The 2014 Global RallyCross Championship Finale at The LINQ grounds in Las Vegas was claimed by American superstar Ken Block, but the title went once again to a European driver. Finn Joni Wiman became the heir of his compatriot Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen who won the GRC series in 2013.
After his fellow-countryman Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen won the GRC title in 2013 it is Finn Joni Wiman who last night made the SuperCars Championship of the 2014 Global RallyCross series his. Although Wiman did not win a single round of the 10 championship events and was beaten by American Ken Block in yesterday’s Finale at The LINQ Hotel and Casino grounds of Las Vegas the OMSE driver’s second place was enough to ensure him the title.
The Las Vegas GRC podium with (from left) runner-up Joni Wiman, winner Ken Block and third ‘Bucky’ Lasek. © Ford Racing/ERC24
The 21-year-old, who is the protégé of his compatriot double World Rally Champion Marcus Grönholm, won in 2013 the GRC Lites category of the US-based series. Wiman subsequently promoted to the top class for this year and fulfilled the expectations of his Swedish team Olsbergs MSE and its principal Andréas Eriksson by beating make-colleague Block to second place in the standings.
Joni Wiman is after Toomas Heikkinen the second Finn to win the GRC SuperCars title. © Ford Racing/ERC24
After winning the GRC Lites title in 2013 this year Wiman picked the SuperCar laurels. © Ford Racing/ERC24
Third place of the event was claimed by Subaru Impreza GR campaigner American ‘Bucky’ Lasek while his compatriot Scott Speed drove his all-new VW Beetle R SuperCar in its maiden event to an amazing fourth place. Norwegian hat-trick ERC winner Sverre Isachsen made fifth place his, American Tanner Foust finished sixth overall.
Andreas Bakkerud almost won the GRC Lites event, but after brake problems he became runner-up. © OMSE/ERC24
The GRC Lites rostrum with (from left) second Andreas Bakkerud, winner Mitchell DeJong and third Austin Cindric. © OMSE/ERC24
17-year-old US racer Mitchell DeJong scored his seventh 2014 round victory in the GRC Lites class, beating Norwegian guest driver Andreas Bakkerud to runner-up. Bakkerud, who used the invitation of his OMSE squad to compete in Nevada as practice occasion for the WorldRX Finale in Argentina, did a proper job in ‘Sin City’. After DeJong produced a poor start ‘BabyBlue’ was leading the all-decisive final – till his brakes gave up. While series dominator De Jong took advantage from Bakkerud’s problem the WRX SuperCar regular made it to second place, eventually beating American Austin Cindric to third.
- Round 10, Global RallyCross, The LINQ Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 04.–05.11.2014
- FINAL RESULTS SUPERCARS:
- 1. Ken Block (USA) Ford Fiesta Mk7 ST
- 2. Joni Wiman (FIN) Ford Fiesta Mk7 ST
- 3. ‘Bucky’ Lasek (USA) Subaru Impreza GR
- 4. Scott Speed (USA) VW Beetle R
- 5. Sverre Isachsen (N) Subaru Impreza GR
- 6. Tanner Foust (USA) VW Beetle R
- 7. Emma Gilmour ♀ (NZ) Hyundai Veloster Turbo
- 8. Steve Arpin (CDN) Ford Fiesta Mk7
- 9. Brian Deegan (USA) Ford Fiesta Mk7 ST
- 10. Patrik Sandell (S) Ford Fiesta Mk7 ST
- 11. Pat Moro (USA) Chevrolet Sonic/Aveo RS
- 12. Austin Dyne (USA) Ford Fiesta Mk7
- 13. Rhys Millen (NZ) Hyundai Veloster Turbo
- 14. Nelson Piquet Jr. (BR) Ford Fiesta Mk7 ST
- FINAL POINT STANDINGS AFTER 10 ROUNDS:
- 1. Joni Wiman (FIN) 381 Points
- 2. Ken Block (USA) 376 Points
- 3. Scott Speed (USA) 344 Points
- 4. Nelson Piquet Jr. (BR) 307 Points
- 5. Sverre Isachsen (N) 280 Points
- 6. Patrik Sandell (S) 246 Points
- FINAL RESULTS GRC LITES:
- 1. Mitchell DeJong (USA) “Ford Fiesta Mk7”
- 2. Andreas Bakkerud (N) “Ford Fiesta Mk7”
- 3. Austin Cindric (USA) “Ford Fiesta Mk7”
- 4. Tyler Benson (USA) “Hyundai Veloster”
- 5. Alejandro Fernández (CO) “Ford Fiesta Mk7”
- 6. Oliver Eriksson (S) “Ford Fiesta Mk7”
- 7. Nick Roberts (USA) “Ford Fiesta Mk7”
- 8. Kevin Eriksson (S) “Ford Fiesta Mk7”
- FINAL POINT STANDINGS AFTER 9 ROUNDS:
- 1. Mitchell DeJong (USA) 489 Points
- 2. Kevin Eriksson (S) 331 Points
- 3. Alejandro Fernández (CO) 306 Points
- 4. Tyler Benson (USA) 273 Points
- 5. Austin Cindric (USA) 257 Points
- 6. Geoff Sykes (USA) 235 Points
Top photo: While Block claimed the final GRC round it was Wiman who made the championship his. © Ford Racing/ERC24