Norwegians take hat-trick of European Rallycross titles in Poland

Norway had a European Rallycross Championship round to remember in Słomczyn, Poland, last weekend where fellow countryman Sverre Isachsen, Andreas Bakkerud and Lars Oivind Enerberg clinched all three class titles.

Isachsen’s third consecutive Division 1 title came in style thanks to his fourth A Final victory in a season that appeared all-but over just three rounds ago. But a third-straight win, following his successes in Holland and Austria to add to his opening round triumph in Great Britain, have helped see the Ford Focus driver home with an event to spare.

Despite needing to finish no lower than third to clinch the crown after title rival Timur Timerzyanov failed to qualify for the final, Isachsen appeared desperate to win in style, holding off the frequent advances of Davy Jeanney. The Frenchman did inherit the lead when Isachsen took his Joker Lap but was unable to maintain the position when he did likewise.

Tanner Foust, promoted to the A Final at the expense of an excluded Liam Doran, took the final place on the podium ahead of Toomas Heikkinen. Stig-Olov Walfridsson and Frode Holte completed the top six.

Meanwhile Bakkerud’s third place was enough to crown him Super1600 champion for the first time after Krzysztof Skorupski had taken the overall victory. Jussi-Petteri Leppihalme inherited second late on after Johan Larsson’s puncture dropped the Swede to fourth.   

After dominating the first half of the season, during which he racked up five consecutive wins, Enerberg could finally celebrate securing the Touring Car title thanks to another win.

Arch rival Roman Castoral had at least made things interesting during the second half of 2011 but was unable to prevent the inevitable after finishing second to the Fiesta driver in Poland. David Nordgard picked up third after profiting from reigning champion Derek Tohill’s late mistake.

Motors TV is the home of European Rallycross coverage.

Tom Hornsby