Tanner Foust Favored For X Games Medal Rookies Victorious After First-Corner Crash Claims Veterans
Company press release.
FOZ DO IGUAÇU, Brazil (April 23, 2013) - Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust had a target on his back this weekend in Brazil, where the opening round of the Global Rallycross Championship took place on a challenging X Games course at Foz do Iguaçu.
Fans lined up 10-deep before the race to get a glimpse of their favorite rallycross stars and the grandstands were packed for the Sunday race.
'The fans in Brazil are amazing,' said Foust. 'They were totally pumped to watch the race. In the cars you could feel the energy from the screaming bleachers. It's always great to race when you know the fans are with you.'
Rallycross is one of the action sports included in the Global X Games, which also features competitions by the world's top athletes in skateboarding, BMX, and motocross.
Since his first rallycross contest just three years ago, Foust has emerged as the driver to beat in the sport. He has earned back-to-back Global Rallycross Championship titles and has a record six X Games rally medals. He has also finished the past two seasons in the top ranks of the FIA European Rallycross Championship.
Foust put down a strong qualifying run in the Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta ST to secure first choice of lane position for his opening heat. There, his experience shone as he drove a smart race into the treacherous first corner, defending his inside line to gain the lead and easily secure a spot in the main event. For the final, he lined up in the all-Ford front row alongside former Formula One driver Scott Speed, Metal Mulisha founder Brian Deegan and Finnish rallycross up-and-comer Toomas 'Topi' Heikkinen.
Unfortunately, his race was over before it could begin when all 10 cars dove in for the slick, off-camber first turn in the winner-take-all contest. The Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta ST took a pair of hard rear hits in the mayhem, which destroyed the suspension. Foust, as well as X Games veterans Ken Block and Travis Pastrana, were unable to continue due to the damage taken in the melee.
'It was a bummer after a great weekend to that point, but I've been on the lucky side of that fence too, so I can't complain too much,' said Foust. 'I'm looking forward to getting back into the medal hunt in Barcelona next month.'
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The global expansion of X Games means there are four medal-scoring events on the 2013 calendar with stops in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil; Barcelona, Spain; Munich, Germany; and Los Angeles. 'It's great to have more than one shot at the gold this year,' he said. 'I'm really happy for my teammates for the Ford sweep. They've had their turn, and I'm hoping the next one's mine.' These medal-scoring events also count toward the nine-event 2013 Global Rallycross Championship. Foust is the two-time defending Global Rallycross Champion. He has won more X Games rally medals than any other driver. Speed claimed the gold medal in Brazil, while Heikkinen took silver and rally star Patrik Sandell earned bronze. Like Foust, all three were driving Ford Fiesta rallycross cars prepared by the Olsbergs MSE squad. Foust scored an opening-round victory in the European Rallycross Championship earlier this month. He next returns to competition at X Games in Barcelona on May 19. ABOUT TANNER FOUST: Tanner Foust is a versatile and multi-talented driver known for his supreme car control and a proven track record of podium placements, national championships and world records. He is a three-time U.S. rallycross champion (2012, 2011, 2010) who has also won three X Games gold medals for rally (2010, 2007), and two Formula Drift championships (2008, 2007). He has also held multiple world records including for last summer's astonishing Hot Wheels Double Loop Dare, when he drove a car through a 66-foot loop-the-loop. He also scored the indoor speed record for TV's Top Gear USA, and set a distance jump record with Hot Wheels when he made a 332' ramp-to-ramp leap in a truck at the Indy 500. His varied race experience also includes multiple years of open wheel competition, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, rally racing, various types of sports car racing and the SCORE Baja. He has represented the USA in the annual Race of Champions three times, teaming with NASCAR star Carl Edwards in 2008, Travis Pastrana in 2009, and Mick Doohan in 2010. When he isn't racing, the professional driver also performs in films and on television. He is an on-air host for the U.S. version of the seminal BBC auto show Top Gear, produced by BBC Worldwide Productions and airing on the HISTORY channel. Foust is also one of the stars of Ford Racing's Octane Academy, which returns for a second season in 2013, and handles stunt driving in numerous popular films, TV shows and commercials. He is featured as a stunt driver in the upcoming Need 4 Speed film, as well as other major releases including the Bourne Legacy, Bourne Ultimatum, Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, Dukes of Hazzard, Red Dawn and Iron Man 2 movies. TANNER FOUST'S RALLYCROSS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE BY: Rockstar Energy Drink (www.RockstarEnergy.com); Ford Racing (www.ford.com); ENEOS Motor Oil (www.eneos.us); Motegi Racing (www.motegiracing.com), ODYSSEY Battery (www.odysseybattery.com); Illest (www.illestbrand.com); and Horizon Hobby (www.horizonhobby.com) For more on Tanner Foust visit: www.tannerfoust.com To arrange interviews, contact Fred Chang from Tanner Foust's management team.
