After an incredibly busy season, Albatec Racing claimed its third Vice-Championship of 2015 with Jérôme Grosset-Janin finishing second in the FIA European Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy. Last weekend the Dumfries team embarked on its last British RX event of the year, with Andy Scott finishing second in the title race by just seven points, while Marc Scott narrowly missed a third consecutive RX150 title.
This weekend however all eyes turned to the battle for Euro RX honours at the Franciacorta International Circuit in Italy, where Jérôme looked to overcome the slender six-point deficit aboard his two-litre, 16v Peugeot 208 RX Supercar. Going into the final race of the year, Jérôme started his campaign in fine style, fifth fastest overall and second fastest EuroRX runner in heat one putting him second in the overnight standings.
Overnight rain made track conditions difficult on Sunday morning, and poor visibility played its part in the outcome of heat three. Although he maintained second in the points, a hit from Tamás Kárai in heat four saw the Poujoulat-backed racer spinning off at turn one and subsequently suffering a right rear puncture.
Qualifying for his fifth semi final position of the series, Jérôme finished a close second, but with victory in his semi final already secured for series leader Rustad, the title chase was over. Lining up for the final, Jérôme’s last race of 2015 was ended before it even began, with a front left puncture bringing his race to an early conclusion.
Joining the team in Italy, rallycross newcomer James Grint once again showed the promise that saw him twice reach the semi finals. The 27 year-old has quickly acclimatised to the cut-and-thrust of the fastest growing motorsport in the world; coming from rallying, the Hertfordshire racer has had to adjust to not only the increased power of his 600bhp Up&Go-backed Peugeot, but also adapt to driving his Supercar with other competitors.
Looking to end his year with a place in the Final, Saturday started well for the Briton, claiming seventh in heat two to elevate him to tenth in the overnight standings. This morning however, the tricky conditions saw James slide off into the wall in heat three, dropping him to 13th in the intermediate standings, while contact with Robert Czarnecki in heat four pushed him into a spin and out of contention for a place in the semi finals.
Andy Scott, Albatec Racing Team Principal & Driver :
“It’s been a really hard weekend; Jerome gave it everything he could. He worked hard, we all worked hard, but it was always going to be difficult. Yesterday we had a good result to have both Jérôme and James second and tenth in the standings, but it all fell apart in heat three today with James hitting the wall, and then taking a hit in the fourth, and a puncture for Jérôme in heat four.
“Jérôme came back to finish second in his semi final, but the title was already decided by Tommy [Rustad] winning his semi, but finishing second overall in the European Championship is a good result. James has improved in every race, he’s learning all the time, and I’m certain if he hadn’t had the spin in heat three, he’d have been through to his third semi final of the season.”
Jérôme Grosset-Janin, Albatec Racing driver #74 :
“I will remember only the positive things not only from Franciacorta this weekend, but from the entire season. We have had good pace all year, we just missed a few little things in the end to pull it all together to win the championship at this high level of competition. But of course the team has done a very good job, we all worked hard all year to win this title, but it wasn’t to be. Now I’m ready to start work for next year and start a new challenge.”
James Grint, Albatec Racing driver #27 :
“It’s not really gone my way this weekend, again! I think I had some good potential today, and I didn’t really meet it. I made a small mistake under braking in heat three which put me into the wall. I lost quite a bit of time there, which I think probably cost me a place in the semi final. It was my first experience of a Supercar in the wet and although I think I’ve got good wet pace, it just didn’t work out well for me in heat four either.
“I’m disappointed as I really wanted to end the year with a better result, but it’s all progress, it’s all experience. Overall it’s been a good season, I’ve learnt a lot, and here’s hoping I can carry on into next year and hopefully have a better run.”
