GRC Supercar drivers take the first turn at Red Bull Global Rallycross in Washington DC. [Credit Larry Chen / Red Bull Content Pool]
GRC Supercar drivers take the first turn at Red Bull Global Rallycross in Washington DC. [Credit Larry Chen / Red Bull Content Pool]
In his 21st career Red Bull Global Rallycross start, Nelson Piquet Jr. finally topped the Supercar podium for the first time in Red Bull GRC Washington DC presented by Volkswagen. Piquet held off defending Washington DC race winner Patrik Sandell and points leader Ken Block to take the victory.
“This is thanks to the team,” said Piquet Jr. “They’ve been making the car quicker and quicker every race, and we’re just getting more and more competitive They deserve a win, and hopefully this is just the first one for the future—we’re going to have a long time together.”
Jeff Ward and Nelson Piquet Jr. won Friday’s first round heats, while Piquet (with an incredible last-lap pass) and Joni Wiman won the second-round heats. Piquet earned a victory in his semifinal to grab the inside starting spot for the main event, while Patrik Sandell won the other semifinal to start alongside him. Scott Speed, who posted the fastest time in Friday’s qualifying, won the last chance qualifier.
Ten cars charged into the first corner in hte Main Event at RFK Stadium, with Piquet jumping out in front and establishing himself as the leader. The first half of the eight-lap final was dominated by a three-way battle for third, with Ken Block, Tanner Foust, and Steve Arpin all jostling for the final podium position.
After chasing down Piquet for the entire event, Sandell made contact from behind, pushing in Piquet’s left rear fender and leading to a tire rub. Undeterred, Piquet held on to the top spot for the final lap to take his first victory in a Supercar main event.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS: The results from Saturday’s Red Bull Global Rallycross Washington DC presented by Volkswagen, the seventh round of the 2015 Red Bull GRC season: 1. Nelson Piquet Jr., #07 SH Racing Rallycross Ford Fiesta ST 2. Patrik Sandell, #18 Bryan Herta Rallysport Ford Fiesta ST 3. Ken Block, #43 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST 4. Steve Arpin, #00 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST 5. Tanner Foust, #34 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle 6. Sebastian Eriksson, #93 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST 7. Scott Speed, #41 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle 8. Austin Dyne, #14 Bryan Herta Rallysport Ford Fiesta ST 9. Jeff Ward, #360 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST 10. Joni Wiman, #31 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST 11. Logan Gomez, #77 Royal Purple Racing Ford Fiesta
12. Pat Moro, #59 PMR Motorsports Chevrolet Sonic
GRC Lites: Washington DC presented by Volkswagen
Alex Keyes rebounded from a disappointing home race weekend in Detroit to win his second GRC Lites race of the season in Washington DC. As he did at MCAS New River during his first win, he held off a hard-charging Oliver Eriksson of Olsbergs MSE for the victory; Keyes’ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing teammate Miles Maroney placed third to grab the Supercar points lead.
Oliver Eriksson and Alex Keyes qualified first and second on Friday, establishing lane choice in the first round of heats that they would never relinquish. Both drivers won both of their heats to earn front-row starting spots for the main event. All 10 competitors advanced directly to the main event based on their second round heat finishing position.
In the charge to the first corner, Keyes held pace with Eriksson through the first left-hand turn, established positioning on outside front row starter Austin Cindric in the next right-hand corner, and managed to pull ahead of Eriksson from there. That was all Keyes needed, as he gradually extended his lead over the pair of Olsbergs MSE drivers.
As the eight-lap final claimed championship competitors one by one, with Collete Davis pulling off track with mechanical trouble and Tanner Whitten and incoming points leader Cindric both suffering damage, Miles Maroney slotted into third and Alejandro Fernandez moved up to fourth. Neither driver could catch the top two runners, but both earned valuable championship points.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS: The results from Saturday’s Red Bull Global Rallycross Washington DC presented by Volkswagen, the seventh round of the 2015 GRC Lites season: 1. Alex Keyes, #61 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 2. Oliver Eriksson, #16 Olsbergs MSE 3. Miles Maroney, #24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 4. Alejandro Fernandez, #126 AF Racing 5. Joachim Hvaal, #99 Olsbergs MSE 6. Blas Zapag, #69 Rhys Millen Racing 7. Nur Ali, #42 AF Racing 8. Austin Cindric, #77 Olsbergs MSE 9. Tanner Whitten, #15 DirtFish Motorsports
10. Collete Davis, #07 River Racing
