars fall within RACETUNERS.COM Although historic motor sport is by no means a new the age range for Retro Rallycross and have their own firm and thing, Rallycross has never really had a proper historic class. loyal fan base, much of which is provided by an age group that Retro Rallycross aims to fill that gap and has been carefully was too young to have seen the cars in their original period of configured to offer the best chance for old cars to be brought use. BBC recently screened a documentary charting the rise of back into use and for drivers to build new machinery or to Group B through ‘Rallying’s craziest years’. recreate old cars. The classic bug appears to have bitten in Austria too and a Taking on board the step change in the technical demonstration event for ‘retro’ cars is planned to take place specification and performance of cars that came about with the alongside September’s national event at Greinbach. 1982 introduction of the Quattro, Retro Rallycross has Handled correctly the provision of classes like Retro

JULIAN GODFREY JOS KUYPERS KOEN PAUWELS formulated rules for two main classes, pre and post 1982. All Rallycross could offer a chance for event organisers to add a Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 810Nm torque Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque Duratec 2.0 – 304.7bhp, 256.8Nm torque four-wheel drive cars will take part in the latter group which new dimension that will attract both fans and competitors British Rallycross Champion 2011 Dutch Rallycross Champion 2011 Belgian Rallycross Champion, TouringCar 2011 has an upper cut off point in the age range at 1987. and that could lead to a new opportunity for rallycross to The interest in ‘classic’ cars is not just among those who want experience some growth in difficult economic times. RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 5 Diary gallery Just like the old days Retro Rallycross isn’t just about old fashioned cars, it’s about old fashioned driving styles too. We all know that sideways isn’t always fastest, but we also know that sideways is great fun to watch (and also to do). Ray Morgan was straight on the case in the first Retro Rallycross event, sideways everywhere.

RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 7 Diary gallery Here B monsters On RallycrossWorld.com we are a series of historic stories parallel to the current ERC season reviewing the 1987 championship in which Group B cars featured for the first time. This is Matti Alamäki (Lancia Delta S4) head-to-head with Will Gollop’s MG Metro 6R4 at Valkenswaard’s Eurocircuit in August ’87.

RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 9 Diary gallery Minis annual adventure The number of Minicross cars seen this year are down on recent seasons but that didn’t stop seven of their number making the trip to Belgium and Holland for their annual bun fights at Maasmechelen and Valkenswaards where jumps and muddy puddles featured in the fun. Johan Dingenen Johan

RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 11 Diary gallery More toys… They say that you can tell the age of the kid by the size of his toys. Ken Block dubbed Gymkhana Five as the Urban Playground, and took his very big toy to play in the city of San Francisco which lays sprawled below his Fiesta as it climbs ‘Twin peaks’ in this still from the video. MWRT

RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 13 Diary July Diary

July 6 Kuypers takes victory ahead of Jos Jansen and Wil Teurlings. July 9 Having run his Volvo C30 Supercar in the Norwegian and Ronny Scheveneels gets his VW Scirocco to the end of the Buzzing from his career best second place finish in the X Swedish ERC events for young compatriot Daniel Holten, event in fourth place. Marcel Snoeyers wins the Super1600 Games, ken Block ‘drops’ Gymkhana Five, the latest instalment Frode Holte announces that he will return to the driving section ahead of Dave Van Beers and Koen Pauwels tops the in his blockbusting viral video series. Dubbed ‘Urban himself and has entered the Belgian and Dutch rounds of the TouringCar section, using his own Fiesta here to win the class Playground’, the latest Gymkhana is filmed on the streets championship. ahead of Pedro Bonnet’s Volvo C30. The Two Supernational of San Francisco. “San Francisco was absolutely amazing classes are won by Kristof Bex (over 2000cc) and Pedro for Gymkhana,” said Block. “It’s such a unique location for July 7 Cokelaere (under 2000cc). this kind of driving and allowed me to do some things that I After spending a week in hospital following his crash in the never thought I’d ever be able to incorporate into one of my Super1600: 1.6L @ 240 bhp TouringCar: 2.0L @ 296 bhp practice sessions for X games, Marcus Grönholm is discharged, » The third round of the German Rallycross Championship Gymkhana videos—like jumping a table top or doing a jump Duratec HE the former World rally champion was to spend the weekend is run on the new course at Groß Dolln near Berlin. Bernd drift! I’m stoked with how this project turned out and I’m truly in California before making arrangements to return home to Shomaker (Fabia) takes the Supercar win ahead of Bernd a lucky bastard to have been able to do the things I was able to Finland. The statement announcing his release from hospital Willhelm (Focus) and René Münnich (Fabia II). Andreas do on the streets of San Francisco. To all of the residents and adds that he will not drive in the July 14 GRC event at New Steffen wins the Super1600 class with his Fabia II, keeping the people who allowed us to make this happen, thank you!” Hampshire… scores level with Schomaker at the top of the championship tables. Roman Castoral makes an appearance at the event and » It is with sadness that we record the death on July 9 of Marie- » The fourth round of the Belgian Rallycross Championship promptly wins the Supernational class, bringing his Opel home Claire Botte-Courteyn, wife of TV producer Chris Courteyn. www.zomermotorsport.com opens the second part of the year at Maasmechelen where Jos ahead of Hans Kirchhof’s Porsche. [email protected] July 13 tel. 0031 (0)548 - 361385 Best Buy racing announces that eBay Motors will be the new a potential winner, from start to podium sponsor of David Binks’ Fiesta from the GRC event in New Hampshire. Consistency

» Gerard de Rooy, son of former Rallycross superstar Jan, is to make his first appearance in a Rallycross event when he starts in the Dutch round of the European Rallycross Championship Sunoco and R racing fuels are renowned for their at Valkenswaard. An consistency, quality and performance. We stock a wide accomplished truck range of unleaded and leaded racing fuels ranging from competitor in the Dakar 100 to 119 octane for immediate delivery to your door. Rally, de Rooy will race Please call our technical hot line for any enquires. a Citroën C4 run by Autopoint SE, the car an Anglo American Oil Company Ltd ex-Hansen machione that was used by Liam Doran in 2011 and +44 (0)1929 551557 (T) +44 (0)1929 551567 (F) is now regularly in the hands of British championship racer [email protected] www.aaoil.co.uk Steve Harris. RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 15

