STARD Racing made a big step forward at the 2017 World RX of Portugal, as both drivers improved during the weekend to make the Semi-Final stages of the event.
With a test in Barcelona behind them, the team made its way to the second round of the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship with confidence and this paid off as both of the squads drivers made it out of Qualifying and into the crucial top twelve Semi-Final places.
Janis Baumanis finished Qualifying in sixth place, moving into the Semi-Finals. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
Janis Baumanis had his best session in Q1 where he would finish in fourth place overall in his Ford Fiesta, with the Latvian eventually finishing in sixth place overall after Qualifying ended. Team-mate Timur Timerzyanov fared just as well, going fourth fastest in Q2 and then fifth fastest in Q3. The former Double Euro RX Champion would take ninth spot overall.
In the Semi-Finals things took a turn for the worst. In Semi-Final one, Timerzyanov retired after taking the joker on lap one and making contact with Reinis Nitiss. The Russians race ended there and then after a much stronger showing. Meanwhile Baumanis lost out in Semi-Final Two after contact during the race saw terminal damage to his Fiesta.
Timerzyanov made it to the Semi-Finals before contact ruled him out of making the final. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
Despite this, Team Principal Manfred Stohl was once again happy with the progress made.
“With the semi-final entries of both pilots in Portugal we made a big step forward. This good mood we would like to take along as quickly as possible and to further exploit.”
Manfred Stohl expects more of the same performance at Hockenheim. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
Looking ahead to the World RX of Hockenheim, Stohl is confident that both drivers will be able to repeat these results.
“I don’t think that we can convert our previous findings to the Hockenheim track. However we have seen that our Ford Fiesta RXS Supercars are absolutely competitive. Both drivers know the results of our analyses and know what has to be done.”
