MONTALEGRE, Portugal (May 16, 2011) – It was a dominant
weekend for Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust, who became the first
American ever to win an FIA European Rallycross Championship round in
Portugal.
“Simply incredible!” said Foust, who earned his victory in front of a
sell-out crowd at the race. “The team showed its potential this weekend,
finishing one-two.”
Foust was the driver to beat at the Pista Automóvel de Montalegre, setting a
pair of fastest practice session times in his Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta
on Saturday before scoring two out of three heat wins heading into Sunday’s
final round.
“This place is amazing,” said Foust. “The fans are so into it
that you can tell what’s happening just by listening to the crowd; they scream
when somebody passes and for a good lap. It’s a really fun place to race.”
Foust and teammate Andreas Eriksson lined up side-by-side to start the final
race of the weekend and crossed the finish in first and second place,
respectively.
The racing was not without its challenges for newcomer Foust, who finished his
first heat of the weekend in sixth place after an error that led him into the
Joker lap at an inopportune time and forced him to make an emergency change of
direction mid-race.
“I had to reverse and do a 180 onto the regular lap to avoid getting a
penalty,” said Foust. “The crowd loved it, but I was kicking myself.
It was a good reminder that I’ve still got a lot to learn about this
sport.”
Foust made his series debut at the Portugal round of the European Rallycross
Championship last year, finishing in eighth-place overall. The driver ran
select events in 2010 and is now undertaking his first full European
championship season.
After two rounds in the championship, Foust now sits in second place overall,
just one point behind defending champion Sverre Isachsen. At Round 1 in the UK
last month, Foust set strong practice times but suffered some bad luck that
knocked him out of podium contention.
Foust is also contesting the Global RallyCross Championship in 2011,
persevering through pain after dislocating his shoulder to take the win at the
most recent round, Twin Peaks, held outside Seattle a month ago.
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. He returns to Europe next weekend for the third round of the
championship at Circuit des Ducs in Essay, France, May 21-22
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, 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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