AAOC Rallycross ad 2.indd 1 9/3/10 13:53:30 Diary July

July 14 father to take over the drive. Doran Snr has had Pikes Peak on championship at Valkenswaard’s Eurocircuit. The Dutch Fiesta The Swedish championship goes north for its third event at his radar for more than 20 years, “I can’t tell you whether I’m driver leads home Ron Snoeck (Seat Leon) and Wil Teurlings. » Art Gruszka wins the second round of the US Rallycross Piteå where Fredrik Tiger (BMW E36) beats Mikael Dahlberg excited or scared now I have come to the point of it actually Marcel Snoeyers, Koen Pauwels and Kristof Bex are best of the Series at New Jersey Park, the Mitsubishi driver (Hyundai Accent) and Linus Westman (BMW E30). Patrick happening” said an enthusiastic Pat. “The car is already in Super1600, TouringCar and Supernational fields once again. leading the race but then suffering a spin after an incident Ydrefalk ( Corolla) takes the 2400 class and the Junior America so I will have to take a trip out there shortly to try Kuypers ends the event by announcing that he has agreed to in which Dave Sterckx took the lead in his . Race section is won by Sebastian Eriksson (BMW E36). and fit some testing in before the event. I will also be trying to sell his Fiesta VII Supercar to Belgian Patrick Van Mechelen. officials later disqualified Sterckx for the incident, handing get in the best shape physically and mentally as possible as the the win to Gruszka. The two-wheel drive class was won by July 15 Peaks summit is at a height of 14,110 feet so the air is very thin » The sixth round of the French championship takes place at Dillon Van Way (Ford Fiesta turbo) who put a pass on Swedish The Global Rallycross Championship moves on to New and after driving the 12.42 mile course it is going to take all of Lessay where Jerome Grosset-Janin (Renault Clio III) takes visitor Mikael Eriksson’s Porsche to take the win in the hotly Hampshire where, in the absence of Marcus Grönholm who my energy and concentration to get to the top in a reasonable the event. Gaetan Serazin ( 207, below) keeps his contested class. The ‘Limited’ two-wheel drive class was taken won rounds one and two, Travis Pastrana sets behind him the time safely. I don’t expect to win but I plan to do my best for points lead, however, after finishing second to the man who by Collin Wooding who returned for the second event of the upset of crashing out of X Games and takes his first rallycross the sponsors and my team,” said Doran. is his main rival. The Super1600 class is won by Julien Febrau series with a 2.8-litre engine shoehorned into his BMW 318 victory. Samuel Hubinette and Brian Deegan join Pastrana on (Citroën Saxo) who leads home Fabien Chanoine (Dacia and used the power increase to improve on his round one the podium while fourth place helped Tanner Foust into the » Lukas Walfridson (below) trades his Crosskart for uncle Stig- Sandero). Marc Morize (Peugeot 207) is best of the Division runner-up position. points lead of the series. Olov’s Rallycross Supercar and wins the NEZ event at Vilkyciai Three field again while Sebastien Le Ferrand (Peugeot 306) in Lithuania. The son of Lars-Erik Walfridson, Lukas has swept won Division Four and closed a little on championship leader » The NEZ series stays in Lithuania but moves on to Ukmerge » Pat Doran is finally set to realise a long held ambition all before him in Crosskart and tested Rallycross cars at the David Vincent. where Kazimieras Gudziunas (Puma) takes the Supercar win. after the postponement and rescheduling of the Pikes Peak end of last year, sampling a Set Promotion Super1600 Clio in There is more success for Norwegian drivers, Christoffer Lia Hillclimb leads to him being drafted in to replace son Liam the Czech Republic as well as the Helmia Supercar (Opel Corsa C) winning Super1600 and Markus Johannesen in the ‘Race to the Clouds’. Forest fires in Colorado caused at Höljes before opting to remain in Crosskart. Arvydas Galinis (Volvo 240) the Open class while Lavian Martins Porietis (Golf the event to be postponed from its original July date and the (Focus) takes second place in the Supercar class. Reinis Nitiss III) tops the 2000 class. rearranged schedule means that the event will now be run on (Peugeot 206) wins the Super1600 category while Norwegian August 12, clashing with the Dutch round of the European visitors Christian Sandmo (Opel Kadett E) and Hans Joram July 29 Rallycross Championship. The event was to have formed a part Ostreng (BMW E30) win the 2000 and Open classes. Christophe Wilt (Citroën C4) takes a hard earned first of Liam Doran’s season, but the date clash precludes him from Supercar victory in the seventh round of the the French taking part. With the car and equipment to take part in the » Jos Kuypers takes his second win in seven days in the championship at Kerlabo Cohiniac. The A final was closely event already in America, Doran Jnr has now nominated his low countries by topping the fourth round of the Dutch fought, Jerome Grosset-Janin and Gaetan Serazin racing hard at the front, with Wilt in on their duel, until Grosset-Janin was forced to stop when his Renault Clio II failed under him with two laps to go. Serazin now came under ever more pressure from Wilt who seized the lead in the last lap, Serazin being delayed in the incident that cost him the lead and dropping July 21 to fifth and Philippe Tollemer (Citroën C4) and Pascal Le The ‘Sambacross’ event at Kauhajoki forms the fourth round Nouvel (Focus) climbed onto the podium. Laureent Chartrain of the Finnish rallycross Championship where Aki Karttunen returned to the top of Super1600 while Jonathan Pailler (Fabia) is the winner. Martti Simonen ( Civic) takes (Peugeot 206) claimed his first Division Three victory and second place with championship leader Atro Määttä (Focus) in points leader David Vincent entered the summer break with third place. The Supernational section is won by Escort driver another Division Four win under his belt. Fabien Grosset-Janin Jukka-Pekka Peltokangas who beats off the similar car of series won the Logan Cup class. leader Joni-Pekka Rajala. July 22 The third round of the Monster Energy British Rallycross Championship takes place at Mallory Park where Pat Doran gives his new Citroën DS3 its first win. Missing from the 2011 championship, Mallory Park was the scene of problematic events in 2009 and ’10 but had been subjected to extensive reworking before this year’s event. The results was a much better racing surface that, while it may not have been totally free of all problems, was clearly a massive step in the right direction. Doran led home points leader Julian Godfrey with Andy Grant taking a seasonal best third place. Ash Simpson ran out the clear winner of the Supernational class after Michael Boak and Mal Boyd clashed in the first lap and both went off. Dave Bellerby made his first start of the year and showed the Swift Sport field the way home. 16 | #102 – August 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 17 Setting the record straight Foust not first First American was an Americaine Portrait and cutting, Jacques Privatcutting, and Portrait

