Set Promotion to Hungary in double lead when the ERC continues on one of the best tracks of the series.

The European Rallycross Championship continues in Hungary’s Nyirád this weekend. Set Promotion has dominated the Super1600s class so far. Andreas Bakkerud from Norway is in the lead with his Renault Twingo while Finn Jussi-Petteri Leppihalme is second, only four points away with his Renault Clio.

The last event in Austria saw the end of the team’s winning streak. However, the team has still the double lead of the overall standings. Now the team’s aim is to return to its own level and get back to winning. “Now the attitude has to be that we take the right steps towards victory right from Saturday morning and get back to the level that brings us wins. We have the full capabilities to do that. But it won’t be easy. It’s now down to the smallest things, but somehow we have to find the extra tenth of a second per lap. The fact is that we have two drivers [Bakkerud and Leppihalme] competing for victory. I have to emphasise that the margins are very small. In Austria 18 drivers’ laptimes were within one second. The level is higher than ever,” says team manager Jussi Pinomäki.

The team’s third driver, Russian Timur Shigaboudtinov, is also ready for success. “He said himself that now is the time to get into the A finals. I agree. He is a talented driver. A few more little things and Timur will also be among the A finalists,” claims Pinomäki.

The Nyirád circuit is one of the best of the ERC season. Last year it wasn’t part of the championship. For many of the current drivers the track is new. Pinomäki himself won there in 2008. “It’s absolutely one of the best tracks. With Sweden’s Höljes it’s up there with the best. A fast and technical course. An unfamiliar track is always a challenge. What matters is how the drivers adapt to a new track and learn about its tricks,” states Pinomäki.

Photo caption: Russian Set Promotion driver Timur Shigaboutdinov (right) battle it out with Czech Zdeněk Čermák at Greinbach. © JKR/ERC24