Russian Timur Timerzyanov comfortably takes heat one in SuperCars. Norwegian Andreas Bakkerud fastest Super1600 driver, Swede Anton Marklund snatches TouringCars lead.

Russian point standings leader Timerzyanov completes a clean sweep of day one of ERC Norway. Fastest times gained in all three practice sessions are topped by a race time of 2:44.918 in today’s first heat. The top five of the official timed practice mirrored the top five SuperCar finishers in heat one.

Timerzyanov took a straight win in his race, ignoring pressure applied by Tanner Foust during his performance which initially set the SuperCars standard. Norwegian Mats Lysen was not too far behind demonstrating his extensive knowledge of the circuit near Trondheim. Another Norwegian, Alexander Hvaal can also not be written off. Fourth fastest, and consistently quick the young Hansen Motorsport driver quietly got on with the business of setting himself up for a chance of high points tomorrow. Hvaal is currently third in the SuperCars standings. It was much the same for Liam Doran. The Brit is at present second in the standings, and also in search of points from round five before his departure from the ERC for X Games 18 which takes place during ERC round six. The ‘Monster Energy’ driver’s fifth fastest was hugely competitive seeing as he suffered from initial turbo trouble this morning.

• THE TOP FIVE IN SUPERCARS:
• 1. Timur Timerzyanov – 2:44.918
• 2. Tanner Foust – 2:45.418
• 3. Mats Lysen – 2:47.031
• 4. Alexander Hvaal – 2:47.538
• 5. Liam Doran – 2:48.238

Homeboy Andreas Bakkerud successfully secured a heat one win. The Norwegian performed faultlessly on his home circuit, beating his Set Promotion teammate Finn ‘Juspe’ Leppihalme to fastest by the narrowest of margins. Pole Krzysztof Skorupski was the third fastest Super1600 driver in the heat.

Andreas lapped up home support intially going faster than Dane Ulrik Linnemann and then his teammate Leppihalme. The Norwegian did not stop there, going quicker than Polish challenger Krzysztof Skorupski . “It’s great to be at home in Hell and we have had a great day, the support is amazing and we hope we can get the results tomorrow,” replied ‘Mr Baby Blue’.

• THE TOP FIVE IN SUPER1600S:
• 1. Andreas Bakkerud – 2:58.145
• 2. Jussi-Petteri Leppihalme – 2:58.281
• 3. Krzysztof Skorupski – 2:58.962
• 4. Ildar Rakhmatullin – 2:59.165
• 5. Eric Färén – 2:59.990

Norwegian Lars Øivind Enerberg’s early domination of the category was deemed useless after he collided with compatriot Tom Daniel Tånevik in his race. Swede Anton Marklund quickly took advantage of this mishap, producing a clean and strategically faultless drive in his race. Marklund was classified as fastest. Irishman Derek Tohill finished second fastest. Norwegian Henning Nyberg, here at Hell driving the borrowed Mazda RX-8 of Norway-based Åland-Finn John “Pirkka” Karlsson, made it to third place.

• THE TOP FIVE IN TOURINGCARS:
• 1. Anton Marklund – 3:02.266
• 2. Derek Tohill – 3:03.566
• 3. Henning Nyberg – 3:03.757
• 4. Vegard Åslund – 3:03.840
• 5. Lars Rosendahl – 3:05.772

Conditions for all drivers have so far remained hot, dry and unfortunately fairly dusty in some areas. Times gained in heat one showed vast improvement from practice laps, proving that all drivers are taking advantage of the fast Norwegian circuit here in Hell.