Foust was not the first American in the ERC, his participation pre-dated by 23 years by Carolyn Boniface who raced a BMW in the French ERC round in 1987.

When Tanner Foust started his first European Rallycross American to contest the championship as Boniface only ever Mamers raced for the same team driving an M3 in the two- first heat and a strong 17th in the third. There were 32 starters Championship event in Portugal in 2010 he was confidently drove in one event and took part in that primarily because it wheel drive class. Coppier and French champion in the Supercar class (then known as Division Two) so exactly acclaimed to be the first American driver to take part in the was also a qualifying round of the French championship in veteran Jacques Aita assisted Boniface in getting up to speed half the starts did not make it to the finals and Boniface was series. Round here we like history, but we got it as wrong which she was racing at the time. Foust is also, obviously, the in Rallycross and her French championship season was one among those. The failure to score points, and thus her absence as the rest of them because back in the summer of 1987 first, and so far only, American to win in the ERC, his maiden impressive and brought a best of result of second place in the from championship points scoring records, is perhaps the Carolyn Boniface started in the French round of the ERC, her victory coming in Portugal on the anniversary of his debut Pau-Idron event where she chased home Gerard Roussel who most obvious reason why Boniface’s place in Rallycross history participation pre-dating Foust by 23 years. during the second round of the 2011 series. went on to become champion. Boniface ended her season has been overlooked. Let’s set some thing straight; the purpose of this story is to An executive at Ford France, Boniface had tried her hand seventh in the French championship and the winners of the The 1987 season was Boniface’s only year in Rallycross, she correct the facts, there are a lot of Rallycross fans out there at rallying in 1986 and was invited to race in the 1987 French women’s championship, her second place finish at Pau tipping moved on to racing in 1988, racing BMW and who pride themselves on knowing the finer details of their Rallycross Championship by Michel Jacquier-Laforge. Joining the balance in her favour after she finished the year equal on . Today Boniface lives in where she is a sport, so when we supposed experts discover that we have got the Pierrot Gourmand BMW team, Boniface drove the 325i points with Audi Quattro racer Cathy Caly. practitioner in alternative therapies and her most recent brush it wrong, there is a certain obligation to correct the record. 4x4 that had previously been used by Francois Chauche The French round of the ERC took place at the Circuit de with motor sport came in 2009 when she was one of those who And so, some facts first. Boniface was the first American driver and Bernard Beguin in the Chamonix 24 hour race. Alain Torcy at e Creusot on June 20-21 1987. A non-finish in the spoke out against the environmental policy published by the to start in the ERC, but we should still regard Foust as the first Coppier drove a similar 24v 325 alongside Boniface while Max second heat hurt Boniface’s event but she had been 23rd in the organiser of the Rally Australia WRC event. 18 | #102 – August 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 19 Scott fills the gap with Euro events

