Rallycross 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 WORLDR RALLYCROSSall WORLDyc RALLYCROSSros WORLDs RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDWORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD #94RALLYCROSS NOVEMBER WORLD 2011 RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSCALENDAR WORLD DETAILS RALLYCROSS GIVE SHAPE TO 2012 WORLD EURO SERIES 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 #94 NOV 2011 Grading system forcing WORLD organisers to improve

Poland removed itself from the equation, the Czech Republic and Portugal failed to make the grade in 2011. Those are Website changes the three events that will not run in next year’s European Our RallycrossWorld.com website has changed and is now championship. Losing the Czech event was no surprise after open to all viewers without the need to register. It will continue How to get Rallycross World the shocking way in which the 2011 series finale was run. The to provide news from all major Rallycross events as well as Rallycross World is produced monthly and distributed as a pdf document Portuguese may consider themselves unlucky, but while what rounding up National championships. Click here to go to You can subscribe directly or receive it as a subscription benefit at RallycrossWorld.com happened on the track was good at Montalegre, behind the RallycrossWorld.com We also now offer a method for you to buy a printed copy or iPad version via MagCloud scenes it was not nearly good enough, and not as good as in previous years. Others appear to have escaped by the skin of World wide print service and iPad magazine their teeth, Austria only remains in the championship because The MagCloud print-on-demand service now delivers Poland has withdrawn… anywhere in the world. You can order a printed magazine to be The level of competition on the circuits gets higher every delivered to your door simply by clicking the link on the left or Get it free! Printed magazine iPad year. Grading events at a time when applicants outnumber from the back page. MagCloud also makes Rallycross World RallycrossWorld. MagCloud is a print You can download spaces in the calendar, is creating competition off the track too. available for iPad. Just look for the free MagCloud app in the com is the essential on demand service Rallycross World to Improving events is good news for everyone and it’s clear that iPad App Store and then select Rallycross World from the Rallycross news that means you can your iPad through the organisers cannot be complacent. 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 Contents within the app. 5 Top Story 7 Diary Gallery 12 Diary October

RallycrossWorld.com MagCloud.com App store 18 2012 Calendar and regulations 24 Bakkerud needs ﬁve-million 26 Münnich goes for A3 28 A new car for Isachsen? Click it! Copyright 30 Shoestring stories 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 Check the whole advert as Tim Whittington 2011. some have multiple links – and [email protected] you wouldn’t want to miss anything, would you? Contributors: There are also links from Eddi Laumanns, Hal Ridge, Henk de Winter, Johan Dingenen some editorial items and we will This issue published : November 1 always try to offer a live link Next issue published: December 1 wherever we quote a website www.myriorama.com address in editorial. [email protected] myriorama 2 | #94 – November 2011 ©RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 3 Top story

Germany is back in the ERC next year, the Estering at Buxtehude regaining its once traditional date slot as the season closing event.

SVERRE ISACHSEN Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque European Rallycross Champion 2009 European Rallycross Champion 2010 No surprises European Rallycross Champion 2011 JULIAN GODFREY Duratec 1.6 – 225bhp, 181Nm torque 2012 ERC calendar & rule changes ﬁrmed up Winner, 2011 Super1600 ERC Belgium

+44 (0)1435 865999 The shape of the 2012 FIA European Rallycross All proposals, along with the calendar, remain provisional Championships was established by the FIA Oﬀ-Road until approved by the World Motor Sport Council at its next Commission during it’s October meeting in Paris. meeting on December 7. RACETUNERS.COM The ten-event calendar takes place across 24-weeks, the p18 > slightly longer calendar formed by the relatively early start to the season which will get under way with the British event at European Rallycross Championship 2012 Lydden on Easter weekend, this falling in early April next year. Great Britain Lydden April 7-9 The calendar produced no real surprises, events in Finland, France Dreux April 27-29 Germany and Hungary returning in 2012 as expected. Equally Austria Greinbach May 25-27 there is no new thinking in the schedule of the races with the Hungary Nyirad June 1-3 possible exception of the Finland-Germany double-header that Norway Hell June 22-24 closes the season. Sweden Höljes June29-July 1

