Larsson, DeJong take wins at first round of RallyX Americas

The name of the series might have changed but the result was a familiar one as Robin Larsson won the first round of the RallyX Americas season.

JC Raceteknik driver Larsson (pictured above), the two-time Nitrocross champion and leader of the 2024-25 season before it was stopped, was second in the Hypercar class after the qualifying heats but locked in pole position for the A Final after winning his Semifinal.

OMSE’s Jimmy Henderson – winner of the other Semi – started alongside him and made a slightly better getaway but the pair entered the first Turn 4 wide with SET Promotion’s Lia Block and Mitchell DeJong, driving another MSE entry. Larsson would be the one to prevail, and took off into the distance.

The victory was Larsson's ninth in a U.S.-based rallycross series. He sits third in the all-time rankings, comfortably ahead of joint third Toomas Heikkinen and Ken Block (six victories apiece), but some way off record holder Tanner Foust (24) and second-placed Scott Speed (20). The all-time wins rankings factor in top-level victories in Rally America Rallycross, X Games, Global Rallycross, Americas Rallycross and Nitro Rallycross/Nitrocross.

Further back, Henderson was momentarily passed by Block, and a lap later DeJong joined that podium scrap. Henderson went for the longer Joker lap on lap 3, leaving the Optima Battery-sponsored cars of Block and DeJong to fight amongst themselves.

DeJong was all over Block, getting into her rear bumper at the final turn, before jokering on Lap 4 to get into clean air. Henderson had used that clear air from his Joker, a lap earlier, well to catch up to Block, and when she – along with runaway leader Larsson – took it on the final lap, she could do nothing to stop Henderson and DeJong passing her.

Henderson mounted a late challenge on Larsson but such was the Swede’s lead before his Joker, he ultimately ran out of time to snatch victory in what was his debut outing in the FC1.

DeJong took third ahead of Block with Timmy Hansen a distant fifth after an anonymous run in the final. The 2019 World Rallycross champion qualified with a third place in the first Semifinal, but had been battling technical issues during the earlier part of the weekend. Kevin Eriksson was the last of those in the final, he retired on the first lap with a technical problem.

Things went somewhat better for his brother Oliver, who won the B Final for drivers who didn't finish in the top three of the Semifinals, thus not making the A Final, ahead of Tommi Hallman and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky. Brad Deberti was slated to take part in that race, but retired after the Friday track running after his car sustained chassis and battery damage.

HYPERCAR RESULTS

In Supercar, DeJong made it two trophies from two races by winning ahead of Banks Hovey. DeJong's BAK40 Motorsports teammate Simon Olofsson made the better getaway at the start, but DeJong got by with a well-timed move after the main jump and – as Larsson did in the Hypercar A Final – took off into the distance.

Olofsson looked to be locked in for second until a hit from Hovey at the final turn on the final lap allowed him to get by for second and Lukas Andersson and Gray Leadbetter to also get by. Hovey was later given a four-second penalty for rough driving, moving him down to third and giving Andersson the runner-up spot. Olofsson ultimately settled for fifth, with Tyler Leach failing to finish.

In the Supercar B Final, Romet Tsirna made up for propshaft failure in the Semis to take a convincing consolation victory ahead of Johnny Holtger and Patrick Gruszka.

SUPERCAR RESULTS

Round 1’s Semifinals and Finals took place on Sunday morning after torrential rain postponed them from Saturday. Round 2’s Semis and Finals will take place later today – with preliminary heats canceled as a result of the schedule change – and coverage will be live on RACER+.