With the US boys Tanner Foust and Scott Speed testing at Lousada in Portugal and at least 250 Rallycross enthusiasts demonstrating at the Duivelsberg at Maasmechelen in Belgium the past weekend offered some pictures for our readers.
Lousada/Portugal: Volkswagen Motorsport and Marklund Motorsport went down to the former ERC venue Eurocircuito de Lousada in Portugal to do some testing with the Global RallyCross drivers for Volkswagen of America, Tanner Foust and Scott Speed. While during the week the weather was very good for using the whole circuit, rain and lots of water on the track turned the Saturday into “launch day”, with Tanner Foust concentrating on doing starts with the 560+bhp VW Polo Mk5 SuperCar.
Volkswagen Motorsport had Marklund Motorsport down to Lousada for test drives. © DanielOliveiraPhotography/ERC24
Tanner Foust is doing the full GRC and at least four WRX rounds for Volkswagen. © DanielOliveiraPhotography/ERC24
The Saturday at Lousada was used for launch tests of the 560+bhp VW Polo Mk5 SuperCar. © DanielOliveiraPhotography/ERC24
Ex-F1 driver Scott Speed is looking forward to his first races with the Marklund Motorsport Polo. © DanielOliveiraPhotography/ERC24
Marklund Motorsport is helping Volkswagen out with Polo SuperCars till the Beetle SuperCars are ready. © DanielOliveiraPhotography/ERC24
Maasmechelen/Belgium: Saturday in front of the locked gates of the Duivelsbergcircuit at Maasmechelen-Opgrimbie in Belgium: An estimated 250 to 300 Rallycross entusiasts gathered to express their concerns about the muddled situation with the organising body BRCV and to claim that they want the circuit to be re-opened for races as soon as possible. Remains the question if the two fighting parties are willing to put the sport above their own interests…
Officials were available at the locked gates to answer questions. © Johnny Loix/ERC24
The figure of the present Rallycross enthusiasts was claimed to be 250 to 300. © Johnny Loix/ERC24
While nobody of ‘Group Filippini’ was at the venue Michel Vigneron of ‘Group Reuten’ spoke to the people. © Johnny Loix/ERC24
Höljes/Sweden: During Saturday’s annual meeting of Finnskoga Motorklubb it was made known that 2004 and 2007 DTM champion Mattias Ekström has become the latest member of the WorldRX round organising club at Höljes. “Eki” is walking in the shoes of his father Bengt Ekström, a well-known ERC Rallycrosser with cars of BMW during his time, who also used to race for Finnskoga MK by then. The Värmland club now hopes that the Audi Sport factory driver Ekström Junior will be able to compete in their 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRX) event in early July.
Mattias Ekström pictured during a break of the 2008 ERC round at Höljes when he drove the Audi S1 of Olle Arnesson. © Johnny Loix/ERC24
Bengt Ekström and his son Mattias Ekström pictured during the 2008 ERC round at Höljes. © Johnny Loix/ERC24