JULIAN GODFREY JOS KUYPERS KOEN PAUWELS In addition to the calendar, the ORC meeting ﬁrmed plans to Belgium Maasmechelen August 3-5 Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 810Nm torque Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque Duratec 2.0 – 304.7bhp, 256.8Nm torque restrict the number of engines used by competitors next year Holland Valkenswaard August 10-12 British Rallycross Champion 2011 Dutch Rallycross Champion 2011 Belgian Rallycross Champion, TouringCar 2011 and put forward proposals for revised sporting regulations, Finland Kouvola September 21-23 including larger grid sizes in the ﬁnals. Germany Buxtehude September 28-30 RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 5 Diary gallery Czech mate There has been a Czech event in the ERC since 1995, all but one running taking place at Sosnova. The event has not always been smooth but this year’s version was the most chaotic, a series of problems resulting in it being ranked lowest of the 2011 championship and losing its place in the schedule for 2012.

RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 7 Diary gallery Up and down Czech run for Binks Rising British star David Binks got a last chance run in the Czech ERC round, his outing in an OMSE Fiesta managed after the penultimate round of the British championship was cancelled. Binks had a good run and survived this moment in the second heat, until a puncture in the third heat caused a heavy crash.

RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 9 Diary gallery Flower power After Andreas Bakkerud won the Super1600 title his team and sponsors wrapped his Clio in gold. Lars Øivind Enerberg’s team did things a little differently and arrived for the final round in party mode, mechanics dressed in flowery shirts and gold hats as their man won yet again.

RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 11 Diary October Diary

October 2 sure of the Class B (up to 1600cc) title, and victories at October 9 The final round of the European Rallycross Championship Maasmechelen secured the class A (over 1600cc) and C European Rallycross Champion Sverre Isachsen is presented produces event wins for the three incoming champions; Sverre (‘Promo’) titles for Martijn Vanhove (Toyota MR2) and Djoere with the Royal Norwegian Automobile Club’s Gold medal. The Isachsen, Andreas Bakkerud and Lars Øivind Enerberg each Nolens (Opel Kadett). highest award from the club, it has only ever been awarded ending their championship winning season with event wins. once previously, to Petter Solberg for winning the 2003 World The event itself is less successful, organisational difficulties Rally Championship. The award is presented to Isachsen on leading to the first heat being postponed and all three heats the opening of a themed exhibition celebrating his career then being run on Sunday when there were further delays to in the ‘Motor Loft’ of the Sanden Hotel in his home town of the timetable. Hokksund. Super1600: 1.6L @ 240 bhp TouringCar: 2.0L @ 296 bhp Duratec HE October 4 » The final round of the Belgian Rallycross Championship German Rallycross driver Klaus Butenschön (74) dies following takes place at Maasmechelen where Jochen Coox took the a heart operation. event win but Patrick Van Mechelen scooped the title in his Subaru Impreza. Davy Van Den Branden lifts the Super1600 October 8 title, Koen Pauwels takes the TouringCar class and Steve Maris The final round of the Belgian regional ‘VAS’ championship emerges on top of the closely fought Supernational crown takes place at Maasmechelen. Danny De Beuckelaer (Opel although Kristof Bex won the final round. www.zomermotorsport.com Corsa B) had done enough prior to the final round to make [email protected] Johan Johan Dingenen tel. 0031 (0)548 - 361385 a potential winner, from start to podium ��

» The CEZ series finale is held in conjunction with the final round of the Austrian championship at Horn-Fuglau. Alois Höller claimed the latter but second place was enough for Zoltan Harsanyi to take the CEZ title. A troubled run meant that Jürgen Weiß, who had started the weekend with a hand on both titles, left with nothing. Vaclav Veverka Jnr. won the Super1600 class while Patrick Breiteneder was first home in the TouringCar class. The Supernational section was won by Roman Castoral.

