Gun ders en book ends his season with glory

Former FIA European Rallycross Touringcar Champion BenPhilip Gundersen only stood on the single-make RX2 supportcategory podium twice in his maiden campaign in the series with the JC Raceteknik team.

But, on both occasions, in the first and last rounds, it was on the top step.

Gundersen dived up the inside of Latvian Vasily Gryazin in the braking area for the opening corner of the final and ran second to newly crowned-champion Oliver Eriksson on the first lap, but took a lead he wouldn’t relinquish when Eriksson’s car stopped with a technical issue on the second loose-surface section on lap two.

While Gundersen and SET Promotion driver Sami-matti Trogen avoided the stricken car, Gryazin wasn’t so lucky and struck the back of the Olsbergs MSE machine.

He still finished the final in third place, however, thanks to problems that slowed Trogen and a spin that dampened William Nilsson’s effort.

Sondre Evjen collected a sideways Turn-1 moment to climb the order as others fell by the wayside and finished second.

But, the final retirement could take nothing away from Eriksson, who by qualifying for the final won the title ahead of OMSE team-mate Guillaume De Ridder.

British driver Nathan Heathcote finished his first RX2 season with fifth in semi-final one.