Loeb & Hansen take X Games

Category: GRC, July, News Posted 02.07.12 03:09 by Eddi Laumanns

8-times World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb wins the so-called RallyCross competition of the X Games 18 in Los Angeles with ERC SuperCar Citroën DS3 of Hansen Motorsport.

Frenchman Sébastian Loeb made good use of the 545bhp strong Citroën DS3 SuperCar of Hansen Motorsport, formerly driven to two 2012 ERC round victories by Russian Timur Timerzyanov. The main final had been started twice, both times the Citroën factory driver shot into the lead, taking advantage of his pole position. However, when triple European Rallycross Champion Sverre Isachsen had to retire his Subaru Impreza GR, after a spin in front of his Subaru PUMA teammate David Higgins, the race was stopped by the red flag. For the re-start Isachsen did not show up and the starting grid was changed from a 4-4-2 staggered formation to a 3-3-3 system.

After the second GO! for the all decisive final that man Loeb powered the Hansen DS3 once again into the lead, followed by Ken Block (Ford Fiesta Mk7) and Tanner Foust (Ford Fiesta Mk7). While the Frenchman in the Citroën DS3 was flying away from the Ford campaigners Foust was hampered by technical problems and lost the third position to another OMSE driver, his compatriot Brian Deegan. Ken Block drove for almost half of the final with a puncture, but remained the runner-up to Loeb. After the six laps race the man with the chequered flag greeted Loeb (Gold), Block (Silver) and Deegan (Bronze) as the three X Games medallists, fourth place went to Kiwi Rhys Millen (Hyundai Veloster) while Briton Liam Doran (Citroën C4) claimed the fifth place, limping half his way to the finish with a flat tyre.