DRR JC scores Top Qualifier result and Podium finish in first Nitro RX Trois-Rivieres ice race

American-Swedish Nitro Rallycross Championship team DRR JC maintained its advantage at the head of the 2022-2023 season standings with a strong performance in the series’ first-ever ice race weekend in Canada.
 
Entering the event holding the top three positions in the Drivers’ standings, the amalgamated Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and JC Raceteknik squad secured the Top Qualifier position amid a top-three lock-out in qualifying during the seventh round of Nitro RX’s headline Group E category, then took another podium finish in the final race of the weekend to maintain the lead in both the Drivers’ and Teams’ standings.

Drivers’ Championship leader Robin Larsson finished third in qualifying on Saturday, one place behind Monster Energy RX Cartel DRR JC team mate Andreas Bakkerud in the all-electric FC1-X machines.
 
Racing under floodlights again on Saturday – race day – Larsson was second in both his heat race and semi-final, then delivered a strong and mature drive to climb to third position in the final and hold the place to the finish in challenging, changeable conditions where ice dust was a significant factor.
 
Bakkerud meanwhile had won his semi-final, but while battling in the middle of the field in the all-important, eight-car final, was forced off the track by another competitor. While his rival was disqualified for the move post-race, Bakkerud made it to the finish line in seventh, and remains second in the series’ standings.
 
 Robin Larsson (SWE), Group E:
 
“This was a hard weekend, but a lot of fun to drive the cars in these conditions. Overall we can be happy about the event, we achieved a strong result in the end and took a lot of good points for the championship. I’m really looking forward to the next race in Calgary in two weeks.”

In opposite conditions to those of his native Jamaica, Fraser McConnell stunned the Scandinavian stars of Nitro RX by taking the Top Qualifier result on Friday evening, beating far more experienced drivers to win the Battle Brackets section of the event. On day two, McConnell was twice second in the heat and semi-final stages, then battled hard to finish fourth in the final and remains third in the Drivers’ standings.
 
Joel Christoffersson, JC Raceteknik Team Principal:
 
“It was not easy for any of us this weekend, but I’m very pleased with the job of the whole team. Fraser did a great job to be TQ on day one, then Robin delivered again on Sunday to take another podium. Andreas could have been right up there too, but had a hard time in the final. We learned a lot and we will start with a better base setup on the cars at the next ice race.”