The season kick-off at the Eurocircuit in Holland counted for both, the Dutch as well as the British Rallycross Championship and eventually saw Englishman Julian Godfrey picking the winner laurels in SuperCars.
The start of the 2014 Dutch Rallycross Championship at the Eurocircuit in Valkenswaard remains another one to remember. The event counted also for the British Rallycross Championship, saw competitors from six different nations, and was marked by a new race format. All three qualifying heats were compulsory for the drivers, the fastest of the qualifiers made it to the Semi Finals, where they fought for a place in the all decisive Final, in which up to eight starters raced for the overall victory of their respective class.
With only four starters the SuperCar entry turned out to be rather poor. Dutchman Ron Snoeck was trying to defend home soil against three drivers from Great Britain. The 2004 and 2005 ERC winner (in Division 1A) did quite well, till the Seat Leon Mk2 campaigner faced bad luck in the Final. His competitors immediately took advantage and subsequently conquered the winners’ rostrum for a British 1-2-3 victory. Julian Godfrey (Ford Fiesta) won the event from his compatriots Steve Harris (Ford Focus) and Simon Horton (Subaru Impreza).
In the Super1600 category German Autocross and Rallycross legend Rolf Volland used the Valkenswaard race as a test event for his FIA European Rallycross Championship drivers Russian Nikita Misyulya and Lithuanian Kasparas Navickas, both equipped with a Škoda Fabia Mk2 each. And the two Volland Racing team members did more than just a bit of testing; Misyulya eventually scored his first Rallycross victory, ahead of Navickas and Dutch reigning S1600 champion Marcel Snoeijers (Renault Mégane Mk3).
The two Belgians Luc Maris (Volvo 240) and Steve Volders (Ford Escort Mk1) battled the Final of the SuperNational +2000 class out. Volders eventually had to accept to become the runner-up to Maris here, while their fellow countryman Roland Myny (Volvo S40 Mk2) made third place his. The Final of the SuperNational -2000 category saw Marc Vandenbergh (Seat Ibiza Mk2), Dieter Van Gorp (Opel Kadett F) and Jeroen Bielen (Volvo 480) producing another Belgian 1-2-3 result.
It’s in the genes! Carl Smeets, the dad of ERC24 snapper Dave Smeets, took the “shot of the day”. © CS/ERC24
German team Volland Racing used the Valkenswaard event to test their cars prior to the EuroRX series start. © DS/ERC24
Russian Nikita Misyulya (Škoda Fabia Mk2) bagged the Super1600 overall victory in his “Dutch colours” car. © DS/ERC24
Lithuanian Kasparas Navickas (Škoda Fabia Mk2) was in Holland to test his ERX Super1600 car in competition. © DS/ERC24
It was not really warm, but the spectators enjoyed a fine racing day. © DS/ERC24
Almost 80 cars were at the venue to race in the different classes. © DS/ERC24
Dutchman Dennis van Rijn (Škoda Fabia Mk2) getting… © DS/ERC24
…it all wrong in the Super1600 class here. © DS/ERC24
Belgian Luc Maris (Volvo 240) claimed another SuperNational +2000 class victory. © DS/ERC24
Belgian Marc Vandenbergh (Seat Ibiza Mk2) made the SuperNational -2000 category his. © DS/ERC24
“Daddy, when I get older I wanna be one of these Rallycross snappers!” © DS/ERC24
Briton Lance Foster dancing his Retro Rallycross Challenge BL Mini through the Eurocircuit chicane. © DS/ERC24
Seven drivers took part in the British Swift Sport Rallycross Championship races, victory was claimed by Chris Mullen. © DS/ERC24
Top photo: Julian Godfrey (Ford Fiesta Mk6) won the SuperCar category of the Dutch season opener. © DS/ERC24