LAS VEGAS – Scott Speed has claimed the Red Bull Global Rallycross title for Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross, with a third place finish in the swampy, overcast, misty and rainy Supercar final round.
Speed entered the weekend with a 36-point lead over teammate Tanner Foust, who was the only other driver mathematically eligible. Foust endured a difficult final and struggled home in ninth.
“Awesome! Amazing! What a great way to do it,” Speed told Red Bull TV’s Will Christien in victory lane.
“This crowd hanging out there in the (miserable) weather. It’s a great way to end the season. So awesome to be with the best organization, Volkswagen Andretti.”
Meanwhile up front, defending series champion Joni Wiman captured his first overall win in the series, leading an Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST 1-2 over teammate Sebastian Eriksson.
It was a chaotic day at the track, with rain falling throughout the evening in varying amounts. The field spent the day on Yokohama’s rain tires.
Wiman launched from pole ahead of Speed and Eriksson, with Eriksson making it past Speed on Lap 3 of the 10-lap race.
Foust’s hopes ended early in the final, when he made contact with the wall on the first turn of the opening lap. He scraped hope from there.
Further position changes occurred lower in the order - SH Rallycross’ Nelson Piquet Jr. recovered to sixth after an incident on the opening lap, for instance - but up front there was no catching Wiman, who finally secured his first final round victory.
“I feel great!” Wiman said, via Red Bull GRC’s post-race release. “I’ve been waiting for this for almost 20 races. It’s unbelievable—I had a completely clean race with almost no mistakes, and that’s how you win races.”
Behind the podium finishers, Chip Ganassi Racing’s pair of Steve Arpin and Brian Deegan completed the final top five.