FIA World Rallycross ChampionshipHeikkinen fourth in Sweden
Toomas “Topi” Heikkinen, at the wheel of the Volkswagen Polo RX, finished fourth in the final of the home event for Volkswagen Team Sweden and Marklund Motorsport in Höljes, Sweden. The Finn from the Marklund Motorsport team was a late qualifier for the semi-final, in which he then produced an impressive performance. Heikkinen started the final race from the third row, but promptly made up two places on the opening lap and was able to defend fourth place through to the finish. Team-mate Per-Gunnar Andersson (S) had to park up his car after the heats. He clocked a number of fastest laps in heat four, but was made to complete two joker laps following a jump start and eventually finished 13th, meaning he failed to progress to the next round. Local favourite Johan Kristoffersson (S) of Volkswagen Team Sweden made it through to the semi-final, in which he finished sixth to signal the end of his weekend. Team-mate Tord Linnerud’s (N) challenge came to an end after the fourth heat. Tommy Rustad (N), racing for Marklund Motorsport in the FIA European Rallycross Championship, qualified for the semi-final. The Norwegian produced an impressive display at the wheel of a Volkswagen Polo RX run by Marklund Motorsport together with HTB Racing, finishing fourth to narrowly miss out on the final by just one place. In the Drivers’ Championship, Kristoffersson is now second behind championship leader Petter Solberg (N, Citroën, 138) in second place with 115 points. Heikkinen (75) is eighth, Andersson (51) ninth and Linnerud (39) twelfth. In the Team Championship, Volkswagen Team Sweden (154) currently lies fourth, ahead of Marklund Motorsport (126) in fifth place. The next round of the World Championship will take place in Canada on 7 and 8 August.
Global RallycrossFoust and Speed have the pace but lack good fortune
Luck was not on the side of Tanner Foust (USA) or team-mate Scott Speed (USA) at the fourth round of the Global Rallycross season at MCAS New River, a military base near the city of Jacksonville (USA): both Andretti Motorsport drivers went out of the competition early on. There was, however, small consolation for Speed: the American, at the wheel of the Volkswagen Beetle GRC, clocked the fastest time of the weekend in practice and started the second round of heats from pole position. Foust, who had claimed the first Global Rallycross victory for the Volkswagen Beetle GRC at the previous event in Daytona, damaged the left rear suspension of the Beetle GRC in a collision in heat 2B and was forced to retire. The next two events will be held on 25 and 26 July – the GRC elite line-up for a doubleheader in Detroit (USA).
FIA World Rally ChampionshipOne-two for Volkswagen at the Rally Poland
Thrilling duel at the hottest and fastest rally of the year so far: Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) won the Rally Poland, ahead of team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N). This was the twelfth one-two for the Volkswagen Polo R WRC since the car made its debut in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2013. Volkswagen was also successful for the sixth time in a row on the closing Power Stage: Ogier won the final stage to pick up three bonus points towards the World Championship. Mikkelsen was third, adding one bonus point to his tally. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) in the third Polo R WRC were embroiled in an exciting battle with Ott Tänak/Raigo Mõlder (EST/EST, M-Sport Ford) for third place, and eventually ended the rally in fifth following a slight mistake with just minutes to go. Ogier now leads the Drivers’ Championship with 161 points, ahead of Mikkelsen (83) in second place. Latvala is fourth overall on 66 points. Volkswagen tops the Manufacturers’ Championship with 214 points, followed by Citroën (125). Finland hosts the next round from 30 July to 02 August.
