ERIKSSON PILOTS HONDA TO FIRST HEAT VICTORY IN RED BULL GLOBAL RALLYCROSS RACE REPORT

July 5, 2016 by Honda

Jul 3, 2016 - JACKSONVILLE, N. C.

◾Honda Finishes 1-2 in Round Seven Semifinal

◾Severe Weather Forces Postponement of Round Seven Final

Olsbergs MSE, with driver Sebastian Eriksson, scored its first heat victories in the all-new turbocharged Honda Civic Coupe in Rounds Six and Seven of the Red Bull Global Rallycross Supercar championship.

Eriksson led his teammate, Joni Wiman, in the Heat 2A victory from start to finish, with Wiman completing the six-lap race in second place. Eriksson and Wiman's smooth and consistent skill behind the wheel of the Civic, powered by an 8,500 rpm Honda Performance Development engine, proved to be too much for the field, gapping the competition by over six seconds.

The weekend's action unfolded on the runways of Marine Air Corps Station New River with a .713-mile, 58 percent pavement/41 percent dirt circuit that tested the Civic Coupe's durability and agility throughout the doubleheader weekend. Saturday's Round Six final took place after a 45-minute delay for severe weather and lightning. The track conditions were sloppy, featuring deep puddles and mud across the entire second half of the course. By the end of the chaotic final, Eriksson finished in sixth place and Wiman, seventh.

On Sunday, the track dried up, thanks to 95 degree heat and 65 percent humidity. The Olsbergs MSE duo was able to claim Honda's second heat victory of the weekend in Semifinal A, with Eriksson finishing on top and Wiman, second.

Unfortunately, the persistent severe weather, including lightning, forced Red Bull GRC officials to postpone Sunday's scheduled seventh round at the Marine Air Corps Station. Red Bull GRC officials announced that all points and results from Round Seven are currently suspended. The situation continues to be evaluated, however, there are no plans for making up the race at this time.

Honda remains third in the Red Bull GRC manufacturers' championship heading into Round Eight, July 30 in Washington, D.C. The event takes place at RFK Stadium and can be seen live on NBC at 2 p.m. ET, with online coverage by Red Bull TV beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Sebastian Eriksson (No. 93 Honda Red Bull OMSE Civic) on winning Honda's first heat victory in Red Bull GRC: 'It was an amazing feeling to give Honda its first win in Red Bull GRC. The OMSE and Honda HPD crews have worked so hard to get a win, and to do it twice on a doubleheader weekend really shows that we're ready to win at a future race. It's unfortunate that we had the insane weather on Saturday, which really made it so no one in the field could display their true power and skill. Having Sunday's final washed out was also a bummer, but we'll see what happens next!'

Joni Wiman (No. 31 Honda Red Bull OMSE Civic) on the weekend results: 'Sebastian Eriksson and I were feeling very confident going into the weekend and I feel we are really starting to adapt to the new car. I'm excited for the team and for Honda.'

Photo credit: Honda
posted on conceptcarz.com