Tanner Foust takes the first of two GRC round on Phoenix, the VW Beetle driver taking the event from Patrik Sandell and Brian Deegan.

The 2016 Red Bull GRC season kicked off with a doubleheader for the first time in series history, as drivers battle for two rounds at the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix.

Tanner Foust, driving for Volkswagen Andretti in a Rallycross Beetle takes round one. © REDBULLGRC/ERC24

Two-time GRC champion Tanner Foust kicked off the 2016 season with a round victory at the Red Bull GRC Phoenix, the series’ inaugural event at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. The Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross (VARX) driver held off Bryan Herta Rallysport’s Patrik Sandell and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Brian Deegan for the victory.

The team dominated the preliminary rounds, with Foust and Scott Speed winning two heats each. From there, Foust won the first semi-final over the brand new Honda Red Bull Olsbergs MSE entry of Joni Wiman, while Speed held off Sandell to win the second semi-final. In the final, Foust led from start to finish, withstanding early challenges from Sandell and Speed to establish a comfortable lead. 

New manufacturer Honda put both of its Civic Coupes in the main event. Olsbergs MSE bring the Civic to Red Bull GRC competition for the first time this year. Young driver Joni Wiman finishing second in his semi-final and teammate Sebastian Eriksson placing second in the last chance qualifier. Wiman, now in his third year with Olsbergs MSE, earned a sixth-place result in the event.

Honda Red Bull OMSE debut their new Civic Coupes at the Phoenix event. © REDBULLGRC/ERC24

In GRC Lites, Miki Weckstrom of Olsbergs MSE X Forces took the victory in his first-ever start in the series, holding off DirtFish Motorsports’ Conner Martell and AF Racing’s Christian Brooks, who made a last-lap pass of Alex Keyes. All three claimed their first-ever Lites podium in the event.

Red Bull Global Rallycross Round One Results:

1. Tanner Foust – Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
2. Patrik Sandell -Bryan Herta Rallysport Ford Fiesta ST
3. Brian Deegan – Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST
4. Steve Arpin – Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST
5. Scott Speed – Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
6. Joni Wiman – Honda Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Civic Coupe
7. Jeff Ward – SH Rallycross/DRR Ford Fiesta ST
8. Rhys Millen – Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Veloster
9. Sebastian Eriksson – Honda Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Civic Coupe
10. Austin Dyne – AD Racing Ford Fiesta ST
11. Sebastian Saavedra – AD Racing Ford Fiesta

Red Bull Global Rallycross Phoenix competition will continue with the second round of the 2016 season for both classes on Sunday.