Toomas Heikkinen Wins Second Consecutive Global Rallycross Event in New Hampshire
GRC Lites Class Also Makes Well-Received Debut; Joni Wiman Scores Inaugural Race Victory
LOUDON, N.H., July 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Toomas Heikkinen won his second consecutive Global Rallycross race, taking the victory in the SYLVANIA SilverStar zXe at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Teammates Patrik Sandell and Brian Deegan finished second and third, respectively.
Heikkinen took the victory by passing Tanner Foust, who crashed on the final lap of the race and fell to fourth place.
"That was a tough way to end the race—that's never fun," said Foust, who also finished fourth at New Hampshire last year. "(Heikkinen) was pressuring for the whole race, and then on the very last straightaway, it seemed like he had a little bit of a run. So I thought I'd play it safe—my spotter said he had a chance on the inside, so I played it safe and hit the brakes on the inside corner to protect the turn. As soon as I touched the brakes, I knew I was in for a pretty wild ride. The car just rotated and went straight into the wall."
The victory was the third of the season for OlsbergsMSE and Ford, who also won with Scott Speed at X Games Brazil and Heikkinen in the second X Games Munich race. Ford also swept the podium for the second time this season, after X Games Brazil.
Heikkinen's victory also put him in the lead of the inaugural SYLVANIA SilverStar zXe Cup, a four-race shootout that will see drivers race for an extra $20,000 bonus. The driver who scores the most points at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway on July 20, Atlanta Motor Speedway on August 10, and Charlotte Motor Speedway on September 22 will be awarded the SYLVANIA SilverStar zXe Cup.
"I came over to America for close racing, but to be in an event like this is very exciting too," said Heikkinen. "It was a tough day with tricky conditions but we had a great race and put on a great show for the fans."
The new GRC Lites class also debuted at New Hampshire, running the first of six United States-based races in 2013. Joni Wiman, the protege of Global Rallycross veteran Marcus Gronholm, took the inaugural victory, with Sebastian Eriksson and Kevin Eriksson finishing second and third.
The results of today's Sylvania Silverstar zXe Global Rallycross at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:
| 1. |
Toomas Heikkinen, #57 OlsbergsMSE Ford Fiesta ST |
| 2. |
Patrik Sandell, #18 OlsbergsMSE Ford Fiesta ST |
| 3. |
Brian Deegan, #38 OlsbergsMSE Ford Fiesta ST |
| 4. |
Tanner Foust, #34 OlsbergsMSE Ford Fiesta ST |
| 5. |
Ken Block, #43 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST |
| 6. |
Sverre Isachsen, #11 Subaru PUMA Rallycross Team WRX STI |
| 7. |
Travis Pastrana, #199 Pastrana Racing Dodge Dart |
| 8. |
Bucky Lasek, #81 Subaru PUMA Rallycross Team WRX STI |
| 9. |
Scott Speed, #77 OMSE2 Ford Fiesta |
| 10. |
Nelson Piquet Jr., #12 X Team Racing Mitsubishi Evo |
| 11. |
Bryce Menzies, #99 Pastrana Racing Dodge Dart |
| 12. |
Steve Arpin, #32 OMSE2 Ford Fiesta |
| 13. |
Dave Mirra, #40 Subaru PUMA Rallycross Team WRX STI |
Global Rallycross combines the best aspects of circuit racing, off-road racing and rally competition to deliver intense action in a variety of fan-friendly environments. Action sport stars including Travis Pastrana and Brian Deegan have described the sport as "motocross – with a roll cage."
Keep up with all the latest happenings in Global Rallycross by visiting the series website at http://www.global-rallycross.com; by liking the series on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/globalrallycross; by subscribing to our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/globalrallycross; and by following on Twitter and Instagram at the handle @globalrallyx.
SOURCE Global Rallycross
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