To say that things were hotting up at the Killarney International Raceway last weekend would be an understatement.
Not only was it a sweltering day, but by the time the last race came, the championship was on the line and you could almost feel the friction in the air.
A “last race incident” only served to heat it up that much more.
The dramatic final, however, saw Timmy Hansen crowned as FIA World Rallycross Champion on Sunday.
It was so dramatic, in fact, that the result was still under review by the race stewards on Sunday evening, but was eventually confirmed.
What made it so close, was that Andreas Bakkerud and Timmy finished level on points. Timmy had arrived in Cape Town with just a single point clear of Andreas.
Scores from the semi-finals put Timmy in the lead with only two points to spare with only the final left to race and eight points on the table.
HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY: World champ Timmy Hansen. Picture: Collin Brown.
Hansen started the final from pole position from Bakkerud, Niclas Grönholm, Kevin Hansen, Timur Timerzianov and Timo Scheider as the top six lined up to decide the world championship over six scintillating laps in sweltering heat under the backdrop of Table Mountain.
Bakkerud made a perfect start to lead from a combative Timmy Hansen, but the two collided at the bottom hairpin as Timmy went for the inside, which left Grönholm to take the lead as the others recovered as best they could.
Kevin Hansen and Scheider then had a spectacular accident at the same corner where his brother and Bakkerud had collided, as Grönholm led the six home.
As you can imagine, the collision with Timmy must have left Andreas rather disgruntled.
Timmy Hansen said after the final: “The last race with everything on the line was nerve wracking... there was no room for error - not the smallest mistake.
CLOSE CALL: Race winner Andreas Bakkerud in an early lead. Picture: Collin Brown.
“I know Andreas is upset,” he commented on the final race incident. “I went for the inside, it was a hard move and it still needs to be investigated.
“But this season is the best in my career with four race wins and now the title - it’s a dream come true and I am so happy for the team.”
Bakkerud commented: “I am proud of myself - I won the battle today - the best reaction at the start to lead away.
“But unfortunately I will not comment more after what happened and I just want to say huge thanks to my team and our sponsor and to everyone else - especially Cape Town. It was fantastic, as always.”
BUMPER TO BUMPER: Karkoppe enjoyed the grind at Killarney event. Picture: Collin Brown.
A delighted Grönholm said: “It’s great to get a proper win at last. My first win was after someone else was penalised, so this one is special - my first chequered flag victory!”
In other SABAT World Rallycross of South Africa action, Swede Oliver Eriksson delivered a dominant RX2 victory over Jamaican Fraser McConnell and Sami-Matti Trogen, to wrap up that title ahead of Ben-Philip Gundersen.
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