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Bakkerud Pilots Ford Focus RS RX to Heavenly Victory in Hell

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Bakkerud is the first FIA World Rallycross driver to win all four qualifying rounds of an event weekend

The name of the village may sound diabolical, but given that Hell, Norway is where the Focus RS RX won its first FIA World Rallycross Championship race, Ford and Hoonigan Racing Division are more likely to think of it as heaven on earth.

HRD driver Andreas Bakkerud brought the No. 13 Ford Focus RS RX to the finish line on Sunday, bringing the new Focus RS rallycar its first victory in only its fifth race. In so doing, Bakkerud also became the first FIA WRC driver ever to win all four qualifying rounds during a weekend event, following that achievement up by becoming the first Norwegian to win the race in his home country.


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“It’s crazy that we won on home soil. I am so proud of the whole team,” said Bakkerud. “This is only our fifth event! I am so pumped and so stoked to be a part of this great team. A big thank you to all of our partners.”

“From the beginning, our goal with this program was for the Focus RS RX to be competitive in rallycross,” said Dave Pericak, Global Director of Ford Performance. “With support from M-Sport and Hoonigan Racing Division, we felt confident that our combined team put together the best vehicle for the sport.”

The Focus RS RX has won its first FIA World Rallycross Championship event after just five races.

The Focus RS RX program was developed by the three-headed monster of Ford Performance, M-Sport, and HRD. Its first podium finish in FIA WRC came earlier this year when Ken Block finished third at Hockenheim. Block finished second in both Qualifying rounds but was held out of the Semi-Finals due to technical problems.

The Focus RS RX will be back in action from July 1st-3rd in Holjes, Sweden.


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