Albatec Racing’s Andy Scott led the team’s charge for honours in Bretagne World RX of France this weekend, the Dumfries racer finishing 12th amid a quality field in Lohéac. In arguably one of the biggest, most competitive entries of the season, round eight of the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy saw the Lochfoot racer post the sixth fastest time in his Peugeot 208 RX Supercar in Q3, to ensure a well-earned place in the semi-finals.
Joining Andy in front of 75,000 excited French fans was reigning European Rallycross Champion Tommy Rustad, making his debut at the track known as the ‘Temple of Rallycross’. The Norwegian HTB Racing ace narrowly missed out on joining Albatec Team Principal Andy in the 12-car semi-final shoot out. Despite winning two races, he finished 13th after four qualifying races.
Completing the Albatec line-up was French Rallycross Championship title contender Philippe Maloigne aboard the SamShield-backed Peugeot 208 who returned to the French track where he secured a Super 1600 podium in 2014. Taking a race win and consistently matching the times of more experienced opposition, the former motocross racer ended the weekend in 21st.
Andy Scott, Team Principal and driver Albatec Racing #26 :
“Before we arrived here my target was to reach the semi-finals once again and it was a near perfect weekend for me. The highlight being sixth fastest overall in Q3, and finishing the weekend as 12th fastest in a World RX event is by all accounts a great result.
“In Q1 we had good speed, and consistency throughout Saturday, but I knew we needed to up the game in Sunday’s final two qualifying races. The rain played into my hands a little, as I don’t mind the slippery conditions and we took a bit of a gamble on the strategy which paid off. It was particularly rewarding having such a great battle with Timmy [Hansen] in Q4 but into the semi-final I just didn’t get off the line well enough to capitalise on the pace and performance of our Peugeot 208.”
Tommy Rustad, driver Albatec Racing #24 :
“Of course I’m disappointed not to get into the semis, which was my target this weekend. We had the speed and everything was working well to be there, but it just wasn’t to be. Yesterday I made a good start in both races, but made a small mistake in the first. In the second race I took the lead and pushed hard and felt there was more to come from me, but also from the car to get it to turn in better in the mid corner sections.
"Today the conditions were not so good. I had a bad start from fourth on the grid in Q3, and was not able to find the windscreen washers so I had poor visibility. In Q4 I made an OK start to take the lead and pushed as hard as I could to win my race but the track was drying too quickly and the later races were faster, so I ended up in P11 which unfortunately gave me the position just outside the top 12 qualifiers.“
Philippe Maloigne, driver Albatec Racing #121 :
“I made a few mistakes this weekend but the overall feeling is that it has been a good learning session and I learnt a lot; not just on the track driving the car but also in the briefings and learning the set-up of the car, so I’m really happy despite the result.
“From the first qualifying race I was quite fast; consistently across the four qualifying races, which is very good news going into the final three rounds of French RX. I think this weekend will help me overall with my performance this year, as well as setting me up for next year, so I’m very excited about raising my level.”
