MAASMECHELEN, Belgium (August 6, 2012) – Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust returned to the European Rallycross Championship podium on Sunday, scoring a second-place finish at the challenging Duivelsbergcircuit in northeast Belgium.
It is Foust’s fourth podium result in five European starts so far this season.
“The car looks brand new right now — even after two hard days of racing,” said Foust. “We were able to keep it clean and didn’t take any damage. That’s a victory in itself with races on back-to-back weekends.”
Foust has proven a consistent threat in rallycross competition, chalking up two wins and two second-place results in Europe this season. He also leads the points race in the U.S.-based Global Rallycross Championship. He is a fan favorite on both sides of the pond, drawing crowds to the team hauler for autographs and impromptu photo sessions. The American driver made his debut in the sport only two years ago, with a calendar of select European events.
He scored a first-place qualifying time this weekend in Belgium and battled through the heats to start the final race on the front row. After a chaotic start that saw the American driver forced onto the dirt on the outside of the track, Foust fought back through the pack to cross the finish line just behind championship leader Timur Timerzyanov.
“We’re in a strong position,” said Foust. “The race in Holland is on a track that’s well suited to our car and it’s threatening to rain, so there’s going to be lots of sliding and excitement for the fans. We’re hoping to bring home another win for the Fiesta.”
The series will race at Eurocircuit, in the Netherlands, this coming weekend (August 11-12).
These back-to-back European rounds are only about 50 miles apart, but Foust has a busy week of travel ahead of him. He will fly thousands of miles back to the U.S. West Coast for a precision driving TV assignment before returning to Europe to race. His packed schedule is likely fodder for future episodes of his new web series, “Life in the Foust Lane,” that premiered in late July. New episodes will appear online every other Thursday, with the second in the series expected to drop this week.
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 10 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 and changing track and surface conditions that can include dirt, gravel, and wet and dry tarmac.
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 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, produced by BBC Worldwide Productions and airing on the HISTORY channel. The third season of Top Gear premieres August 14.
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 he also handles stunt driving in numerous popular TV shows and commercials.
TANNER FOUST’S RALLYCROSS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE BY:
Rockstar Energy Drink (www.rockstar69.com); Ford Racing (www.ford.com); Etnies (www.etnies.com) and Motegi (www.motegiracing.com).
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit www.TannerFoust.com. To arrange interviews or find out more, contact fred@beyondmg.com.
PHOTO: Tanner Foust at GRC Round 4. CREDIT: Jakub Nitka/ERC24.com