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RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 13

�� Diary October

» As the French championship enters the home straight, October 16 wins the Super1600 class but the title is taken by David OIivier for Life scheme at Trondheim and, as a part of his day, gets Gaetan Serazin puts pressure on the points leaders by winning and his Renault Twingo II. Marc Morize hangs on to Division a ride with Børseth in his Focus Supercar at Bollandsmoen the penultimate round at Essay. Philippe Tollemer takes place Three crown despite sixth place here and a late season charge Motorsportsenter. ahead of “Knapick”, Jerome Grosset-Janin and Samuel Peu. by Christophe Saunois who wins again here. Division Four, Steven Bossard returns to the series and claims yet another meanwhile, provides an event win and the title for Yvonnick October 18 Super1600 win ahead of Laurant Chartrain. Division Three is Jagu. The Logan Cup series sees Fabien Grosset-Janin take the The Off-Road Commission meats at the FIA in Paris and won by Christophe Saunois, Division Four by Yvonnick Jagu event win and second place in the championship which is won publishes a draft calendar for the 2012 season as well as and the Logan Cup by Evan Libner. by Clement Dupont. changes to the technical and sporting regulations. The proposals remain provisional until approved by the World » The final round of the German Rallycross Championship » While most national series are winding down, the 2011- Motor Sports Council on December 7. results in a tie, René Münnich and Rolf Volland each taking 2012 Irish championship gets underway at Mondello Park their sixth win of the year (from six events) and ending the where George Tracey wins the Superfinal in his Citroën Xsara. October 19 season with a maximum points score and a hand each on Supernational class winner Ian O’Connell races his Lotus Exige Among the dates for national championships in France set at a the title. Taking place at Schlüchtern, the event produces a home to a magnificent second place. Shane Colfer (Peugeot meeting of the FFSA board in Paris on October 19 were those Supernational win and the title for Hans Kirchhof (Porsche 911 The final round of the French championship is run at Dreux, 106) wins the 16v Stock Hatch class, Noel O’Brien (Peugeot for the 2012 French Rallycross Championship. The calendar GT3) while Division Five was won by Björn Barkhoff (VW Polo the event also observed for inclusion in the 2012 ERC, where 205) winning the 8v section while James Fleming (Nissan contains no real surprises, Dreux and Essay again getting two IV). Fabien Pailler closes his impressive season with victory Micra) wins the Junior class. events each while the new Lessay venue which joined the and second placed Samuel Peu seals his first Supercar title. championship this year, returns as one of three events in July. Gaetan Serazin places third, missing the title by a single point. October 17 French Rallycross Championship Christophe Wilt is third on the track, ahead of Jerome Grosset- Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway visits former April 8, Essay Janin who ends the year third in the series. Laurant Chartrain European Rallycross champion Knut Ove Børseth’s Drive April 29, Dreux (ERC round) May 13, Faleyras June 10, Chateauroux July 1, Lavaré July 15, Lessay July 29, Kerlabo

October 11 Global Rallycross announces that it has retained Wasserman Media Group to “head their business development eﬀorts, including growing business relationships, as well as manufacturer and commercial partnerships”. The press statement also infers that Travis Pastrana will compete in the 2012 championship.

» Andreas Bakkerud gets a test drive in Sverre Isachsen’s Supercar Ford Focus at the Lyngås Motorbane near Drammen. Isachsen had promised Bakkerud the test as a reward if the 20- year-old won the Super1600 in the ERC. October 13 Münnich Motorsport boss René Münnich conﬁrms that his plans to build a pair of Audi A3 Supercars is ongoing and that he hopes to have the ﬁrst car ready to race by the start of the 2012 ERC season. October 14 Three-time European Rallycross Champion Sverre Isachsen is seriously investigating a change of car for the 2012 season. The title holder says he will not sell his Ford Focus until a new car is at least as fast, and will not be drawn on any particular new

car, although he says “I have a car in my eye”. for Erlend Eidesmo/Kjør livet 14 | #94 – November 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 15 Diary October

September 2, Lohéac September 16, Mayenne September 30, Dreux October 14, Essay October 23 Double European Rallycross Champion Lars Larsson is among five men taken to hospitals in Sweden suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. The five had been sleeping in the team transporter the night after Larsson’s son Robin had raced in the NGK Masters Folkrace event at the Kalvholmens Motorstadion near Karlstad. The younger Larsson is believed to have slept in a hotel (outside which the transporter was parked). Following medical treatment, all are expected to make a full recovery.