Scott drove in the opening pair of ERC events in Britain and France (main picture) but has since spent his time concentrating on a Saab-based GRC effort. Back to Europe Scott set to race Focus in Benelux ERC events

Making the most of a gap in the Global Rallycross Championship schedule, Andy Scott will return to the scene of his best performances in the European Rallycross Championship when he rejoins the ERC field in Belgium and Holland. The Scotsman has entered the Benelux events with his Tony Bardy Motorsport-run Ford Focus II, the first time the car has been used since Scott raced it in the French round of the ERC at Dreux in April where a turbo problem ultimately left him in the B final. The centre of Scott’s racing activities this year has been his GRC campaign for which he teamed up with Swedish veteran Per Eklund to establish Scott-Eklund Racing to field a pair of Saab 93s in the American series. With Scott driving one of the cars, the second of the Saabs is occupied by US-based Swede Samuel Hubinette who joined the team on the eve of the first event and has shone in his first full season of Rallycross. With four events run, Hubinette holds second place in the championship, Scott eighth and with a long gap in the schedule until the fifth round at Las Vegas in late September, Scott has chosen to keep his hand in by returning to the European championship. “With the break in Scott-Eklund Racing’s American campaign, I return to the FIA European Rallycross Championship with great enthusiasm, confident of delivering a big result in Belgium. Tony Bardy Motorsport has worked very hard on the car. The guys quickly found and resolved the problem we had in Dreux, while thanks to Scott-Eklund Racing’s on-going partnership with TiAL Sport we bring back some encouraging technical innovations from the US,” said Scott, “I’m very confident that we head to Belgium with a competitive package. I want a step on the podium, that’s for sure, and I’ll be disappointed if I don’t achieve that.” Scott has also said that, depending how things go in Belgium and Holland, he may race in the French championship event at Lohéac at the beginning of September. 20 | #102 – August 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 21 Successful debut for Retro Rallycross

Retro Rallycross got under way at Mallory Park in July. Greg Kalinecki and Rob Gibson Retro success starred (main pic) but Ray Morgan (top right) won. Andy Bentza (bottom right) will drive his Stratos in Austria next Classic class makes debut at Mallory Park month.

The new Retro Rallycross category had its first event at box, carburettors, and 13in wheels. It’s as it was then and it’s 105E) and Nick Sprickett (Opel Manta) all missed the first at Greinbach on September 2. Petrakovits said that the idea Mallory Park on July 22 where it appeared alongside the British very difficult to keep up with the modern Supernational cars, event because of last minute problems with their cars while was, “An attempt to explore the interest in former assets. The Rallycross Championship. There were five starters in the first special the mid-engined stuff, so this is a great idea and it’s a combination of car problems and the need to meet a prior enthusiasm of the audience for historic vehicles is definitely event, the same number of drivers who had hoped to take part been done very well here. I might even go to Pembrey!” said commitment to the Eifel Rally kept Belgian pair Marc Ver there and if this works I think we can add a retro class to the failing to get cars complete in time to make it to the midland Morgan who has rarely raced anywhere other than Lydden in Eecke and Cedric Van Den Buren (both Audi Quattro Sport) Austrian championship from next year.” The trial event has event where interest in the new class was high and the cars recent years. away from Mallory Park. All five are scheduled to join the attracted a strong entry list, former European champion Andy present were the centre of attention for much of the day in the Retro Rallycross is managed by Shirley Gibson who was series at Lydden on August 26-27. Bentza bringing his unique three-litre Lancia Stratos while his paddock. pleased with the first event. “We should have had seven or Retro Rallycross will also appear at the last two BRC events contemporary Günter Spindler will drive the in The starters at Mallory Park comprised the MG Metro 6R4 eight cars at Mallory Park but there were some last minute at Pembrey and Croft in October and is expected to get a full which he made his reputation. Gery Pfeiffer will start his MG of Rob Gibson and a Lancia Delta Integrale driven by Ireland- hold ups that kept a couple of drivers away. There’s just over time place as a championship support category in 2013. Metro 6R4 and event organiser Petrakovits will take part in his based Pole Greg Kalinecki. There were three two-wheel drive a month until the next event and I hope we’ll have a full grid MkII Escort. Representing slightlty more recent times, Ronnie cars, the Minis of Lance Foster and Ian Biagi, both cars with there. The first event has gone well, the drivers all had fun and Austria follows the UK lead Irschik will drive his Audi Quattro, a brace of S1 versions for a long history in British Rallycross, and the Escort III rwd of we had good feedback from fans, there is a great interest in the The interest in older cars has led Austrian circuit owner Erich Hans Holzmüller and Jürgen Stoitzner and a VW Golf G60 for Ray Morgan who emerged as the winner of the class. “My car older cars,” said Gibson. Petrakovits to include a ‘retro’ class on a trial basis within former Austrian champion Alois Forstenlechner. is 30 years old and all the stuff in it is 30 years old; four-speed James Harrold (Beetle turbo), Mark Thomas (Ford Anglia the Austrian championship event at the PS Racing Center 22 | #102 – August 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 23 Holte eyes 2013 return Summer races prelude to comeback Holte looking for full time return next year

