Foust and Speed ideally placed for Global Rallycross finale

Will the new Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) champion once again be at the wheel of a Volkswagen?

Ahead of the season finale in Los Angeles (USA), which takes the form of a double-header on 08 and 09 October, Volkswagen drivers Tanner Foust (USA) and Scott Speed (USA) of the Andretti Autosport team are ideally placed in the race for the Drivers’ title.

Foust has 465 points to his name and leads the Drivers’ Championship by 13 points, ahead of team-mate and defending champion Speed (452 points). In total, five GRC drivers still have mathematical chances of winning the championship, right down to Patrik Sandell (Ford, 357).

The destination of one title is already known: victory for Foust and fourth place for Speed a fortnight ago in Seattle (USA) ensured that Volkswagen cannot be denied the Manufacturers’ title this season. This is the first in Global Rallycross for the Wolfsburg-based carmaker since it contested its first full season in 2015.

“Winning the Manufacturers Championship is another milestone in motorsport for Volkswagen,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets. “It is a particularly sweet success when you consider that we are only fielding two cars. Plus, Andretti Autosport is also ideally placed to defend the Drivers’ title it won last season, with Tanner Foust and Scott Speed in pole position heading to Los Angeles. However, they haven’t won anything yet. Global Rallycross is a very close series, the opposition is strong, and it will be a hard-fought finale. Having said that, with the Volkswagen Beetle GRC we have a car that has been capable of winning throughout the entire season – seven wins from nine events speaks for itself. As such, I am confident and have my fingers crossed for both Tanner and Scott. May the best man win.”

#PinkBeetle – special livery for the finale in Los Angeles

The two 560-hp, four-wheel drive Beetle GRCs, run by Volkswagen of America and developed in Germany by Volkswagen Motorsport, will line up with a special livery in Los Angeles. To mark the launch of the new Volkswagen #PinkBeetle, a special limited edition of the classic car for 2017, the cars of Tanner Foust and Scott Speed will sport a bright pink livery at the season finale in the US state of California, making them impossible to miss. Anyone wishing to watch the pink Beetles in action in the GRC this weekend can do so via live stream at www.redbull.tv.

Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC), Overall Standings

Drivers’ Championship
1. Tanner Foust (Volkswagen), 465; 2. Scott Speed (Volkswagen), 452; 3. Steve Arpin (Ford), 399; 4. Brian Deegan (Ford), 373; 5. Patrik Sandell (Ford), 357.

Manufacturers’ Championship
1. Volkswagen, 42; 2. Ford, 35; 3. Honda, 31; 4. Subaru, 8.

Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC), 2016 season – the races, the winners

21/05/2016 Phoenix I – winner: Tanner Foust (Volkswagen)
22/05/2016 Phoenix II – winner: Tanner Foust (Volkswagen)
04/06/2016 Dallas – winner: Patrik Sandell (Ford)
18/06/2016 Daytona I – winner: Steve Arpin (Ford)
19/06/2016 Daytona II – winner: Tanner Foust (Volkswagen)
02/07/2016 New River I – winner: Scott Speed (Volkswagen)
03/07/2016 New River II – event cancelled
30/07/2016 Washington D.C. – winner: Scott Speed (Volkswagen)
28/08/2016 Atlantic City – winner: Scott Speed (Volkswagen)
17/09/2016 Seattle – winner: Tanner Foust (Volkswagen)
08/10/2016 Los Angeles I
09/10/2016 Los Angeles II

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