After Day 1 and setting twice a third fastest time Liam Doran is leading the overnight standings with 6 points, ahead of Timur Timerzyanov and Anton Marklund who tie with 8 points each.

After the two outstanding ERC rounds of Höljes in Sweden and Lohéac in France the RallycrossRX series is back to a more normal business at Greinbach in Austria. While the Swedish European round saw no less than 35 starters in SuperCars and the French one had 31 SuperCars on offer the Austrian event attracted just 15 drivers for the top category. In Super1600s the situation is even worse, seen that the 26 drivers starting list of 2012 has been followed up by a poor 14 starters gathering for this weekend…

The Saturday in Styria started at 10 o’clock with the usual two hours long Free Practice sessions. At high noon it was 2003 World Rally Champion Petter Solberg topping the time keepers list. Second fastest was Alexander Hvaal, ahead of Liam Doran, Timmy Hansen, Davy Jeanney and Frode Holte.

Hvaal was still in great form in Heat 1, setting the fastest time with 2:26.798m, followed by Anton Marklund with 2:27.750 and Liam Doran with 2:27.965. In Heat 2 the Norwegian had less luck, a poor 11th fastest time dropped him down to fifth place in the intermediate standings. “We had a good practice with second time overall! We got ready for Heat 1, made an ok start, got behind Marklund, but took the Joker Lap early and passed him on the last lap. First time overall after Heat 1. In the second heat we did an ok start again, but we were struggling to get off the start line and then got stuck in the traffic. We did a lot of changes to the car, to improve my starts. Lets hope for a clean race tomorrow, where I can get a free drive,” stated the Hansen Motorsport team member later.

With Hvaal’s compatriot Petter Solberg it was the other way round. In Heat 1 “Hollywood” experienced desaster. “I’ve had the worst possible start of the RX race. One jump start, one full stop, two Joker Laps only in the first heat…” was the Norwegian’s rather short comment after jumping the first start attempt and then stalling his Citroën DS3 to give his opponents an advantage of almost half a lap. However, in the second runs there was nothing to stop Solberg, he won the first race ahead of Andreas Bakkerud and his 2:26.384m turned out to be the fastest time of the day.

Timur Timerzyanov was the third driver to get under 2:27m when the reigning European champion won the second race from his teammate Timmy Hansen, doing the four laps in 2:26.842 here. The third race was won by Liam Doran in 2:27.421, but with his three points from Heat 1 and another three points from Heat 2 it is the Monster Energy Athlete who tops the overnight order now. “Won both of my races today, currently sitting first overall after Day 1! Hoping I can keep it up tomorrow,” said the Briton afterwards.

Norwegian Frode Holte has returned to the FIA European Rallycross Championship after a one year break, immediately driving fast times again. After finishing fourth fastest in Heat 1 and seventh fastest in Heat 2 the Volvo C30/4 campaigner is currently in fourth position. Swede Timmy Hansen lays seventh behind Petter Solberg. “Not a fantastic day, but not too bad either. I’m sixth overall at the moment and we know our speed is great, so everything’s possible tomorrow,” stated the son of “His Kennyness” in the evening.

Among the Super1600 drivers Latvian Reinis Nitišs is again topping the order after Day 1, but the Set Promotion driver, after winning Heat 1, had to give in for Ulrik Linnemann in Heat 2. While the Dane is currently second, Swede Eric Färén is in third place. A similar situation with Derek Tohill and Robin Larsson in TouringCars, the Irishman won Heat 1, the Swede Heat 2. Tohill is leading now, Larsson is in second place and Belgian Koen Pauwels completed the top three. In the JRX class Kevin Hansen is currently first, William Nilsson is second and Rallycross girl Magda Andersson is third.

More Greinbach images to be found here in our Gallery.

Situation in SuperCars after Day 1 to be found here.

Situation in Super1600s after Day 1 to be found here.

Situation in TouringCars after Day 1 to be found here.

The highlights of Day 1.