Nitro Rallycross continues this weekend at ERX Motor Park, and while we don’t have much of a form book or a previous visit to the Minnesota track to help us make predictions, the season opener did at least provide an insight into who has a point to prove this weekend.
Here are four drivers we think you should keep an eye on as they look to bounce back:
Kevin Eriksson
Olsbergs MSE has worked extensively during its time away from US rallycross to further develop the Honda Civic Coupe and Ford Fiesta ST.
While the Fords showed well in the hands of Eriksson’s brother Oliver and Fraser McConnell at Utah, Kevin Eriksson had a tougher weekend that featured more than one heated battle with Scott Speed and an eventual retirement in his semifinal with a puncture – a fate that befell many drivers.
This wasn’t a true showing of Eriksson’s ability, leaving him with a point to prove this weekend.
Liam Doran
We know Doran is fast, but he endured a tough weekend in Utah at a track that didn’t suit the Audi S1 at all. His weekend met a disappointing end in the last chance qualifier with a dramatic failure that robbed him of a potential final berth where he could’ve shown more.
This weekend, the regular use of ERX Motor Park as an off-road racing venue means it’s less likely to be a car-breaker, and early suggestions from the paddock are that the Audi should be much more comfortable at it too.
That should play into Doran and his team-mate’s hands…
Robin Larsson
Larsson was both rapid and dramatic in Utah, but like team-mate Doran he had to contend with a car that wasn’t perfectly suited to the course. A roll in the LCQ didn’t help either, bringing another premature end to the weekend for the RX Cartel team.
We know he’s fast, he just needs to string together a perfect bunch of races and the results will follow.
Andreas Bakkerud
Bakkerud didn’t have a bad weekend in Utah, but racing for a Subaru team that intends to fill the top three spots, alongside two men who locked out qualifying (Travis Pastrana and Scott Speed), and Bakkerud left as a case of expecting at least a little more.
Last time out he won his semifinal, but his final ended on the opening lap thanks to a puncture.
He has two feathers in his cap this weekend though: he’s got a weekend of experience in the latest iteration of Vermont SportsCar’s Subaru WRX STI, and he’s tested it at ERX Motor Park.
He should be coming in ready to hit the ground running, so expect big things from Bakkerud this weekend.
