Round 5 of the Belgian Rallycross Championship for SuperCars was held at the re-opened Duivelsbergcircuit in Opgrimbie near Maasmechelen where victory was eventually snatched by Dutchman Ron Snoeck.
Local hero Jochen Coox got his VW Scirocco Mk3 SuperCar ready at the eleventh hour, the needed diffs arrived just in due time for the race on August 10. And then the car worked pretty well, the Volkswagen dealer was able to set twice a fastest time in qualification to ensure himself the pole position for the all-decisive A Final. Here it was again that man Coox who took the lead, and it seemed as if he would be able to score another overall victory. However, after the Scirocco driver had done his Joker detour during the last lap it was Koen Pauwels who had come very close with the former Ford Fiesta Mk7 SuperCar of Patrick Van Mechelen. Now the two rivals were trying to reach the way up to the Devils Hill side by side. In the heat of the moment a lot went wrong and it was Dutchman Ron Snoeck to grab full advantage from the battle of the two Belgians. The 2004 and 2005 European Rallycross Champion [in Division 1A] took the lead and subsequently powered his Seat Leon Mk2 SuperCar to victory, ahead of Coox and Dutchman Wil Teurlings in his Volvo S40 Mk1 SuperCar. Pauwels, who got stuck in the ‘kitty-litter’, finished in fourth place. Dutchman Marcel Ottink (Škoda Fabia Mk2 SuperCar) had thrown in the towel earlier and was classified fifth.
Jochen Coox (VW Scirocco Mk3) made pole his by setting twice a fastest heat time. © DS/ERC24
Koen Pauwels (Ford Fiesta Mk7) eventually finished in fourth place. © DS/ERC24
After the first 2014 event had been cancelled Maasmechelen offered once again Rallycross action to the fans. © DS/ERC24
In Super1600s it was Belgian Bart Stouten in the ex-Jaroslav Kalný Peugeot 206 who set the fastest times in all three qualifying heats, but was hit by technical problems in the final events. The A Final ended with Dutchman Peter van de Wege (Toyota Yaris Mk1) claiming overall victory from the two Belgians Davy Van Den Branden (Citroën DS3) and Danny Luyten (Toyota Yaris Mk1). In TouringCars of the only two starters it was Belgian Patrick Mertens who faced engine troubles of his VW Polo Mk5 RWD while victory fell prey to his compatriot Nick Snoeys (Ford Fiesta Mk6 RWD).
Peter van de Wege drove his Toyota Yaris Mk1 to victory in Super1600s. © DS/ERC24
Steve Volders in the XXL Ford Escort Mk1 bagged victory in the SuperNationals +2000 class. © DS/ERC24
Steven Stessens (Vauxhall Corsa B) en route to victory in the SuperNationals -2000 category. © DS/ERC24
Dancing around the Devils Hill Rallycross track… © DS/ERC24
The SuperNationals +2000 category saw incidents of the two Belgian Volvo campaigners Luc Maris (Volvo 240) and Kristof Bex (Volvo S40 Mk1) who both produced mistakes that offered their fellow-countryman Steve Volders the chance to power his impressive Ford Escort Mk1 to victory. And in the SuperNationals -2000 class reigning Belgian champion Steven Stessens drove his Vauxhall Corsa B to yet another win.
Top photo: Dutchman Ron Snoeck (Seat Leon Mk2) claimed the SuperCars win at Maasmechelen. © DS/ERC24