Round 2 of the FIA European Rallycross Championship at Montalegre in Portugal saw Petter Solberg dominating the weekend, but due to a jump start in the all decisive final “Hollywood” lost overall victory to Liam Doran.

While Day 1 at Montalegre in Portugal was clearly dominated by 2003 Rally World Champion Petter Solberg, Day 2 started less promising. A 7th fastest time in Heat 3 was not what the Norwegian superstar had expected. For Heat 4 he got no less than 21 minus points, as the Citroën campaigner was not able to bring his DS3 SuperCar to the start, due to a defective fuel pump. However, finding himself after qualification on sixth place of the intermediate classification Solberg didn’t need to worry much, the semi-finals bringing a new draw for the twelve fastest drivers anyway.

Reigning European champion Timur Timerzyanov was the driver who made qualification his, with the fastest times of both Heat 3 and 4 the Russian claimed the maximum of 16 intermediate points. On second place finished Frenchman Davy Jeanney in the Citroën C4, scoring already 15 points for his championship account. Third place went to Norwegian Andreas Bakkerud who marked a new track record in Heat 4. Previous track record holder was Swede Michael Jernberg who in 2010 used his Škoda Fabia Mk2 SuperCar to drive one lap of the Pista Automóvel de Montalegre in 39.573 seconds. Bakkerud topped this time three years later with 39.548 seconds.

The first semi-final fell prey to Timerzyanov while early runner-up Stig-Olov Walfridsson in the Renault Clio Mk3/5 dropped down the order and Andreas Bakkerud had to throw in the towel after his Citroën DS3 caught fire. Second place was bagged by Bakkerud’s team mate Liam Doran, Norwegian Alexander Hvaal brought his Hansen Motorsport Citroën DS3 as third over the finish line. The second semi-final was a never disputed affair for Petter Solberg, the Rallycross returnee leading over all six laps to win from Mats Lysen while Davy Jeanney made it to third place.

At the start of the all decisive final Solberg made a mistake that later cost him dear. He produced a jump start with the result, that he had to use the Joker Lap track extension not just once, but according to the new regulations two times. The Norwegian drove like hell, but after leading the race for about half the distance to the chequered flag it was Liam Doran who eventually grabbed the overall victory from runner-up Mats Lysen and third Petter Solberg. Timur Timerzyanov, who led the A final in the beginning, dropped down to six place with a flat tyre and lost his single point for not doing his Joker Lap.

The semi-finals of the Super1600s class were claimed by Dane Ulrik Linnemann and Swede Kevin Eriksson. Early leader in the final was Peugeot 207 pilot Linnemann, but in the end it was Renault Clio Mk2 driver Eriksson who picked the laurels in Montalegre. In TouringCars Swedish youngster Robin Larsson impressed all the weekend. The Škoda Fabia Mk1 RWD campaigner won all four qualifying heats and eventually also the main final. As the class had just six competitors on offer there was no semi-final in Portugal and, thereby, less points to earn.

• FINAL RESULTS SUPERCARS:
• 1. Liam Doran (GB) Citroën DS3
• 2. Mats Lysen (N) Renault Clio Mk3/4
• 3. Petter Solberg (N) Citroën DS3
• 4. Alexander Hvaal (N) Citroën DS3
• 5. Davy Jeanney (F) Citroën C4
• 6. Timur Timerzyanov (RUS) Citroën DS3
• FINAL RESULTS SUPER1600S:
• 1. Kevin Eriksson (S) Renault Clio Mk2
• 2. Eric Färén (S) Citroën C2
• 3. Ulrik Linnemann (DK) Peugeot 207
• 4. Reinis Nitišs (LV) Renault Clio Mk2
• 5. Ildar Rakhmatullin (RUS) Renault Twingo Mk2
• 6. Sergey Zagumennov (RUS) Škoda Fabia Mk2
• FINAL RESULTS TOURINGCARS:
• 1. Robin Larsson (S) Škoda Fabia Mk1 RWD
• 2. Koen Pauwels (B) Ford Fiesta Mk7 RWD
• 3. Roman Častoral (CZ) Opel Astra G RWD
• 4. David Nordgård (N) Ford Focus Mk2 RWD
• 5. Derek Tohill (IRL) Ford Fiesta Mk7 RWD
• 6. Torleif Lona (N) Ford Fiesta Mk7 RWD

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