SAN PEDRO, California (October 17, 2017) – Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust capped off a strong 2017 Global Rallycross Championship with a perfect weekend in the series’ hometown finale at the Port of Los Angeles.
The driver is now the most winning in Global Rallycross history, with 16 career victories. He also joined his Volkswagen Andretti Team in celebrating a second-straight manufacturer championship title for Volkswagen.
“What a race!” said Foust, who makes his home in nearby Newport Beach and enjoyed the support of many friends and family members in the grandstands. “It feels fantastic to get the win here so close to home.”
The win capped off a successful 12-race rallycross season that saw Foust record five outright wins, more than another driver this year. The two-time series champion also scored three second-place podiums and recorded a runner-up result in this year’s title chase.
The season finale took place on a specially built temporary course at the Port of Los Angeles, surrounded on three sides by water and under the shadow of the aptly named SS Lane Victory, a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Fans packed into the spectacular portside venue for one of the most popular races of the season.
At the start of the championship season finale on Friday, Foust was second in the points and one of only three drivers still in the hunt for the title. He landed atop the speed charts in qualifying and won every heat and semifinal race Friday and Saturday to take the battle to the main event.
“We knew we had to give it everything we had to keep our championship alive,” said Foust. “We fought hard and were able to close the gap through early racing, giving us a glimmer of hope heading into the main event.”
With 10-all important laps left to seal the championship title, Foust had to score a win while also maintaining a seven-position gap over his key rival, Volkswagen teammate Scott Speed.
Foust put in a dominant performance to lead the race from wire to wire, but a second-place result from Speed decided the title. In the end, Foust finished the championship with 726 points — just 30 back from his teammate.
“I’m proud of the work we put in this year under the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross tent,” said Foust. “We were in comeback mode after a tough doubleheader in Atlantic City and the Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Beetle was on top for each of the last three races of the season. Kudos to Scott on an incredibly strong performance and I look forward to returning again in 2017 to earn that title back from him.”
Full coverage of all 12 rounds of the 2017 Global Rallycross Championship aired this season on NBC.
Rallycross is an action-packed blend of circuit racing, off-road racing and rally. Drivers line up in heats of up to 10 cars for hard-hitting competition over a challenging short course featuring jumps, unbanked turns, hills and transitions between pavement and gravel.
Tanner Foust leaps to victory at the rallycross finale this weekend in LA. Rockstar Energy Drink VW driver finishes second in championship points. (Photo: Volkswagen)
Tanner Foust accepts congratulations from his Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Team for a third-straight series victory at GRC in LA this weekend. (PHOTO: Volkswagen)
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, national championships and world records. He is a three-time U.S. rallycross champion (2012, 2011, 2010) who has also won four X Games gold medals (2013, 2010, 2007), and two Formula Drift championships (2008, 2007).
He has held multiple world records including for the astonishing Hot Wheels Double Loop Dare, which saw Foust drive a car through a 66-foot loop-the-loop. He scored the indoor speed record for TV’s Top Gear USA, and set a distance jump record with Hot Wheels when he made a 332′ ramp-to-ramp leap in a truck at the Indy 500.
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. He has represented the USA in the annual Race of Champions three times, teaming with NASCAR star Carl Edwards in 2008, Travis Pastrana in 2009, and Mick Doohan in 2010.
When he isn’t racing, the professional driver also performs on television and handles stunt driving in popular films, TV shows and commercials. He is featured as a stunt driver in Need 4 Speed, as well as other major releases including the Bourne Legacy, Bourne Ultimatum, Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, Dukes of Hazzard, Red Dawn and Iron Man 2.
ABOUT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. VWoA sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, CC, e-Golf, Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan and Touareg vehicles through approximately 652 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at http://www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.
ABOUT ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT
Based in Indianapolis and led by racing legend Michael Andretti, Andretti Autosport boasts a wide racing portfolio rooted in tradition and designed for success. Together with Andretti Formula E and Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross, Andretti Autosport fields multiple entries in the IndyCar Series and Indy Lights, along with entries in the FIA Formula E Championship and Global Rallycross. The company boasts four IndyCar Series championships (2004, 2005, 2007, 2012), two Indy Lights titles (2008, 2009), one Pro Mazda championship (2013) and one USF2000 championship (2010) and has captured victory at the famed Indianapolis 500 four times (2005, 2007, 2014, 2016). Additionally the team holds two X Games Gold Medals and one Global Rallycross championship (2015). To share in the Andretti story, please visit online at AndrettiAutosport.com and follow along on Twitter via @FollowAndretti.
ABOUT ROCKSTAR
Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles — from athletes to rockstars. Available in over 25 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in more than 30 countries, Rockstar supports the rockstar lifestyle across the globe through action sports, motor sports, and live music. More at http://www.RockstarEnergy.com
