ESSAY, France (May 22, 2011) – Rockstar Energy Drink Driver
Tanner Foust had another strong European Rallycross Championship weekend in
France, setting top times at what is considered the most competitive round in
the series and finishing in sixth-place overall.
“We put together a good effort and it’s too bad for the team that we
didn’t get a better result,” said Foust. “They worked hard, and
things seemed to be going in the right direction.”
More than 20,000 fans took advantage of a warm spring weekend to pack into the
Circuit des Ducs in Essay, France, where series newcomer Foust quickly emerged
as a fan favorite. People jumped to their feet and cheered for the Rockstar
Energy Drink Ford Fiesta in every race, and lined up five-deep outside the team
area for autographs all weekend long.
Foust started strong in France and qualified for the final race of the weekend
in a solid, second-place position and a contender for the overall victory. Just
a week ago at the championship round in Portugal, he became the first American
ever to win an FIA European Rallycross Championship event.
“We’ve definitely proven we can be competitive,” said Foust. “I
think qualifying so well here shows that last weekend’s win wasn’t just a fluke
for the team.”
He was looking strong for a return to the podium until the third heat, when a
hard hit by a rival driver disabled the Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta. His
team worked hard to repair the car before the weekend’s A-Main final race, but
lingering drivetrain damage ultimately kept him from finishing. Foust was
forced to pull aside before the checkered flag while the other drivers drove
past, and he finished the weekend with a sixth-place overall result.
“I think some bumping is expected, but there’s a fine line between racing
and crashing,” said Foust. “Getting hit from behind in a braking zone
hard enough that it ended our weekend was, I think, a bit excessive.”
Foust remains in a strong position for the championship. The result leaves him
tied for second-place with UK driver Liam Doran.
Foust made his European Rallycross Championship debut last year, running a select
season of five events. This year marks his first full championship season.
The driver is also contesting the Global RallyCross Championship in 2011,
persevering through pain after dislocating his shoulder to take the win at the
most recent US round, Twin Peaks, held outside Seattle last month.
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 six 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, hills and transitions between pavement and gravel.
In addition to rallycross competition in Europe and the United States, Foust’s
2011 competition schedule also includes a return to X Games Rally Car Racing
events this July. His next event is Round 3 of the Global RallyCross
Championship, Pikes Peak, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on June 17 and 18. He
returns to Europe the following weekend for the Norwegian round of the European
Rallycross Championship.
ABOUT TANNER FOUST
Tanner Foust is a versatile and multi-talented driver known for his supreme car
control and a proven track record of podium placements and national championships.
He is the first American ever to win a round of the European Rallycross
Championship, a three-time X Games gold medalist (2007, 2010), and two-time
Formula Drift champion (2007, 2008). He has twice represented Team USA in the
annual Race of Champions, teaming with NASCAR star Carl Edwards in 2008 and
Travis Pastrana in 2009. He returned to the event in 2010 as teammate to Mick
Doohan on the All Star Team.
His varied race experience also includes multiple years of open wheel
competition, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, rally racing, various types of sports
car racing and the SCORE Baja.
When he isn’t racing, the professional driver also performs in films and on
television. He is an on-air host for the US version of the seminal BBC auto
show, Top Gear, on HISTORY.
His stunt driving includes performing as a lead driver in the Fast and Furious:
Tokyo Drift, Bourne Ultimatum, Dukes of Hazzard, Red Dawn and Iron Man 2
movies, and also handles stunt driving in numerous popular TV shows and
commercials.
Foust’s 2011 racing program is supported by Rockstar Energy Drink, Ford, etnies
and Motegi.
FOR MORE INFORMATION To arrange interviews or find out more, contact Fred@beyondmg.com.
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