Absent from the European Rallycross Championship so far in 2012, event winner Frode Holte is set to make his first appearance of the year in this month’s Belgian event as he builds up towards returning to the series in 2013. The 28-year-old Norwegian recently rented his Volvo C30 Supercar to teenage compatriot Daniel Holten, running the car for the Super1600 graduate in the Norwegian and Swedish rounds of the championship and watching as his young charge took the car to the A final in Norway and a B final placing in . Holte’s own plans for 2012 crashed when plans to move to America and race in the Global Rallycross Championship collapsed. Having already shipped his car to the States in preparation for the year, Holte was left with little option but to retrieve it and think again. The combined effect of having freighted the car to America and back, as well as having not done any preparatory or sponsorship work for a 2012 European season then left Holte with few options but to sit out the first part of the year while trying to rebuild his team and reputation. “Holten proved that the Volvo is a very good car, when his debut in Supercar ended with an A final in Norway and a B final place in Sweden,” said Holte who has used the enforced break from racing to concentrate on plans for the 2013 season. “I am going to drive in Belgium and Holand, after a terrible year it’s good to be back. The reason for this comeback is only to try to gain some points in ERC, this will make it easier to win the 2013 season. We have an exciting plan for 2013, and all the bricks are coming together nicely, there are still some bricks missing but we think it will be sorted out soon,” said Holte who as well as confirming his return to the driver’s seat, has placed the C30 on the market for sale, his intention to start the 2013 season with a new car. Holte has committed to drive in the Belgian and Dutch ERC rounds and is likely to add the Finnish and German events if his car does not sell before the last pair of events at the end of September.

Frode Holte has not driven in an ERC event since the 2011 series finale (main pic). Holte recently rented his Volvo to compatriot Daniel Holten for the Norwegian and Swedish ERC events.

