HELL, Norway (June 24, 2012) - Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust earned victory at the Norwegian round of the highly competitive European Rallycross Championship this weekend to extend his podium streak to four-straight races and bring him within striking distance of the overall title as the series heads into its second half.
"This was a hard-fought win and gives us some great momentum heading into X Games," said Foust. "It was great to fly the American flag on the top podium spot here in beautiful Hell, Norway."
After a series of strong qualifying results at the Lånkebanen track, Foust surged off the start in the final race to an early lead and held position as a close-fought battle raged behind him on changing track conditions.
It is Foust's second win in the European Rallycross Championship this year; he won the opening round of the 2012 championship at Lydden Hill in Southeast England. The result moves him into second-place overall after five rounds in the 10-race series.
"After three-consecutive runner-up finishes, I'm glad to get that monkey off my back and earn a win," said Foust. "We worked hard for this result and I woke up this morning determined earn first place... Unfortunately, that was at 1:30 a.m. because of jet lag, but when the flag dropped, we were able to pull it off."Foust is in the middle of an intense schedule of European and American rallycross competition that sees him jetting back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean on alternating weekends.
Although the series continues next weekend in Sweden, Foust will instead compete in Los Angeles in the X Games Rallycross, where he hopes to add another medal to his collection. The driver has more X Games Rally Car medals than anyone else, including three Gold. He earned a Silver medal in last year's X Games Rallycross.
Competitors in the European series are permitted to drop their lowest score from each half of the season from the final championship total and Foust expects to remain competitive for the title in Europe despite the missed race. He remains in title contention after the season's first half even after factoring in a race he missed due to an earlier scheduling conflict.
Although he made his European debut only two years ago with a calendar of select European events, the driver has rapidly become a fan favorite, demonstrating an aggressive style and American flair for showmanship. Foust was treated to a warm welcome in Hell, where Norwegian fans lined up for autographs and posed for photos with him at every opportunity.
Before he hits the racecourse in Los Angeles next Sunday, Foust will first tackle an incredible stunt as he takes on a six-story double vertical loop - the first of its kind ever made. The Saturday stunt will see Foust return to his role as the Hot Wheels "Yellow Driver." In his first appearance with Hot Wheels last summer, he set the world-record for a four-wheel distance jump with a 332-foot long jump at last year's Indy 500.
"Hot Wheels gives me a chance to push the limits and this is a stunt that you have to see to believe," said Foust.
Rallycross is a blend of circuit racing, off-road racing and rally competition. It promises intense crowd-pleasing action in a fan-friendly track environment. As many as 10 drivers line up to start at once, piloting high-horsepower compact cars through race traffic over a challenging short course that features jumps, unbanked turns and changing track and surface conditions that can include dirt, gravel, and wet and dry tarmac.
Photos: Jan Kåre Rafoss/ERC24.com
