GRC: Speed takes Race 1 in LA

Scott Speed took his first points-paying win of the 2015 Red Bull Global Rallycross season, and Tanner Foust gave Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross its first 1-2 finish, in Saturday’s Red Bull GRC Los Angeles presented by Subaru Tecnica International. Patrik Sandell completed the podium in the main event, the first of two races this weekend.

“It’s a tough track—it’s super technical, and honestly, I think it’s one of my favorites so far,” Speed said after the victory. “Obviously, this race turned out exactly how we drew it up, and that doesn’t happen all the time, so we’ll take it!”

For the first time this season, Ken Block missed the main event of a Red Bull GRC championship event. Contact in his first round heat, semifinal, and last chance qualifier relegated him to a season-worst finish, opening up the points race heading into Sunday’s second event. Sebastian Eriksson, who entered the weekend second in the standings, also missed Saturday’s main event.

Meanwhile, Subaru Rally Team USA enjoyed a breakout event, winning the last chance qualifier with Travis Pastrana and putting three of its four entries into Saturday’s main event. Sverre Isachsen, who gave the brand its first Red Bull GRC victory last season, placed a season-best fourth in the final and treated the fans to some celebratory donuts after the checkered flag.

Unofficial results from Red Bull Global Rallycross Los Angeles 1 presented by Subaru Tecnica Internationa:

1. Scott Speed, #41 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
2. Tanner Foust, #34 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
3. Patrik Sandell, #18 Bryan Herta Rallysport Ford Fiesta ST
4. Sverre Isachsen, #11 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
5. Steve Arpin, #00 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST
6. Brian Deegan, #38 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST
7. Travis Pastrana, #199 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
8. Nelson Piquet Jr., #07 SH Racing Rallycross Ford Fiesta ST
9. Joni Wiman, #31 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
10. Bucky Lasek, #81 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
11. Ken Block, #43 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST
12. Brian Wong, #89 Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Veloster
13. Sebastian Eriksson, #93 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
14. David Higgins, #75 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
15. Austin Dyne, #14 Bryan Herta Rallysport Ford Fiesta ST

Action continues on Sunday with the second leg of the double-header, which will count as a separate round of the Red Bull GRC season. Both rounds can be seen on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4 p.m. ET on your local NBC affiliate.