» Lukas Walfridson, nephew of ERC regular Stig-Olov, tests one of the Helmia Motorsport Renault Clio Supercars at the Höljesbanan. The 18-year-old son of Lars-Erik Walfridson has had a successful season in CrossKart events and also tested a Set Promotion Super1600 Renault Clio at Sosnova in the Czech Republic on October 3. October 27 Dutchman Kevin Abbring wins the FIA Institute’s Young Driver Excellence Academy. The 22-year-old rally driver begun his career in the RST class of the Dutch Rallycross Championship, winning the series in both 2005 and ’06. Among those he beat to the FIA award was Timmy Hansen. October 31 Run on a public holiday at Mondello Park, the second round of the Irish Rallycross Championship provides George Tracey with his second win of the year, the Supercar racer again chased home by Supernational class winner Ian O’Connell’s Lotus Exige. Eddie Peterson (Stock Hatch 16v), Noel O’Brien (Stock Hatch 8v), Noel Greene (Rally Car) and Sophie Byrne

(Junior) also take class wins. Sarah Byrne 16 | #94 – November 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 17 2012 calendar and regulations

Shaping the future FIA Off-Road Commission details calendar and rule changes

When the FIA Off-Road Commission published its calendar for the 2012 European Rallycross Championships after its October meeting in Paris, the schedule included, as expected, events in Finland, Germany and Hungary. The three events were dropped from the 2011 series having been ranked the lowest of the ten rounds in the 2010 championship and were automatically eligible to return next year by the simple expedient of submitting a valid application. To accommodate the three returning events in the championship, which current regulations limit to a maximum of ten rounds, three of the 2011 organisers faced losing their events. One space was created in the calendar when Automobilklub Rzemieslnik withdrew its application to organise an event in Poland in 2012. The vacancy meant that the ORC needed only to drop two events, this again achieved by using the event rankings from the 2011 season, the two races with the lowest scores being those in the Czech Republic and Portugal. While the detail of the rankings has not been published, we do know that the Czech event was placed tenth, Portugal ninth and that the eight-placed event was Austria. In Greinbach the RCC–SÜD Großpetersdorf might offer thanks to the Polish... How are events ranked? The idea that the way in which events are run is judged, or measured, is nothing new. Senior officials for part of the organisational hierarchy and report on their duty at an event. As with any other FIA international event, each round of the European Rallycross Championship is presided over by a panel of stewards, one nominated by the ASN of the host country and two of other nationalities. The stewards are there to oversee the event, ensure that it runs according to the regulations and to act in a judicial role in the event of disputes or disciplinary procedures. In addition to the reports provided by the stewards, there is an FIA nominated observer at each event whose nationality is also neutral; in the 2011 ERC this role was split between a Dutchman and Austrian, neither holding the position of FIA Observer at his home event. The observer plays a less direct role in the event, his function being to observe and report on what happens. The reports produced by the stewards take into account a wide range of aspects in the organisation of the event ranging Norway is among those that kept its place in the ERC schedule, but the event at from the facilities available at the track, compliance with Hell near Trondheim was ranked low in the 2011 series and is among those that regulatory items and the way in which officials perform to needs to improve. the appearance of the venue. The observer’s report also takes into consideration organisational aspects, combining this with 18 | #94 – November 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 19 2012 calendar and regulations

safety, the performance of officials and promotion, etc. The observer may also check with competitors and media about their experience of the event. Standardised reporting forms Eight-car grids have with many items simply ‘tick box’ are designed to make the been used in national reporting system fair and even. The ranking of events at the championships, including the British end of the year is calculated by combining the scores from the here seen at Mondello various reports and applying a weighting formula that places Park, and will now be greater importance on the report of the FIA Observer, the final adopted by the ERC. result calculated as a percentage. Although the details of the reports and rankings for the 2011 season have not been published, Rallycross World believes that the Swedish event at Höljes was again graded as the best event, that the withdrawn Polish round was ranked fourth and that the second to sixth placed events were all judged to be quite equal, as little as 1% separating them. Seventh, eighth and ninth places were also close, but we believe that the troubled Czech event was clearly the lowest scoring of the year. Sporting regulations As usual at its autumn meeting, the Off-Road Commission has also put forward proposals for changes to the sporting and technical regulations. The most notable of these concerns an increase in the number of starters in the finals at ERC events, the grid size increased from six to eight cars. The top six drivers will qualify directly for the A final, seventh to 12th places for the B final and 13th to 20th for the C final. The first two finishers in the C final will progress to the B and the first two finishers in the B final will move on to the A final. The grids for the finals will be have a three-two-three formation. There must be at least 17 qualifiers (drivers who have finished in two heats) for all three finals to be run. The C final will be dropped in there are fewer than 17 and the C and B finals dropped if there are fewer than 11 qualifiers. The rule requiring that there be at least eight starters in a class in order for it to be awarded championship points is to be removed, meaning all classes will be awarded points at all events irrespective of the size of entry. During the 2011 championship there was some variation in the order in which the classes were run and it is now formally proposed that each event organiser will be able to decide whether to run TouringCar or Super1600 first. There are a number of other minor changes or clarifications in the wording of the rules, this the usual process of regulations developing and being refined over time and by experience of use. 20 | #94 – November 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 21 2012 calendar and regulations

