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Pressemelding fra DRR JC Team:
| DRR JC are the 2022-2023 Nitro Rallycross Championship Drivers’ and Teams’ Champions, following an intense triple-header last weekend of the season at Glen Helen, California, where the campaign was concluded with DRR JC drivers locking out the final podium – and the new Group E Drivers’ champion Robin Larsson standing on the highest step of all.
In the second year of a partnership between American team Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Swedish concern JC Raceteknik, the team secured the most wins, podiums, TQs of any team in the series, before netting the Teams’ title and all three top positions in the Drivers’ Championship. |
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| Monster Energy RX Cartel DRR JC drivers Robin Larsson (x2 Euro RX Champion) and Andreas Bakkerud (World RX event-winner and Euro RX Champion) entered the final weekend of the first-ever season for the all-electric FC1-X machines Nitro Rallycross’ Group E category in the title hunt.
In a triple-header event, with full individual rounds on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, championship leader Larsson’s weekend got off to a difficult start, with eighth on Friday, as Bakkerud closed the points’ gap with his second victory of the season.
Bakkerud was again on the podium on Saturday and Sunday, and while Saturday also didn’t go fully to plan for Larsson. But, by Saturday evening the DRR JC squad had done enough to put the Teams’ title out of the reach of its rivals.
In the very last day of the season (Sunday) Larsson delivered one of the overtakes of the campaign on outgoing champion Travis Pastrana in the semi-finals to progress to the final, and then climbed from the second row to the grid to P3 and then P2 on the opening lap, took an early joker and drove to the front to secure victory, and the title, in style.
Bakkerud entered the last day of the season with a chance of winning the crown, and ended up on the podium, with second in the overall standings.
Andreas Bakkerud (NOR), Group E:
“If we look at the bigger picture this year, I wrecked two cars in different incidents and it was also a difficult start to the year [with the passing of Ken Block]. For me to be here at the end is a big up to the team, what they did in ERX last year working all night long to get myself and Fraser back on track [after big crashes] means the world. The team put us in a position we could go race. We have the best car, shown here in Glen Helen where we finished first, second and third even though I didn’t take any big risks. I’m just very happy, and very happy for Robin. He has been so stable this season, if there is one champion that is well deserved, it’s Robin.” |
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| Robin Larsson (SWE), Group E:
“It’s been a hell of a season. It was way too close for me this weekend, things went up and down but I pulled off a really good start in the last final and it was so nice to have all three DRR JC guys on the podium. We started strong in the first race and we finished strong in the last – thanks to everybody, it’s been a blast! I knew I had to finish the job today and take it to the finish line, and finally it’s done. It’s over!” |
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| Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
“What an amazing season. We were one of the first teams to commit to the new Group E category in Nitro Rallycross for this year, and it has been incredible. Andreas, Robin and Fraser have all delivered some amazing performances, and to win the Drivers’ title with Robin after working so closely with him in RallyX Nordic, Euro RX and the World Championship is very special – even more so after a very difficult Nitro season in 2021. Andreas is a star, everyone knows that and he has had to fight back this year for a number of reasons. He should be proud of himself, because we are proud of him! And Fraser has produced some drives I didn’t expect, against very, very strong competition, so well done to him too. But, there would be no success without our AMAZING team. Whatever they are asked they do, without a second thought. And, they always do it brilliantly. They are the best team in the paddock, maybe in any paddock. I cannot thank them enough, and I hope they enjoy this success as much as I do.” |
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