After qualifying in pole position for the Div 1 Final double World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm, driving the MSE Ford Fiesta ST T16, won from the front at the ERC event at Holjes.
This was Gronholm's first attempt at rallycross and he beat multiple ERC champion Kenneth Hansen, who was in a C4, into second place. Gronholm played his "joker lap" on the final lap and came out just ahead of Hansen. Gronholm's debut win by a rally driver in the ERC is the first since Anders Kullang won in Sweden in 1977. It all bodes well for the next events he will contest this season. Gronholm himself didn't expect to win but did aim to qualify for the A Final and very few people in rallycross would have predicted this result. Michael Jernberg finished third in the Skoda Fabia.
The Div 1 Final in all its glory
RESULTS
Division 1:
1. Marcus Grönholm (FIN), Ford Fiesta ST T16 4x4
2. Kenneth Hansen (S), Citroën C4 T16 4x4
3. Michael Jernberg (S), Škoda Fabia Mk2/5J T16 4x4
4. Stig-Olov Walfridsson (N), Renault Clio CR1N T16 4x4
5. Ludvig Hunsbedt (N), Volvo S40 T16 4x4
6. Andréas Eriksson (S), Ford Fiesta ST T16 4x4�
Division 1A:
1. Jussi Pinomäki (FIN), Renault Clio
2. Olivier Bossard (F), Citroën C2
3. Mats Lysen (N), Citroën Saxo
4. Eduard Leganov (RUS), VW Polo Mk4
5. Even Hvaal (N), Citroën Saxo
6. Jaroslav Kalný (CZ), Peugeot 206
Division 2:
1. Tomáš Kotek (CZ), Honda Civic Type-R
2. Ondřej Smetana (CZ), Honda Civic Type-R
3. Peter Lundmark (S), Renault Clio RS
4. Martynas Padgurskis (LT), Renault Clio RS
5. Frank Valle (N), Opel Astra OPC
6. Roman Častoral (CZ), Opel Astra OPC
Gronholm had one of the most astonishing debuts ever in rallycross
Images with kind permission of www.motorsportmad.com and copyright of www.erc24.com
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