Technical regulations The suggestion that a limit on the number of engines used by competitors during a season might be restricted was first raised in May (see Rallycross World #89, June 2011). Competitors and teams were consulted and offered the chance to make their own proposals on the issue during the year, as were engine builders working in the European championship. Late in the season the plan crystalised around suggestions that a competitor who changed an engine during an event would be penalised six places on their qualifying position. This accompanied by a restriction on the use of turbochargers in the Supercar class to two turbos per event. The final proposal has been modified slightly to reflect the fact that the size of the grid for finals will rise to eight cars in 2012, the penalty for changing the engine now eight places. To police the use of engines and turbos, scrutineers will seal engines at the sump/block and cylinder head/block as well sealing the turbochargers across the restrictor, compressor and turbine housing. The intention of the rule is clear; competitors are expected to make an engine last at least one event, and the penalty for failing to do so is harsh. During the year the argument put forward by officials has been consistent; one engine per event is not extreme, specially when you consider that the distance covered during an event is typically around 50km (31 miles).

As a measure to help control costs, competitors will be restricted to two turbochargers and one engine per event from 2012. Using more will bring an eight-place penalty.

22 | #94 – November 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 23 Super1600 champ sets out budgetary need Five million Krone boy Bakkerud’s Supercar mission

The new Super1600 FIA European Rallycross champion is Andreas Bakkerud won the ERC’s Super1600 seeking a budget of five-million Norwegian krone with which section in 2011 and is now working hard to find to make the step up to the Supercar category. Having signed- the budget to graduate to a Supercar next year. off his 2011 championship season with a win in the final round in the Czech Republic just a few days before his 20th birthday, Andreas Bakkerud has launched into the business of gaining the backing with which to secure a two-year deal with a front- running Supercar team. Bakkerud’s five-million krone (€640,000/USD880,000) budget is a tall order even for a driver with the kind of track- record and CV that he can boast, and there is a ‘plan B’ in his mind. “Of course I want to race a Supercar, that is the ultimate thing for any Rallycross driver because it’s the top class and the cars are so exciting but everyone I work with knows that this is a very big step,” said Bakkerud, “We have run our own team in the past and that is always an option but you have to think that, in addition to the running costs, you need at least two- million krone (€260,000/USD350,000) to buy a good car. The most likely thing would be for us to run with a pro-team, as we did this year with Set Promotion in Super1600. I know that I need to have a two-year deal and some of the best teams have already spoken to me about driving for them. We are working very hard to find the commercial partners to make this happen but I recognise that it will not be easy and we have the option to continue with Set Promotion for another year in Super1600. It will require a smaller budget and will also be very attractive to try and defend the European championship gold medal.” One of the best of the new breed of young racers making their way in Rallycross, Bakkerud has a strong management and promotion team behind him as well as a career record that makes for impressive reading, besides his on-track success he won the Norwegian ASN’s talent scheme in 2010. This does not reduce the size of the task facing Bakkerud if he is to realise his dream of making the move to Supercars in 2012 but for a 20-year-old career racer the amount of money needed here is not great. Were Bakkerud in single seaters and looking to drive in a European series his annual Supercar budget would just about get him into Formula Renault 2.0. Were he looking for a drive in Formula Renault 3.5 he’d need to find something like €750,000/USD1million per year... 24 | #94 – November 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 25 Audi plan on course for 2012 A3 Supercar in 2012 Münnich Motorsport confirms marque shift

