Thursday 24 July 2014

Foust ends winless run as Andretti's fine form continues

Tanner Foust put a disappointing start to the season behind him by claiming a record-equalling fifth Red Bull Global Rallycross win in Volkswagen Rallycross New York.


The Andretti Autosport driver, who recently won the World Rallycross championship round in Finland, was given a penalty in Barbados and rolled out spectacularly at X Games Austin but bounced back by emerging from Red Bull GRC's first visit to the Big Apple as victor.

Foust was on top all weekend, setting the fastest time in qualifying before going on to win in the heats and the semi-finals en route to the final.

The final itself was subject to two red flags which eliminated both Patrik Sandell and Sverre Isachsen. The incidents left only two cars ont eh front row for when the race got underway for real and Foust capitalised on that, using his great starting skill to leap into a lead he would never relinquish.

It was almost a perfect weekend for the Andretti Autosport team who have now won three out of the four events this season. Foust's team mate, Scott Speed, finishedsecond on the road in the final, only to be demoted to ninth after the race after it was judged that unapproved adjustments were made to his car during a red flag period.

With that penalty, Nelson Piquet Jr. inherited second place, and with it, the championship lead. Ken Block, who's shown strong pace all year, finally got a finish that reflected that by taking third.

"The season gets progressively better for me, so I’m stoked to have third." He said."It’s been such a bad season so far—I’ve driven well, qualified fairly well, things just hadn’t come together for the final, so I’m stoked."

The New York Red Bull GRC round also saw the long awaited series début of Sarah Burgess in the BMI Racing Chevrolet Sonic.

"We want to be competitive, but we want to make sure we work well in the series, too." said the former drifter, "So we’ll keep pushing away and let it come through as natural, but as quick, as possible."

Next up for Red Bull Global Rallycross is the dirt track at Charlotte this weekend.



Images: Alison Padron





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