24 | #102 – August 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #102 – August 2012 | 25 Shoestring stories – the life of a low budget racer in the European championship Pride before the fall really hard, and even in the couple of laps I did in practice my Engine failure curtails Mallory Park run confidence was high, it all felt very, very positive. They say pride comes before a fall, and unfortunately for me this seems to have been the case for us at Mallory. I was on the front row of the grid for the first heat. The first little problem we had was that I couldn’t see the start lights properly from my position, and I can’t say I was anything other than disappointed with the way the start marshal addressed this issue. However, when the lights did change I made a reasonable start and was a good car length ahead of anybody else, into second gear and then the engine dropped onto three cylinders, then two. I pulled onto the grass onto the inside and as the rest of the field went past I turned off the cut-off switch and got out. We had previously had a misfire issue with the crank angle sensor before the event, so I wondered if this had been the cause of the problem. Having got the car towed back to the awning, the engine wouldn’t turn over ... strange. At no point did I think the engine had let go. No bad noises (aside from the misfire), no smoke. Nothing. Not being able to turn the engine through a full rotation by hand, and the tell-tail sign of spark plugs being stuck in their threads in the head told enough. The engine had dropped at least one valve and it was game over. The next day in the workshop I removed the engine from the car and took the cylinder head off to discover three dropped valves, damaged pistons and a wrecked cylinder head along with much more carnage. As I write this we are still trying to determine what the cause of the failure was. Indeed, my first engine failure in a race car since I started in 2005. I was asked at Mallory if I had a spare engine, and unsurprisingly the answer to that question is no. Over the With improvements to the Clio appearing to next week or so we need to fully investigate the damage to all pay off, Hal Ridge made a good start at Mallory the components of the engine and try to work out what went Park, only for engine failure to stymie his run wrong. The failure will of course put me out of both ERC and knock a hole in his season. events in Belgium and Holland, and also the next round of the

Matt BristowMatt British Championship at Lydden Hill on August Bank Holiday weekend. We need to decide what to do next, as I wrote in last month’s We left the Hungarian ERC round with the intention of and it has to be said that some of the very low priority things that long. The first corner, Gerrards, is a famously fast corner issue we have been investigating using a de-stroked two litre improving quite a few areas of the Clio before our next don’t get done every time due to the time scales involved. of UK race tracks. I had asked around and been told it was engine in the quest for an increase in power. It’s a case of outing at Mallory Park, round three of the British Rallycross However, before Mallory we had addressed everything on the easily flat prior to getting to the circuit. Having walked it I had weighing up the best option for both the short and long term. Championship. These were quite optimistic given the time post Hungary list and more. It was great to travel to Mallory in my doubts but after just one lap it was flat out no problem. The Twingo’s progress has taken a battering since I last between the events and the costs involved. However, brilliantly around two hours from home, a nice change to the 24 + hours There was so much grip! The new brake pads were amazing, wrote, what with getting ready for Mallory followed by the we managed to do everything we wanted to. Following our we normally spend in the van travelling to ERC events. and after the fast first corner there was a hard braking area, the issues at the event. Literally the moment I finish writing this I clutch problems that arose just before Hungary (that we got After walking the track first thing on the Sunday morning first time I braked I had to get back on the power because the am going to work on the Twingo, it is starting to make progress through the event with), the clutch was replaced with a much at Mallory Park, we were ready to go. Practice went well, brakes were so efficient. A fantastic improvement. The Clio’s that can be seen rather than just planned and imagined. Check better unit that should alleviate any problems again. The out- although I stopped on the last lap as the car had picked up gearing was very well suited to the Mallory track, and the car out my website and facebook page for photos and updates. of-date seat was replaced, and we made modifications to the a pretty big vibration (since it was just a practice session I felt really, really planted too. One last thing. I want to give congratulations to my engineer inlet side of the engine. Also, an issue we had in Hungary was wanted to make sure everything was ok). The vibration was Dave and I had discussed my driving in detail, post-Hungary. / mechanic / van driver / motivator and friend Dave Tulett who with the brakes, or at least the lack of feeling though the brake found and solved before the first heat. Despite this, the first The conclusion we had come to was that my driving pace has recently fulfilled his ambition and is now working at the pedal. To solve this we replaced the front brake pads with some laps of practice I did do were brilliant! is good, but I needed to get to that pace quicker. My fastest Ford WRC Team M-Sport, here’s hoping he won’t be able to much, much higher quality items. Between events we try to I have never been so fast in the Clio as down the main time is quite often in the third heat, by which point it is too keep himself away from the antics of the ERC too often! list everything that requires doing to the car in a priority order, straight at Mallory, most European circuits don’t have straights late to make a good difference. 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