A year after he first revealed plans to build a pair Audi A3 Supercars, René Münnich has confirmed that his Münnich Motorsport/AllInkl.com team is still at work on the project and that he hopes to have the first new car ready to race for the start of the 2012 European Rallycross Championship season. “It’s a big project because we will build the cars and have everything ourselves in-house. Just doing the drawings has taken a long time and this has also been a very busy year for the team, not just in Rallycross but we now run four GT cars Audi’s ‘Clubsport’ A3 Quattro may offer and just to keep all that going during the season takes almost styling clues for a future Rallycross Supercar. all the time we have,” said Münnich. Progress on the Audi René Münnich will replace his Skoda Fabia project has been made, however, “The first priority once the with an Audi A3. Rallycross season is over will be to finish the new Skoda Fabia Super1600 car we are building for Mandy August, that is nearly complete and when it is ready we can work concentrate on the Audi. I want to race the car next year and I think that should be possible.” The Audi A3 will carry over the major mechanical components from his Skoda Fabia II Supercar – the engine and Sellholm transmission and, at present, the plan is to continue with a longitudinal car. “I’m not sure that there is such a big advantage from transverse except that you may be able to mount the engine lower in the car. We are working on ways to mount the engine lower in the Audi, the problem is getting the drive for the front wheels under the engine. We have looked at different ideas, including using a chain-drive system so there is no shaft under the engine,” said Münnich who hopes that the A3’s longer (in comparison to his Fabia II) wheelbase will provide a car that is easier to drive, “The A3 is the same size as a Focus. I’ve spent time watching cars on the track and the Focus is much more stable than the shorter cars,” said Münnich who has no firm plan for the second of the A3s beyond what he stated when he first spoke of the new cars at the end of 2010: “We have other drivers in the GT team so I might do something with them and have two cars in some events, or rent one of the cars. It would be ideal to rent one of the cars for the whole season but I think that we have to show we are a winning team first before other drivers are interested to come here.” The presence of different cars from a manufacturer that is not currently represented in the ERC will be a positive addition to the championship in 2012, as is Münnich’s willingness to run cars on a commercial basis and to cross promote his activities in Rallycross with his sportscar team and the drivers involved there. 26 | #94 – November 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 27 Champion looks for a new car

Isachsen looks for a new car Triple champion to keep Focus until new car is faster

Three time European Rallycross champion Sverre Isachsen is IGM and English tuner Julian Godfrey Engineering over the manufacturer then of course I want that,” Isachsen said, “I working on plans to replace the Ford Focus that has carried last five years and identifies them as key players in his future. think I have time on my side because the car I have is fast him to a hat trick titles but says he will not sell ‘Stina’, as he “I think I have the best technical partners and I’m working enough and I do not have to change, so we can think about after he drove calls his Focus, until any new car is built, tested and proven to with them now. The engine is the heart of the car and most this and plan carefully what we do. If I change, it will only be an Impreza for Subaru Rally Team USA in the 2010 X Games be at least as fast. important thing so we have studied the options there and then for something better.” (see Rallycross World #80, August 2010) but subsequently “I have a car in my eye but I’m not going to tell you what that looked at what we can do with different chassis; we can change With the OMSE team so strongly connected to Ford, said that he did not think the Subaru flat-four motor was is until we are certain that we will change,” Isachsen said, “At a lot there, but the basic size has to be right to make a good Isachsen’s acceptance that he has no chance of forging a good enough. His current statement that the engine is the the moment everything is open, even closing my own team and car,” he said. commercial relationship with the Blue Oval is not surprising, most important component do nothing to contradict that going to a commercial team just to drive, absolutely anything Isachsen has driven Ford Focus (the original version and now but it leaves him with the prospect of trying to make a view. Perhaps Isachsen’s best hope lays with the VW Group. is possible although I would like to be able to continue running the ‘MkII’) since moving to the ERC in 2003 but is most likely manufacturer-level connection with a brand that is not Encompassing VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda, some engine blocks my own team as I am used to having that level of control.” to move away from Ford in the future. “It’s not likely that I can currently involved, or to charm an existing deal away from are common across brands and models and have already been The Norwegian has worked with Swedish chassis builder do anything with Ford and if there is a chance to work with a another team. He was linked with a possible move to Subaru proven in Rallycross. 28 | #94 – November 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 2011 | 29 Shoestring stories – the life of a low budget racer in the European championship The price of progress More lessons, and more expense as Clio gets faster

Ridge and mechanic Dave Tullet dream about a Supercar while checking out an Eklund Saab. Right, Ready for action in the Czech Republic.

