ERC Belgium is underway, practice sessions and official timed practice sessions being played out under near soaring temperatures.

Full entry lists across the board provided close and competitive lap times, the outcome will eventually form round 7 of the European Rallycross Championship.

American driver Tanner Foust eventually took fastest, gaining his quickest lap time in the official timed practice. The American was marginally quicker, with home driver Michaël De Keersmaecker finishing only narrowly slower. Frenchman Davy Jeanney was the fastest Frenchman and the third fastest SuperCar driver leading into today’s first heat.

Francois Duval went fastest in free practice two ahead of Tanner Foust and Timur Timerzyanov. French Clio driver Jérome Grosset-Janin looked fired up during this morning’s first free practice session, successfully gaining the quickest lap time on track. Title leader Timerzyanov was not far behind, and neither was returning Rally driver Duval. These three drivers at present lead the 22 car SuperCars pack.

Problems arose for few drivers, whose cars arrive back to the ERC after the summer break. Coox endeavoured early teething problems with his all new Volkswagen Scirocco Mk3, whilst French veteran Jean-Luc Pailler also left the circuit early in order to make adjustments to his Peugeot 207.

Returning Norwegian Frode Holte gained a late puncture, and some exterior damage to his rear arch after an overly positive entrance to the Joker Lap section – although no extensive damage was caused.

Jussi-Petteri Leppihalme bagged the fastest Super1600s lap time in their Official Timed Practice session.

Danish S1600 driver Ulrik Linnemann drove the quickest lap in his class during the earlier practice sessions, faster than closest finishers Andreas Bakkerud and Krzysztof Skorupski. Finnish Set Promotion driver Jussi-Petteri Leppihalme spoke about his distinct dislike of the track here in Maasmechelen, despite a positively quick start time ranked 7th. “No, this is not one of my favourite tracks in the championship, but we have a job to do here,” said Leppihalme.

Robin Larsson was the quickest driver in the 17 cars strong TouringCars pack during free practice one, but could not halt Anton Marklund who successfully drove in a fastest lap time for his class during the official timed practice session.

For more pictures click here: http://erc24.com/archives/6996