Triple race wins for Scott-Eklund Racing team leader Andy Scott in the ERC opening round at Lydden Hill.

Scott-Eklund Racing team principal and lead driver Andy Scott completed a successful first outing of 2012 in the opening round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill on Monday, April 9, taking victory in all three qualifying heats. The reigning British Rallycross vice-champion is dovetailing a full season in the Global RallyCross Championship in America with selected rounds of the European series, in which he pilots a Tony Bardy Motorsport-prepared two-litre, 16v Ford Focus ST T16 4×4.

Running in changeable weather conditions at the Kent track, Scott was immediately on the pace in both free practice sessions on Sunday and later that day powered the 550bhp SuperCar to the second fastest lap in the timed practice session.

A technical failure with the circuit’s timing equipment led the race organisers to re-arrange the first of the three heats, originally planned for Sunday afternoon, to Monday morning, further adding to Easter Monday’s action-packed race schedule.

With the weather taking a turn for the worse overnight, tyres were an important factor ahead of the day’s opening four-lap qualification heat but a superb start by the Scott Trawlers-backed driver saw him get the jump at the start to take an immediate lead, pulling out a comfortable margin over his rivals, which he held to the flag. Starting heat two from the pole spot, Scott once again made a lightening start to hold the lead fending off the rest of the field to take a comfortable second successive heat victory.

Lining up in the number one spot again for the third and final qualifying heat, the 55 year-old from Dumfries once again dominated proceedings to take a third straight win ahead of the all-important five lap A final.

With the third fastest time to his credit from the heats, Scott lined up on the front row for the eight-car race, hoping to repeat his podium-winning form from the Dutch round last year. A good getaway off the line however was brought to an abrupt end when he was pitched off the track and into the barrier at the first corner, ending his chances of victory. A solid recovery over the course of the race secured the second fastest lap, on his way to eighth place at the flag.

Scott will resume his bid for FIA European Rallycross Championship title honours in the next round of the series in Dreux, France, over the weekend of April 27/28, before heading to America for the opening round of the GRC at Charlotte on May 26.

Andy Scott, Scott-Eklund Racing Team Principal & Driver:

“Overall we had a good weekend as we showed we had the pace in the heats and the A final and I think we could have been good for a podium finish. At the start I had two choices to make from my grid position, I either had to challenge for the first corner or take the Joker Lap. I decided to challenge for the first corner but it didn’t pay off.”

“I got into the corner alongside Tanner [Foust] and I think Stig-Olov [Walfridsson] was behind, and I missed the line with any grip and that was it. The track was a lot rougher particularly at Chesson’s Drift, which is very deep and rutted, and the track is totally worn out with the usage in this weather. But it was a very positive performance and we had consistent pace over the whole weekend, including the A final with the second fastest lap, so going into the next rounds we have to be pushing for top three.”