The first driver to two wins in Red Bull Global Rallycross’ 2017 season isn’t from one of the three primary manufacturer efforts.
Instead, it’s privateer Steve Arpin, in the fused and new Loenbro Motorsports Ford Fiesta ST, that is one of the Supercars’ smallest teams and has continued to overachieve.
Arpin, who won his first race of the season in race two at Thompson Raceway Park a couple weeks ago, has now won the first of two races in Red Bull GRC’s maiden trip to Canada, in Ottawa at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Even cooler for Arpin is that he wins in his home country; he was born in Fort Francis, Ontario.
Arpin rocketed away from the start in his No. 00 JCB Ford and was never headed in the 10-lap final.
Come watch @stevearpin and the @LoenbroRacing team race the #JCB #rallycar this Saturday at @CanadaAviation Museum and @NBCSN at 10pm. pic.twitter.com/nzlG40pR9V
— JCB North America (@JCBna) June 16, 2017
In one of the two Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross’ Volkswagen Beetle GRCs, Tanner Foust made it through to second in his No. 34 Rockstar Energy car, after using his Joker lap on the last lap to end just 1.445 seconds behind Arpin.
Mitchell DeJong was third in his No. 24 Honda Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Honda Civic Coupe, with the past GRC Lites champion making his second Supercars podium appearance. He was third at Thompson, race one.
Chris Atkinson in his No. 55 Subaru and Austin Dyne in his No. 14 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Ford completed an abnormal top-five result, ahead of Sebastian Eriksson, Cabot Bigham and Oliver Eriksson.
Neither Patrik Sandell nor Scott Speed was able to start the final.
Race two of the weekend airs Sunday at 4 p.m. ET on NBC.