Round 2 - Lousada (Portugal)

Division 1

After winning the first round of the ERC, Kenneth Hansen won the second round of the European Rallycross Championship in Portugal.  Hansen won two heats out of three and started on pole in the Final.  Hansen had the best start and each lap he pulled away of his rivals.  Behind Kenneth Hansen there was an interesting fight for second place between Lars Larsson and Mikael Jernberg.  It was Larsson who finished, after a very close fight, in second place leaving Jernberg in third place. “It feels fantastic “ said Kenneth Hansen. “ I pushed to the limit the first couple of laps and managed to pull away from Larsson. After that I could instead focus on not making any mistakes and to take my Citroen nice and clean to the finish line. ”

It was a hot final in Lousada because there was also a very close battle for fourth and fifth place.  The actors where two Norwegians, Sverre Isachsen and Morten Bermingrud.  Finally it was Isachen ( winner of B – final ) who finished fourth while Bermingrud finished in fifth position.  Belgian driver Patrick Van Mechelen came in on sixth place. 

Per Eklund did not manage to get to the A-final this time either and was left as second behind Isachsen in the B-final.

The ERC now takes a break for some weeks before the next race on June 4-5 in Austria.

Division 2

Same story compared with Division 1.  Michaël De Keersmaecker won the final in Division 2 and scores the maximum of points, just like Kenneth Hansen does in Division 1.  But this round of the ERC wasn't an easy one for Michaël De Keersmaecker.  He won the first and third heat, but he rolled his car in the second heat. 

Michaël De Keersmaecker took the best start in the Final but in the last lap suddenly he had problems with the gearbox.  Lucky for Michaël De Keersmaecker that it was in the final lap.  He managed to stay in the lead and won the final.

Division 11. Kenneth Hansen (S), Citroën Xsara T16 4x42. Lars Larsson (S), Škoda Fabia T16 4x43. Michael Jernberg (S), Ford Focus T16 4x44. Sverre Isachsen (N), Ford Focus T16 4x45. Morten Bermingrud (N), Citroën Xsara T16 4x46. Patrick Van Mechelen (B), Subaru Impreza T16 4x47. Per Eklund (S), Saab 9-3 ASS T16 4x48. Jean-Luc Pailler (F), Peugeot 206 T16 4x49. Koen Pauwels (B), Ford Focus T16 4x410. Guttorm Lindefjell (N), Ford Focus T16 4x4

Standings1. Hansen - 40 Points2. Isachsen 30 Points3. Jernberg 30 Points4. Bermingrud 22 Points5. Lindefjell 18 Points6. Eklund 18 Points7. Pailler 18 Points

Division 1A1. Ron Snoeck (NL), Seat Ibiza2. Morten Jespersen (DK), Peugeot 1063. Jaroslav Kalný (CZ), Peugeot 2064. Václav Veverka (CZ), Peugeot 2065. Jorge Simão (P), Peugeot 1066. Octávio Nogueira (P), Citroën Saxo

Standings1. Snoeck 40 Points2. Kalný 32 Points3. Jespersen 27 Points

Division 21. Michaël De Keersmaecker (B), Honda Civic Type-R2. Jussi Pinomäki (FIN), Renault Clio RSR3. Marcus Nilsson (S), Peugeot 206 RC4. Piotr Tyszkiewicz (PL), Opel Astra OPC5. Luís Monteiro (P), Renault Clio Sport6. Celmo Guicho (P), Renault Clio Sport

Standings1. De Keersmaecker 40 Points2. Pinomäki 29 Points3. Nilsson 26 Points