Sverre Isachsen was fighting for a podium place in the GRC season opener at Barbados when he and ex-F1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed, forcing the Norwegian to throw in the towel.

After triple ERC winner Sverre Isachsen had qualified for the all decisive Final in Round 1 of the Global RallyCross series the Norwegian had high hopes, but eventually had to retire to finish in sixth place overall. “This was a good start to the season, but I’m not happy with the way Piquet treated me here. I think he is running too aggressive, and it would have not surprised me if he would have got a penalty for it. But that doesn’t help to better my result anyway,” said Isachsen later.

The first round of the Red Bull Global RallyCross series went to Barbados in the Caribbean, where Sverre Isachsen and the other Rallycross drivers made part of the ‘Top Gear Festival Barbados’, along with the Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May as well as F1 star Lewis Hamilton. The race was also the debut for the all-new Subaru Impreza GR SuperCar of the 43-year-old from Hokksund, and Isachsen was quite happy with his 2014 machinery. “The car worked well and we were competitive. I went to the Final and was able to keep my third place, but towards the end I was hit by Piquet. Nevertheless, I finished in sixth place overall, and that is quite promising for the rest of the season,” stated Isachsen.

It was former Formula One driver American Scott Speed ​​who won the GRC kick-off in Barbados, ahead of Canadian Steve Arpin and Finn Joni Wiman. The first Final attempt was stopped after a fierce crash of Ken Block who flipped his car at the end of the first lap, but the American was not hurt during his accident.

Top photo: Sverre Isachsen is quite happy with his all-new Subaru Impreza GR SuperCar. © Lars Gange/Subaru/ERC24