As well as regular drivers Toomas ’Topi’ Heikkinen and Anton Marklund, a third 600bhp turbocharged Polo RX will be entered for American rallycross ace and TV presenter Tanner Foust.
”It will be an interesting event for me at Lydden Hill after winning it the last two years and returning in a different car to attempt the hat-trick,” said Foust, 40. ”I’m excited to give the Marklund Polo a go as I know the car and team have such great potential.”
Lydden Hill in southeast England hosted the first rallycross event back in the 1960s. Foust is a big fan given his success at the venue in European championship events.
”I clearly like the Lydden Hill race, it was my first European race and we’ve had success there, but what I like about it is the track,” said Foust. ”It’s simple in layout but deceptively complicated for the car to manage.”
Marklund Motorsport heads to Lydden Hill and its 1.609-kilometre (one mile) track on a high following its stunning start to World RX action at Montalegre in Portugal at the start of May, where Topi Heikkinen finished fourth and Anton Marklund fifth in the thrilling final broadcast live on television.
Having competed in the US-based Global Rallycross Championship for the last two seasons, Flying Finn Heikkinen, 23, will race at Lydden Hill for the second time in his career when the World RX of Great Britain takes place later this month.
”The Lydden Hill track should suit us far better than Montalegre because the layout is a bit more flowing than in Portugal,” said Heikkinen, currently third in the drivers’ standings. ”I am therefore positive we will have a good weekend. It’s also nice to have Tanner to race beside me and Anton. We raced as team-mates at Ford for two years in GRC. He is a really nice guy and an excellent racer.”
Like Heikkinen, 21-year-old Marklund excelled in Portugal by qualifying for his first final since stepping up to the supercar category in 2013. ”I was delighted after Portugal and my first final position,” said the Swede. ”We had good speed at Montalegre and I’m sure we have improved since. I like Lydden Hill a lot. It’s a fast track and tricky to get those final tenths out of the time. It’s nice to have Tanner in the team at Lydden Hill. He is a fast driver and very experienced. He will be fun to work with and gives us good feedback of the car. I’m confident we’ll be competitive in England.”
Marklund Motorsport team principal Jan Marklund said: ”I have high hopes for the race. The track suits our cars and drivers, and after Portugal we have made improvements to the car and it’s now even faster. But the battle will be fierce as there will be 37 Supercars at the event, which is a record.”
There will be free practice and qualifying heats on Saturday May 24 followed by more heats, the semi-finals and final on Sunday May 25.
