Media Release: Scott-Eklund Racing On Form At Texas
Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth (USA) – Friday, June 8, 2012: Scott-Eklund Racing proved more than a match for the manufacturer-supported teams in the Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) at the Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, today (Friday 8 June), with drivers Samuel Hubinette and Andy Scott fifth and ninth fastest respectively.
After a troubled start to the second round of the series, the inaugural Hoon KaboomTX GRC event, in which torrential rain resulted in the abandonment of the official practice session last night, the organisers were then forced to remove the 70’ gap jump ahead of the reduced practice and seeding session this morning.
Instead the field of 18 cars circumnavigated a mini oval track, featuring a tabletop jump and chicane, as they completed two four-lap stints to determine their grid positions for tomorrow’s qualifying heats. Scott-Eklund Racing Team Principal and lead driver Scott will take the wheel of his Scott Trawlers-backed Saab 9-3 in Heat 1A, alongside Marcus Gronholm, Travis Pastrana and Jimmy Keeney while Hubinette, piloting the Scott-Eklund Racing Saab 9-3 with ENEOS Motor Oil, will line-up in Heat 1B with Ken Block, David Binks, Dave Mirra and Patrick Moro.
Although attempts to drive the complete track so far have been thwarted, it is hoped that tomorrow’s qualifying heats, from which the first two finishers from each will automatically earn a place in the final, will offer the drivers their first chance to drive the .77 mile track, complete with jump and water feature in front of thousands of spectators, and immediately preceding the Firestone 550 IndyCar race.
The Hoon KaboomTX GRC race activity kicks off at 15.30 on Saturday, June 9, with four, four-lap heats. Those that don’t qualify automatically into the final, will take up places in one of the two last chance qualifier races, offering a last-gasp attempt to get into round two of the Global Rallycross Championship which gets underway at 17.30. (Times remain subject to confirmation).
Tickets for the June 9 event, include admission to both the Firestone 550 IndyCar Series Race and the Hoon KaboomTX Global Rallycross round and are priced at $35 plus taxes, or two for $49. To purchase tickets, call the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com/hoon
Andy Scott - Scott-Eklund Racing Team Principal & Driver, Car #26:
“I think we had a very positive start to the weekend, despite having only very limited track time, with just eight laps completed. I haven’t driven the car since the final at Charlotte, and it would have been nice to have had a chance to shake it down after the work done back at the workshop, however the times are competitive and the car felt good. Our aim this weekend is a podium and I’m confident that we can achieve that. I’m particularly looking forward to trying out the jump, which we believe they are making modifications to for tomorrow, that’s what we’ve all been waiting for and what the fans are waiting for, so hopefully we can deliver a good spectacle in the heats and final tomorrow, and we can bring home a podium finish or two.”
Samuel Hubinette – Scott-Eklund Racing Saab 9-3 with ENEOS Motor Oil, Car #77:
“I feel pretty good about the fifth qualification place in the Scott-Eklund Racing Saab 9-3 with Eonos Motor Oil, which ran very good. We did some changes, we had it modified for the big jump then had to revert back, making a few changes also between the two runs. I adapted well to the new track layout and had a really good time, it was fun. The jump was not really prepared correctly, so I think it was the right decision not to run on it, however I look forward to seeing how the modifications are for tomorrow’s races. Anything can happen in the heats, it all depends on when you take the joker lap, but I have high expectations for myself, I want to be on the podium and think I have a chance. There are some quick cars out there, which are a bit lighter and with a shorter wheelbase so a little bit more nimble around the corners, so I have to figure out the best way to gain on them on other parts of the track.”
Per Eklund - Scott-Eklund Racing Technical Director:
“Yes I’m very happy, OK it would be nice to be a few places higher up, but overall I’m very happy. It’s disappointing not to use the jump today, we set the cars up for that, and there was not enough time to make too many changes - I hope we do have the jump tomorrow, it’s good for us. We need to wait and see now what changes they make to the jump before we can decide what set-up modifications we need to make. For tomorrow, I’d be happy to have a repeat of our results at Charlotte, obviously a podium would be great, but to just get both cars into the final and home in one piece is the ultimate aim.”
-Ends-
Scott-Eklund Racing Press Office:
Emma Spearing: +44 (0)7736 341828 | emma@scott-eklundracing.com
Cathy Metcalfe: +44 (0)7802 332398 | cathy@scott-eklundracing.com
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