Red Bull GRC Race Recap: Detroit

IN BRIEF: Red Bull Global Rallycross made its debut in Detroit on a 0.757-mile course on Belle Isle, which hosted the series’ second doubleheader of the 2015 season. Ken Block took his record-setting sixth career victory on Saturday, while Patrik Sandell earned his first win of the year on Sunday.

SATURDAY RECAP: Ken Block and Patrik Sandell each won their first round heat and semifinal to earn front row starting spots on Saturday, setting them up to renew their season-long battle for fastest driver and vehicle in the sport. At the start of the race, Sandell jumped out to the lead, while Block settled into second and Scott Speed chased them from third.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be for Sandell – with three laps to go, a driveshaft failure saw him drop from the lead. Block managed to get by cleanly and quickly, cementing his third victory of the year, while Speed and Sebastian Eriksson would complete the podium.

SUNDAY RECAP: Nelson Piquet Jr. earned Sunday’s pole position, but it was once again Sandell who proved to be the top driver by winning both his heat and semifinal. Speed took a first round heat win, and appeared to be on the way to a semifinal win before teammate Tanner Foust made a daring pass in the final corners.

The main event saw an aborted first start when multiple cars made contact between turns one and two, leaving Foust’s vehicle disabled in the racing line. Block was given a rough driving penalty and moved from the second row to the back of the grid, and with two of his biggest challengers eliminated, Sandell used the second chance to lead from start to finish.

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UNOFFICIAL RESULTS: The results from Saturday’s Red Bull Global Rallycross Detroit (I), the fifth round of the 2015 Red Bull GRC season:

  1. Ken Block, #43 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST
  2. Scott Speed, #41 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
  3. Sebastian Eriksson, #93 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
  4. Brian Deegan, #38 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST
  5. Joni Wiman, #31 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST

The results from Sunday’s Red Bull Global Rallycross Detroit (II), the sixth round of the 2015 Red Bull GRC season:

  1. Patrik Sandell, #18 Bryan Herta Rallysport Ford Fiesta ST
  2. Scott Speed, #41 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
  3. Sebastian Eriksson, #93 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
  4. Joni Wiman, #31 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
  5. Brian Deegan, #38 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST

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QUOTES: A selection of quotes from Sunday’s Red Bull Global Rallycross Detroit (II), the sixth round of the 2015 Red Bull GRC season:

Patrik Sandell, #18 Bryan Herta Rallysport Ford Fiesta ST: "We have a fantastic car – my team has put together the perfect package for me, and we’ve been able to be fast for a while now, but we hadn’t been able to get all the way to the finish. Yesterday we had a small problem with the car and had to retire in the final, but today Bryan Herta, his guys, and Kobalt Tools just put everything together for me. I’m so happy for them – this victory goes to them."

Scott Speed, #41 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle: “Obviously after three DNFs in a row, the championship is far away, but we have to do what we can do round by round to finish on the podium and collect points. I’m super pumped that Patrik won – honestly, he’s deserved one of these so far this year. I’m happy for those guys, and happy for our Volkswagen Andretti Beetle! We’ve clearly got the pace and we’ll be a force for sure."

Sebastian Eriksson, Driver, #93 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST: “We’re looking at the big picture, but we need to take it step by step, round by round, and score as many points as possible. We’ve got some work to do, both me as a driver and the setup of the car, to find some more speed on these tracks and challenge the others for victories late in the season."

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FAST FACTS: A collection of facts from Saturday and Sunday’s Red Bull Global Rallycross Detroit, the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2015 Red Bull GRC season:

  • Ken Block earned the sixth victory of his Red Bull Global Rallycross career in Saturday’s event, a Supercar record for Red Bull GRC-sanctioned rallycross events. Block also holds the record for most Red Bull GRC heat and semifinal victories with 38.
  • Patrik Sandell’s victory on Sunday was the second of his Red Bull Global Rallycross career and the first for Bryan Herta Rallysport since its establishment earlier this year.
  • Scott Speed earned his second and third podiums of the 2015 Red Bull GRC season by finishing second in both Detroit races. Each of his podium finishes in Red Bull GRC events has been a runner-up result. Speed also earned a gold medal at the X Games Austin invitational round.
  • Sebastian Eriksson became the only driver to podium in all four doubleheader rounds so far this year by virtue of a pair of third place finishes. Eriksson finished third and first in Daytona last month.
  • Steve Arpin missed his first Red Bull GRC main event of the year on Sunday by virtue of a fifth place finish in the last chance qualifier. He was scored with an 11th place finish overall.

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OFFICIAL DRIVER POINTS:

  1. Ken Block, 260
  2. Sebastian Eriksson, 234
  3. Austin Dyne, 195
  4. Joni Wiman, 185
  5. Scott Speed, 180
  6. Nelson Piquet Jr., 178
  7. Steve Arpin, 161
  8. Patrik Sandell, 157
  9. Tanner Foust, 139
  10. Brian Deegan, 76
  11. Sverre Isachsen, 61
  12. Bucky Lasek, 51
  13. Victor Gonzalez Jr., 17
  14. Jeff Ward, ineligible for points

OFFICIAL MANUFACTURER POINTS:

  1. Ford, 29
  2. Volkswagen, 24
  3. Subaru, 19

Photo credit: Louis Yio

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