Ford fills top five with Fiesta ST at the New Hampshire round of the Global Rallycross Championship in the United States.
Toomas Heikkinen claims his second consecutive victory to extend his championship lead. Patrik Sandell earns his second podium of the season in second place, while Brian Deegan completes an all-Ford top three.
A second consecutive victory for Toomas Heikkinen in the fourth round of the Global Rallycross Championship at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the United States paved the way for Ford Fiesta STs to fill the top five places.
Heikkinen is the only driver to have claimed a podium in all four GRC rounds this season and the Bluebeam OlsbergsMSE Fiesta ST driver stretched his championship lead.
Patrik Sandell finished just under three seconds behind, with Brian Deegan completing a Ford clean sweep of the podium. Tanner Foust led the entire race until he hit a wall in the final corner and dropped to fourth, finishing ahead of Ken Block.
It was a great day for me, said Heikkinen. The finish was really exciting. I was in third for a lot of the race but passed for second. Then on the final lap my spotter was telling me to push and so I was putting the pressure on Tanner. He made a mistake and that was the key to my win.
Rain fell intermittently during the event, making car set-up a challenge, but Heikkinen was second fastest in the seeding session behind Block. The Finn went on to win his heat to qualify for the final in style.
Sandell took his second podium of the season, after finishing second in his heat behind Heikkinen. In the final I started on the second row and I knew if I could get the perfect start then I could survive the first corner and try to gain a few spaces. I think I was second after Tanner on the corner and then just tried to drive the best I could which ended up being second, he said.
Deegan finished second behind Foust in the heats to gain a second row start for the final.
I came around on the inside of the first corner and everyone just started crashing into each other, he said. I was right behind Topi (Heikkinen) and just tried to keep fourth place until I saw Tanner come in hot on the final corner of the race and crash. You cant stop until the chequered flag so I was able to sneak in there and finish third.
Foust explained the final lap misjudgement which cost him victory.
I came into the chicane too hot and didnt have the best exit for the last straight. I thought Topi may be gaining on me and heard my spotter say inside over the radio, which was code for someone could pass me on the inside, he said. I protected to the inside of the track and when I went to the brakes I didnt think about all the mud and dirt from all the rain we had. I almost accelerated from that point into the wall. It was horrible. Once my eyeballs were pointed forward, I saw the car was still running, put it into first and tried to finish, added Foust.
The fastest seeding time and a heat win put Block on the front row for the final. The Hoonigan Racing Division driver made a good start but was immediately caught up in the aggressive first turn and exited the bend in sixth, climbing to fifth later in the race.
Final results (Ford finishers)1. Toomas Heikkinen2. Patrik Sandell3. Brian Deegan4. Tanner Foust 5. Ken Block
Drivers points 1. Toomas Heikkinen 762. Tanner Foust 513. Brian Deegan 474. Patrik Sandell 46 5. Liam Doran 43
Manufacturers points1. Ford 1472. Dodge 433. Subaru 41
The next GRC round is at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday 20 July.