It feels like a long time since I first had the idea to try and do They say racing is the best form of testing after all. We are still I was hoping to race at the Grand Prix at Croft next week, event. It ended with all racing being run on the Sunday. I was the ERC but, at the same time, sitting here having just finished struggling in two areas, the main one being power. We are but the Clio’s gearbox developed a problem during the event a little taken aback by the decision, based on my assessment of the second season in which I have raced in international giving away over 50bhp to many of our rivals, which is huge. in Czech so it is back with Gripper being repaired and won’t the conditions. I was encouraged that Guttorm Lindefjell and events, it somehow doesn’t seem real. This is being addressed over the winter months, new camshafts be repaired in time. The cost of running a car of this type Ludvig Hunsbedt, a pair renowned for their carefree driving, It’s amazing where life takes you, and although I have yet to are on their way to try and extract more power. Again this is also becomes more apparent as we go faster; the clutch thanked me for making a judgement on the conditions for the score an ERC point, I certainly don’t have any regrets about a juggling act, cams are not cheap, so I have had to sell my and bearings also need replacing. All problems that need benefit of others, and that it was the correct thing to do. After the route we are taking. It’s not just the racing in the ERC, it’s current ones in order to afford a new set. Of course we are addressing, and all more expense. all, safety must to come first. This has become more apparent the adventure and experience. Myself and my tiny team have not going to be able to get the same sort of power as the front The Czech event itself went well for us, although the over the last couple of weeks in motor sport, with the high had some money-can’t-buy experiences over the last couple of runners, but if we can make a good improvement on what we pace in Super1600 was mega! The lower-midfield pack are profile deaths of Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli. It’s easy years. The stories that come with these are for the most part have it will certainly help. normally those who we race with, and with nobody like that in to forget that, even in Rallycross with its good safety record, we unprintable, and for some uncanny reason usually involve a We have found that the faster we are making the car go, attendance we were left trying to punch well above our weight. are not invincible and safety must be taken seriously. Scandinavian or two. Or, indeed, a Celt. the more different issues are highlighted. Grip and traction It’s the little things you notice progress wise, aside from time On a lighter note, the ERC calendar for next season looks But, of course the reason for doing the ERC is to race, and seem to have become more of an issue the further down the of course. A year ago we wouldn’t have even have been able to good, and for the money-no-object teams it looks great. although more progress is made at some events than others, development road we have come. Working with what we have I even see the likes of Jaroslav Kalny after half a lap, and this is If I can get the money together I will try and do seven we have yet to go to an event where we haven’t been able to think we have come as far as we can in terms of improving the no longer the case. events, I don’t think I will entertain trying to get to the three take massive positives away. It must be easy to look at the final set up. Don’t get me wrong, what we have is good, and cheap, The one massive issue in Czech was the way the track was Scandinavian rounds and this should help with costs massively. finishing order from events and believe that we have made very but I feel we are at the point where we need better; all four prepared, and the dust that was caused as a result. On Saturday I had hoped that the off season might get quieter the more little progress from day one of our European campaign, but dampers on the Clio cost less in total than just one used by the the second free practice was cancelled and the timed practice experienced we become at the ERC, and there would be less to the reality is that when we started we were almost days off the cars that are regularly in the A final. Using this suspension has and first heat were both late, so the dust was soon coupled do. It is in fact the polar opposite, we are learning more, trying pace, and now we are knocking on the door of a chance at C been great, and brilliant for the money, but to make progress with low sun. I was in the first race of the first heat, and at the to implement what have learned and the hunger to succeed finals. we need to be using something better. As usual this is all down back found the dust horrendous. I had to stop to see where the grows more and more. We have some significant changes to make, but we have to money, and I am putting huge amount of effort into finding Joker Lap was! In my eyes that wasn’t safe. I made my point to It looks like we are going to be busy! only learned this from doing the events we have raced in. the money to improve the car ready for 2012. Kenneth Hansen, who in turn was talking to the officials of the halridge.com 30 | #94 – November 2011 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #94 – November 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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