The two 2013 European champions Latvian Reinis Nitišs and Irishman Derek Tohill impress in RallycrossRX SuperCar prize drive.
FIA European Rallycross Champions Derek Tohill and Reinis Nitišs successfully completed their RallycrossRX SuperCar prize drives at the Kinnekulle Ring in Sweden yesterday (October 6) where they drove a VW Polo SuperCar run by Marklund Motorsport.
A part of the prize package for winning their championships, Nitišs (the 2013 Super1600 champion) and Tohill (2013 TouringCar champion) each took part in the SuperCar test, a valuable and rare chance to drive a top class SuperCar. The test initiative is part of the improved prize package introduced this year by new championship promoter IMG Motorsport, part of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company. Each driver received tuition from FIA European Rallycross Championship regular Anton Marklund before taking the wheel of the VW Polo SuperCar for 16 laps of the demanding Swedish track, the laps split into four runs, each of four-laps, with further debriefs and coaching from Marklund and his team engineers between each drive.
Each of the drivers completed their allocated laps without incident and impressed Marklund with their pace and ability in the car. “I drove some laps at the end of the day and I have to say that both Nitišs and Tohill did really well today because the loose sections of the track were very rough and dusty, and that made driving the car extremely difficult,” said Anton Marklund. “It was a tough test for them so I am actually even more impressed with the way that they both drove. It’s a big step to drive a SuperCar at those speeds on a track like this and to do that without damaging the car shows how good both drivers are.”
Nitišs (17) won the Super1600 championship driving a Renault Clio in which he won six of the nine events this year. “Marklund Motorsport’s VW Polo was perfect, the best car I have driven and I was able to go faster each time I drove,” said the Latvian driver. “It’s important for me to have this test now because I am working very hard to get the budget to race in SuperCar next year so having the test and being able to prove myself in a SuperCar is great. It was a perfect day and I’m very happy that I had this chance from RallycrossRX.”
Tohill (37) took four event wins on his way to the 2013 TouringCar championship and had his first taste of driving a SuperCar at the prize test. “Time in the car is everything, 16 laps in the car today is brilliant, it’s given me a great insight into what driving a SuperCar is all about and how I need to prepare for next year,” said the Irishman. “It’s a great opportunity to drive a SuperCar. Any driver in TouringCar or Super1600 who wants to make it in Rallycross should be clear now that they have to prepare to win in RallycrossRX and at the end of the year you can get the best prize in the world.”
Both Tohill and Nitišs hope to race SuperCars in 2014 when the series will become a FIA World Championship for the first time. Additionally, the champions will receive trophies and cash awards at the official FIA prize-giving in London in January.
