Olsbergs MSE driver Andreas Bakkerud took victory at a packed Lydden Hill circuit in the second round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship while Robin Larsson took second place as he debuted his Audi A1 Supercar. Reigning British Touring Car Champion Andrew Jordan took third place in front of his home crowd.
With a record 37 Supercar entry the weekend was packed full of action which also saw two-time Global Rallycross champion Tanner Foust join the grid alongside Jordan and the regular entrants.
“This is a dream come true,” exclaimed Bakkerud after the race. “We didn’t make a mistake, we had a clean run and it was a close fight until the end. I even won the Monster Energy Super Charge Award and to have two trophies feels good! But now I’m concerned… I promised Norway’s biggest broadcaster that I would grow a moustache for my home round in Hell next month if I was leading the Championship after Lydden so now I must stick to my promise and grow a moustache!”
Bakkerud’s team-mate Reinis Nittis was looking strong throughout the weekend but would miss out on the final electrical problem developed on the grid.
While the crowd was blown away with the pace of Larsson’s Audi A1, the Swede was also impressed with the performance shown in its first race. “I’m actually very surprised to be here and in second place,” said Larsson. “The car has been fantastic and apart from a broken gearbox, it’s gone perfectly. We had a good start in the final and I couldn’t believe I was leading for most of the race. It’s been an awesome weekend!”
BTCC Champion and former rallycrosser Andrew Jordan made a guest appearance on his birthday weekend and was left celebrating third place after a strong drive throughout the weekend. “If you’d told me at the start of the weekend that I’d be on the podium today then I would have been smiling from ear to ear. I was driving like a bit of an idiot in the heats and then I had to reign it in. I started off the back of the grid for the finals but then I had a good, clean race. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Behind the top three there was excitement as Tanner Foust and Petter Solberg collided, thankfully the due managed to recover and finished fifth and sixth respectively, just behind the Marklund Motorsport VW Polo of Topi Heikkinen.
“We kept on pushing and pushing each other as everything was so close but then we knocked each other out of winning the race. But that’s rallycross and that’s how it goes, it’s been a good weekend,” Solberg explained
“It’s been a terrific weekend at Lydden: the sun has shone, the racing has been action-packed and we’ve had huge numbers of spectators over the course of the weekend.” added Martin Anayi, World RX Managing Director for IMG Motorsport. “Andreas drove a fantastic race and all credit to Ford Olsbergs MSE for another win in the teams’ championship. Only six points separate the top four drivers now and with two Norwegians at the top of the drivers standings, the scene is set for an exciting battle when the Championship resumes in Norway in just over three weeks time.”
