Andy Scott will line up in the prime spot for the second round heats of the FIA European Rallycross Championship (ERC) in Holland on Sunday. After a promising start to his second weekend in succession in the ERC, Scott powered his Scott Trawlers-backed Ford Focus ST to fourth place in the opening heat and finished tenth overall from a grid of 24.
The Dumfries fisherman, was immediately at ease being reunited with the Tony Bardy Motorsport-prepared two-litre, 16v Supercar he drove last weekend in Belgium. In free practice on Saturday morning, despite not being entirely happy with the traction on the tarmac sections around the Eurocircuit Valkenswaard, Scott was consistently around the top ten mark and finished eighth after the qualifying runs.
Lining up for his opening heat, Scott was confident that the sterling work undertaken by the British team, including changing the rear, centre and front differentials, had cured his apparent lack of grip going forwards. However, after his first run through turn one in the days first encounter, it quickly became apparent that the problem persisted, leaving Scott unable to progress through the field, and the team with some work to do ahead of Sunday.Returning to the scene of his popular first ERC podium finish in 2011, Scott has high hopes of a repeat performance in Sundays A Final, and knows a good result in the second and third heats could prove crucial in his bid to stand on the top step in front of an enthusiastic Dutch crowd.
The reigning MSA British Rallycross Vice-Champion looks set to join Pavel Koutny, Ronny Scheveneels, Jos Jansen and Patrick van Mechelen in the second four-lap sprint for victory, with the heats starting at 14.30. The days third heats will get underway at 12.30, with the Finals due to start at 15.00.
Andy Scott:
I came here confident of being able to repeat the podium we got last year and I still feel the same despite the problems weve had today. Were losing probably three tenths of a second on the tarmac sections in two places, and absolutely flying on the gravel. So once thats sorted I really believe we could be in with a shout.
Its naturally a lot different to the GRC and indeed the car I compete in within the GRC, however the Ford Focus is a great car to drive, and I feel very much at home in it. The Tony Bardy Motorsport team once again did a great job to change all three differentials in between the sessions, but tonight well have a lot of work to do to establish exactly why were losing time so we can come out tomorrow fighting fit.
Once again there was a very enthusiastic crowd here today, and such is the support of ERC that Im sure the figure will dramatically increase tomorrow for what promises to be a thrilling days racing here in Valkenswaard.
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