Isachsen Scores First Win at Red Bull GRC Seattle

Photo credit: Alison Padron

Sverre Isachsen, #11 driver for Subaru Rally Team USA, upset the standings for the driver’s championship race when he earned a hard-won first place crossing the finish line in the final heat of the Red Bull Global Rallycross Round 9 at Dirtfish Rally School near Seattle. Behind him, Joni Wiman took second place and stole the points lead from Ken Block. Taking the last spot on the podium was Brian Deegan who hung on for a tight battle with Nelson Piquet Jr., who settled for fourth place. Rhys Millen, who made it into the finals heat by placing in the last chance qualifier heat, clawed his way through the field to complete the top five.

#11 Sverre Isachsen Subaru Rally Team USA | Red Bull GRC Seattle

Sverre Isachsen, #11 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI

Starting on the inside of the front row, Block had the clear-cut advantage, but after missing his braking point into the joker and then making contact with Tanner Foust, his hopes of extending the championship lead vanished. As Block limped around the course, Isachsen converted his second-row starting spot into the lead.

Sverre Isachsen scored the first victory of his Red Bull Global Rallycross career, and the first for Subaru Rally Team USA in Red Bull GRC, in Saturday’s event. It was Isachsen’s first overall race victory in rallycross since October 2011, when he finished his third consecutive European championship-winning season with a victory in the Czech Republic.

#715 David Higgins Subaru Rally Team USA | Red Bull Global Rallycross Seattle

David Higgins, #715 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI

David Higgins finished eighth in his first Red Bull GRC start since X Games Los Angeles in July 2012. Higgins finished seventh in that event, also driving for Subaru Rally Team USA.

Due to a pushed back schedule on Friday, this weekend’s event followed the same format as the second half of the Los Angeles doubleheader, with one round of heats and the semifinals paying points. Ken Block, Joni Wiman, and Rhys Millen won the three heats, while Block and Wiman also took the semifinals to line up on the front row. Tanner Foust won the last chance qualifier in only the third race for his new Volkswagen Beetle.

Brian Deegan, #38 Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta ST

#48 Bucky Lasek Subaru Rally Team USA | Red Bull Global Rallycross Seattle

Bucky Lasek, #81 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI

QUOTES: A selection of quotes from Red Bull Global Rallycross Seattle, the ninth round of the 2014 Red Bull Global Rallycross season:

Sverre Isachsen, Driver, #11 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI: “It is really important for the team. We had built a new car for this season, and everybody put a lot of effort and time in the car. It’s really important, because to develop a car like this takes time. You do something wrong, but then something right, and of course we have a fast car. So it’s really important for everybody, all the Subaru guys, and especially also for me. I’ve fought such a long time here.”

Joni Wiman, Driver, #31 Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST: “It looked a bit bad in the first half of the season, but we worked hard and never gave up in the second half of the season, and that’s been really good. It’s amazing to lead the championship. I’m happy now, and I want to go. It feels amazing to be here. Of course I want to win a race, but another time. It was an amazing track—when we go out there the adrenaline started to rush, and I think it was the best track of the season. I really enjoyed it.”

Brian Deegan, Driver, #38 Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta ST: “If you had asked me yesterday how I’d do, I definitely didn’t think I was going to be on the podium after qualifying dead last. I’d say the worst thing about the other day was not getting laps, because this is the most fun track right here. This is the track where the real drivers are laying it down, getting through, being fast, and picking lines to find traction. I think this is rallycross, right here. In the end it made for a great race the whole time—just watching the cars go around the track was so entertaining, to see the guys and the driving talent out there. And car setup here, I think it was the most important track for car setup. It was a challenge for everyone.”