On Friday afternoon Finn Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen topped all his competitors at the Estering in Buxtehude to become the first ever ‘Mini World RX’ winner.
© by Lukas Stelmaszyk
Topi Heikkinen celebrated a superb victory at the premiere of ‘Mini World RX’ at the Estering. Mattias Ekström and his team EKS invited all the World RX drivers to have some fun with slotcars before the action starts in Germany. About 30 drivers attended ‘EKS Fridays’, an event which is held at each World RX round on Fridays from 17:00 on.
Mattias Ekström invited the World RX regulars to take part in the fun competition … © JKR/ERC24
… and about 30 drivers took part. © JKR/ERC24
The entry list of ‘Mini World RX was quite amazing. For example ‘Mr Hollywood’ Petter Solberg, the Olsbergs MSE guys Andreas Bakkerud and Reinis Nitišs, Peugeot-Hansen with Timmy Hansen and Timur Timerzyanov. The Marklund boys Topi Heikkinen and Anton Marklund were joined by Johan Kristoffersson of the Volkswagen Dealer Team KMS.
The racing was done with scale 1/24 slotcars … © JKR/ERC24
… that caught the full attention of all participants. Errrm, maybe not of all likewise. © JKR/ERC24
After having some intensive training on Thursday during a slotcar event of RCCO at the Volkswagen headquarter in Hannover, Heikkinen and Marklund set the pace at the Estering from the very first beginning. All drivers contested during a 45 minutes Free Practice, which saw a lot of action, drifts, crashes and smiling faces, not even of the drivers but also the fans, who joined the party.
Many times a helping hand was needed … © JKR/ERC24
… but it never spoiled the action nor the fun. © JKR/ERC24
The semi-finals, which were commentated by the voice of World RX Andrew Coley, were even more thrilling. The three minute races were close ones and the drivers drove more than 20 laps during this short time. At the end Heikkinen, Marklund, Kristoffersson, Lukas Walfridsson, Simone Romagna and host Mattias Ekström made it to the final. Heikkinen had a superb start and lead the pack from the first lap. In the shadow of the Flying Finn, Marklund and Kristoffersson fought for second place, after Ekström lost sight of his opponents due to a crash of his car.
Swedish Rallycross lady Ramona Karlsson had all under control … © JKR/ERC24
… while Finn ‘Topi’ Heikkinen eventually claimed victory and a Carrera track as the main prize. © JKR/ERC24
Heikkinen crossed the line first and was followed by Kristoffersson and Marklund to make it an all-Volkswagen podium. They were rewarded with special prizes on the EKS podium, which was on the toolbox in the team’s paddock stand. Fom now on Marklund will never run out of battery power with a CTEK battery charger, Kristoffersson can send brillant pictures and videos from World RX to his friends with his new GoPro and Topi didn’t lose any time to build up his Carrera track in the Marklund paddock stand.
Top photo: Buxtehude saw the first ever ”Mini World RX” shoot-out. © JKR/ERC24