◾Two one-twos in Barbados ensure the trophy will end up in Volkswagen hands◾All-Volkswagen showdown for the title at the final round in Las Vegas (USA)
The new Rallycross champion in the USA is guaranteed to be a Beetle driver – but which one?
A brace of one-twos for Volkswagen at the penultimate race weekend in Barbados, courtesy of Scott Speed and Tanner Foust, whittled the title contenders in the Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) down to just two men. After eleven of the season’s twelve rounds, one thing is now certain: only one of the two Beetle drivers can secure the Drivers’ title in Las Vegas (04 November). Speed currently tops the standings, with a lead of 36 points over Foust.
“What an impressive weekend from Tanner Foust, Scott Speed and the entire Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “With a lot of hard work, and all the blood, sweat and tears that everyone has invested in this project, they ensured that the Beetle GRC enjoyed a dream start in America, and an even better final spurt. Winning the Drivers’ title in the first complete season – it doesn’t get much better than that. I think we can look forward to an exciting finale in Las Vegas. Fortunately I have two hands, so I can cross my fingers for both of them. I would be absolutely delighted for either Scott Speed or Tanner Foust to win the title.”
Formula for success: five wins and twelve podiums for the Volkswagen Beetle GRC
A dozen appearances on the podium, of which five were on the winner’s step – Volkswagen of America can look back on a fantastic season and an impressive final spurt in the Global Rallycross Championship. Ex-Formula One driver Scott Speed (USA) claimed two wins and finished runner-up a further seven times, while Tanner Foust (USA) added a further three victories and five podiums. “I cannot thank the team enough for their hard work,” said Foust, a presenter on the US version of Top Gear, after the two wins in Barbados. “I never thought it possible that we would travel to the finale as the only two drivers still in with a chance of winning the title. That is down to fantastic teamwork. It was quite simply a dream weekend for us.”
Save the date: 04 November is judgement day
A date for Rallycross fans to mark in their diary: the final round of the Global Rallycross season will be held in Las Vegas on 04 November, parallel to the prestigious SEMA Show for automobile tuning and motorsport. The twelfth round completes the season, which began in Fort Lauderdale back in May and led most recently to Barbados, via two races in Daytona, New River, two races in Detroit, Washington D.C., and another double-header in Los Angeles. Volkswagen of America lines up in the GRC with two 560-hp Beetles with four-wheel drive, which are developed by Volkswagen Motorsport in Germany and run in the USA by Andretti Autosport.
