South East Scoobies - World Rallycross Championship R8 2016

I popped over to France at the start of the month for what (sadly) will be my last World Rallycross event of the year.

I took a ton of pictures, so here are a few of my faves:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8143/2...6f726680_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8598/2...8d963658_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8279/2...02ec9852_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8220/2...7f405f3b_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8829/2...19da9e95_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8143/2...63371c83_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5829/2...2ac9f997_b.jpg

Mattias Ekstrom was the man to beat on the first day of racing. He won both qualifying one and two.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8332/2...de292511_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8492/2...27fd066b_b.jpg

Lunchtime entertaining care of Vaughn Gittin Jnr. and his very shouty Mustang.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5155/2...68242bfe_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8353/2...cae82a6a_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8530/2...01a1fb55_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8536/2...9c07058a_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8176/2...3ef5ed6c_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8048/2...d044a446_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8552/2...22eb0005_b.jpg

As well as the rallycross car classes they were also running these “Xtreme” V8 pick-up trucks. They had about six of them but, frustratingly, they only ran them round the track one at a time. Six of them on the circuit together would have been much more entertaining!

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5162/2...db397b16_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8025/2...b9ccbf4a_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8474/2...6834b219_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5652/2...782960f6_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8185/2...655d4b8b_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8023/2...eb0ca8e9_b.jpg

British driver Andy Scott was a surprise qualifier for the semi-finals. He wasn’t the quickest Supercar out there, but he was consistent and the conditions on day two seemed to suit him.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5566/2...5c291b61_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5315/2...ca5fa009_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8300/2...88bf0151_b.jpg

Ken Block seems to be finally getting to grips with the Focus RS RX. He looked a lot more competitive and was trading paint with some of the fastest guys.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8161/2...f554960b_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8787/2...25e998f2_b.jpg

Damp conditions on day two made the dirt sections a lot trickier. It also kept the loose surface in place a lot longer, which was much better for the racing.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8890/2...3b94ac22_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8254/2...bbf9b141_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8808/2...115f0105_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8393/2...2b841b1b_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8359/2...0f2c5180_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5085/2...4f40ab4c_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8187/2...d6fce76b_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8261/2...d2036ee6_b.jpg

Ekstrom had been the man to beat on day one…

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8763/2...824792b7_b.jpg

…but Johan Kristoffersson was even faster on day two. Ekstrom failed to make the final and Johan just had Bakkerud, Solberg and Loeb to contend with.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5227/2...55506a6e_b.jpg

The final ended up being one of the best races I’ve seen at Loheac. Although Kristoffersson went largely unchallenged out front, the mid-pack battle between Bakkerud, Solberg, Loeb and Block was brilliant.

Sadly I shall be watching the last few rounds on TV, but I am already working on plan for 2017…

…loads more pictures from France here, if any of you are interested in seeing more!