Timmy Hanses wins RALLYCROSSRX of Hungary
Citroen DS3 driver Timmy Hansen claimed his first rallycross victory today at the Lerton Transport Rallycross of Hungary, held at the Nyirad Motorsport Circuit (May 26).
Hansen only led the third round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy for the final two corners, passing team mate Timur Timerzyanov as the reigning champion took his joker on the last lap.
"This is absolutely amazing," said Hansen. "I really can't believe it, Timur's been so fast all weekend but I just had enough in the final. The car was so perfect all weekend, we have had to make no set-up changes today because it has been just right."
Timerzyanov and Hansen shared the front row of the final, having both won their respective semi-finals. Timerzyanov made the best start, claiming the Monster Energy Supercharge Award for being first to the first corner, but it was Frenchman Davy Jeanney who made the best start from the second row, splitting Timerzyanov and Hansen on the first lap.
Jeanney chased Timerzyanov and made a bold attempt to pass the leader around the outside at the end of lap one. He ran wide however, allowing Hansen into second. Hansen jokered on lap three, while Jeanney took his joker on lap four. Timerzyanov took his joker on the sixth and final lap, but Hansen had closed the gap, just getting ahead as the pair headed for the final corner. Timerzyanov tried to find a way past, making contact with Hansen's car but not enough to stop the Swedish driver taking the win, with Timerzyanov second and Jeanney third.
Knut Ove Borseth finished a brilliant fourth, bouncing back after a difficult first two rounds of the championship. He drove a clean race having made his way into the final with third place in semi-final one. One place behind was Borseth's team mate Peter Hedstrom, who finished third in semi-final two and had his best run of the year in the final, despite clearly driving a car that wasn't in full health.
Alexander Hvaal ran fourth in the final until lap four when he picked up a puncture, ruling him out of contention and slowing his Citroen DS3 to a crawl.
It was a day debut victories in Hungary. Reinis Nitiss dominated the Super1600 category, on top of the table at the Intermediate Classification before winning semi-final one and the final from lights to flag. Second was Russian driver Ildar Rakhmatullin, who had previously passed Kevin Eriksson on the final lap of semi-final two to claim victory. Eriksson would finish third in the final, although he finished fourth on the road, only to be promoted when Ulirk Linnemann's Peugeot 207 failed post event scrutiny.
TouringCar was won by Daniel Lundh, who made a brilliant start from the second row of the grid to lead from the first corner until the end. Pole man Derek Tohill was involved in a first corner incident that ruled him out of contention for victory. A strong drive from the Irish driver meant he claimed back to third place, just behind Roman Castoral in second. Championship leader Robin Larsson hounded Lundh for the first two laps, before picking up a puncture, slowing his Skoda.
Victory in the JRX category was claimed by William Nilsson, who made a perfect start in the final to beat pole sitter Magda Anderson to the first corner. Anderson later crashed out while fighting for the lead with Nilsson. Pasi Pukema finished second with Kevin Hansen third.