MILLVILLE, NJ — Toomas Heikkinen wins the fourth and final Round of the 2010 RallyCar U.S. Rallycross Championship in the Per Eklund Motorsport-supported 2010 SAAB 93 ASS. The 19-year-old Finnish prodigy had an impressive showing in his U.S. debut after placing 2nd overall on Saturday and winning Sunday's AWD A Main final outright with a time of 3 minutes 15.5 seconds.

Following the young Finn was Ford Fiesta driver Tanner Foust, the only American to stand on the All-Wheel-Drive podiums this weekend. Foust, who dominated the first two Rounds of the new U.S. Series, turned in a time of 3 minutes 17.2 seconds on the A Main and was amongst the fastest in Heats 1 and 2. Citroen driver Liam Doran overcame mechanical issues he faced on Saturday's event to place the fastest Qualifying and Heat times on Sunday, eventually taking 3rd place with a time of 3 minutes 19.2 seconds in the A Main.

This weekend's double-header was a successful finale to RallyCar's inaugural wheel-to-wheel season, boasting record entries and spectator attendance. Hosted at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, the Rallycross was an international affair with five top overseas competitors challenging America's best. The AWD A-Final saw four Americans up against three proven European drivers and was preceded by an intensely fought B Main race. In the B Main, Rhys Millen took the lead from the start, but eventually lost his advantage after he took the Joker lap. Subaru Rally Team USA's Travis Pastrana battled FIA European Rallycross Champion Sverre Isachsen before Isachsen had a violent crash into a tirewall, making way for Pastrana to advance to the final. In addition to Sverre's retirement, both Andrew Comrie-Picard and Andi Mancin DNF'd as well.

In Two-Wheel-Drive competition, Matthew Johnson drove his Ford Fairmont to the top of the podium in the A Main, placing a time of 3 minutes 53.1 seconds. Despite Johnson's car being disadvantaged in the dirt sections of the NJMP course, he placed second in 2WD on Saturday to cement a strong finish to his debut Rallycross season. Volkswagen GTI driver Josh Wimpey took 2nd place in the 2WD A Main, securing his place in U.S. Rallycross history as the very first 2WD Class Champion. Wimpey chased Johnson in the final to finish with a time of 3 minutes 54.2 seconds.

Mazda Speed 3 driver Wyatt Knox made his return to U.S. Rallycross since his podium finish at the first NJMP event, placing 3rd overall with a time of 3 minutes 59.3 seconds. Drivers Jordan Guitar and Satruday's 2WD winner John Tancredi finished the event in 4th and 5th places respectively. John Hall DNF'd in the 2WD final after breaking the front suspension in his Nissan 240SX.

 

Standings AWD A Main:

1. Toomas Heikkinen (SAAB 93 ASS) 3:15.5

2. Tanner Foust (Ford Fiesta) 3:17.2

3. Liam Doran (Citroen C4) 3:19.2

4. Travis Pastrana (Subaru Impreza STi) 3:22.4

5. Rhys Millen* (Hyundai Accent) 3:25.8

6. Dave Mirra (Subaru Impreza STi) 3:27.2

DNF - Jussi Pinomaki (Ford Fiesta)

* 'Promoter's Option' placed 7th on the A-Final Grid

 

Standings 2WD A Main:

1. Matthew Johnson (Ford Fairmont) 3:53.1

2. Josh Wimpey (Volkswagen GTI) 3:54.2

3. Wyatt Knox (Mazda Speed 3) 3:59.3

4. Jordan Guitar (Honda Civic Si) 4:07.3

5. John Tancredi (Mazda MX5) 4:12.2

DNF - John Hall (Nissan 240SX)

About RallyCar, Inc.:
Based in Golden Valley, Minn., RallyCar sanctions the premier performance rally series in the United States, the Rally America National Championship Series. In 2010, RallyCar is conducting six National Championship events at venues across the country, from Olympia, Washington to Newry, Maine. RallyCar competitors reach speeds of well over 100 mph in modified street cars on natural-terrain courses consisting of gravel, dirt or snow. Additionally, through a partnership with ESPN, qualifying RallyCar drivers are invited to compete in ESPN's Summer X Games 16, the annual leading action-sports event that's broadcast live on ESPN.

About New Jersey Motorsports Park:
Sitting on more than 500 acres in Millville, N.J., New Jersey Motorsports Park is nestled snugly in a beautifully forested region surrounded by scenic rivers and nearby Delaware Bay. Directly adjacent to Millville Municipal Airport, NJMP is conveniently located close to Philadelphia, the Jersey Shore, New York and Baltimore, offering diverse and dynamic motorsports attractions. The park includes two world-class road courses, a motorsports country club and one of the top karting facilities in America. Entering its third race season, the 2010 spectator schedule includes return visits by the AMA Superbike Championship, Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX, SCCA Pro Racing with the return of the Trans-Am series, and the Ferrari Challenge.

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