HANSEN WINS AS SPEED BREAKS HIS BACK IN USA
World RX pacesetter dominated but shunt for ex-formula 1 driver puts him in hospital
World Rallycross points leader Kevin Hansen described his drive to victory at the second ever standalone Nitro Rallycross event in Utah as “the six best laps of my life.”
The 21-year-old qualified on the front row for the final alongside compatriot Patrik Sandell, but it was the Peugeot man who took the lead off the line and led throughout to win.
“I had a mega start and I pushed so hard,” he said. “This is the best win of my career.”
Part of the Nitro World Games event, founded and extreme sports star Travis Pastrana, the purposebuilt rallycross circuit features an almost 100-foot gap jump.
Hansen’s older brother
Timmy won the inaugural event 12 months ago, but this time around, having dropped to the rear of the field at the start, Timmy had to climb back up the order and could only finish third.
Sandell was second. Ken
Block suffered a puncture and finished sixth, behind Tanner Foust and Pastrana.
Four-time American rallycross champion Scott Speed was forced to withdraw after he broke his back in a heavy landing from one of the smaller jumps at the end of the lap during a qualifying race.
“After landing hard in Q1 I broke my back,” said 36-year old Speed on his social media. “[I] was rushed to the local hospital for checks. [A] CT scan confirmed a destroyed t6, then [I] was taken to a spine specialist at University of Utah. Finally got an MRI done around 0300hrs. We found I have three fractured vertebrae.
“[I am] waiting now for the surgeons to give us the gameplan. Last night was easily the scariest and most painful time I can remember. Was in a pretty dark place. But I want to thank so much everyone who came and spent time with me.”
Speed’s injury puts the rest of his season in doubt. The Subaru driver leads the Americas Rallycross standings by five points, with the penultimate round taking place at the Circuit of the Americas on September 28.