HELL, NORWAY, JUNE 12, 2016 — Hoonigan Racing Division’s Andreas Bakkerud made rallycross history today in Hell, Norway, during Round Five of the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship by dominating the entire event and bringing home a 1st overall finish.
Bakkerud set numerous records on his outright domination this weekend by winning all four of his Qualifier races (no driver had ever won all four in a weekend previously) and then going on to storm to the top in both his Semi Final and the Final. The overall win was the first-ever for the all-new Ford Focus RS RX rallycross car (a racecar that’s still in its first year of competition and development), the first-ever in World RX for Hoonigan Racing Division and the first-ever win at the Norway round of the World Championship by a Norwegian.
“I’m thrilled with how the weekend went for myself,” said Bakkerud. “I really wanted to win last round at Lydden, I felt like I had the pace, but my car had a mechanical issue in the final. This weekend the car ran pretty much perfectly the entire weekend. It felt great, I had good pace and was able to bring home the first-ever win for our new Focus RS RX car. That’s something I’m really proud of! A big thanks to my team, Ford Performance and M-Sport for building us an amazingly capable car, Ken Block for giving me this incredible opportunity and of course to my fans and supporters here in Norway. This win was for all of you!”
While Bakkerud had an all-dominating weekend on the track, his teammate and team boss, Ken Block, had mixed results. He ended up with a pair of 2nd place finishes in his Q1 and Q2 races on Saturday, which left him going into Sunday’s racing sitting within the last slot of the top 12. Unfortunately Block was hampered by a mechanical issue in Qualifier in Q3 and fell two spots, he then suffered a different mechanical failure because of light contact during the first corner of Q4, which put an end to his run at making it into the Semi Finals.
“While my weekend was frustrating, I'm super stoked for Andreas and this team right now,” said Block. “Andreas has a lot of talent and the fact that he was able to put this car—which we’re still developing and have had barely any testing—at the very top of the podium amongst such fierce competition at a very challenging track, well, I’m beyond stoked for him and the team. He did an incredible job and has proven that we’re working with a very potent new racecar. Hopefully my luck turns around for the next round in Sweden and can get back on the podium too!”
With Bakkerud’s win he moves into 5th overall in the driver championship point standings and is only 2 points away from 3rd place. Block and Bakkerud next compete in Round 6 of the World RX Championship, which takes place in Höljes, Sweden, on July 2nd and 3rd.
