There’s no denying that Andreas Bakkerud is one in every of rallycross’ prime skills within the fashionable period. And with a fun-loving repute and easy-going demeanor, the U.S.-based Nitrocross sequence may be very a lot an ideal residence for the Norwegian.
However issues haven’t fairly gone his manner. Two victories within the 2022-23 season, the primary of the class’s all-electric Group E method, ought to have been an indication of issues to come back, however since then issues haven’t been plain crusing for the 2021 European Rallycross champion. That was till the sequence headed to Salt Lake Metropolis for the second cease on its 2024-25 schedule.
Nicely, we are saying that… his horrific dangerous luck struck once more, with Bakkerud being confined to his resort room for the primary a part of the double-header race weekend due to an aggressive bout of strep throat.
“I caught strep throat on Thursday and had a 104 diploma fever,” he defined on Saturday, when all indicators of his sickness had, no less than visibly, disappeared. “I used to be shaking my fingers, fingers, toes, and butt off; getting penicillin and all that stuff. I attempted to do as little operating as potential on Friday.”
Quick-forward to the tip of the weekend and all discuss of illness was a distant reminiscence. Bakkerud wasn’t only a winner once more, however he’d swept each Finals at Utah Motorsports Campus, changing into the primary driver within the historical past of Nitrocross’ prime class to ever accomplish that.
“It’s wild. I didn’t see this coming,” he tells RACER. “In Richmond I spoke with the staff. The goal was to have somewhat bit extra enjoyable, rating a prime 5, (and) simply attempt to take pleasure in it somewhat bit.
“However Nitrocross is particular. It feels so unfair at occasions, and it has the bottom of lows and the best of highs. I’ve performed quite a lot of completely different motorsports and I don’t get the identical feeling wherever else.”
After battling a strep throat early within the weekend, Utah was turbulence-free flying for Bakkerud. Qnigan/Nitrocross
Bakkerud had tempo on the first two rounds of the season in Richmond in September, however contact in each Finals prevented him from scoring any significant factors. The alternative was the case in Salt Lake Metropolis, with Bakkerud beginning each mains from second on the grid – positioned on the racing line thus giving the spot extra grip than pole place which was held on each days by his Dreyer & Reinbold Racing JC teammate Robin Larsson.
“It actually felt good,” he says. “I’d say, with out bragging, we now have been the quickest automobile on the market this complete weekend. It’s laborious to be persistently quick in Group E as a result of these vehicles are very related and circumstances are altering on a regular basis.”
The 2 black Monster Vitality Dodges ran extra just like the Blue Angels on each days, flying in excellent formation on the entrance of the sector. The primary day was deliberate, and there was an analogous settlement on Sunday with whoever bought to Flip 1 in first being afforded the benefit. With Bakkerud having the grippier grid place, he asserted his place immediately, even when he admitted the considered “what’s going to go flawed this time?” entered his thoughts.
“Within the Closing there, the plan was whoever bought the perfect begin in Flip 1 would get the race,” Bakkerud says of Sunday. “Whoever is second wasn’t going to do something main. We wish to battle it out afterward within the season. I had a greater soar off the road – I believe beginning P2 was higher, it was faster there, that’s the racing line, and pole place was dusty and a bit filthy.
“I bought the soar, bought my gears right, bought the push-to-pass right, and had a superb Flip 1.”
Sunday was “form of easy”, as Bakkerud places it, however after dominating on Saturday, he knew his staff needed to work tougher on that second day of racing to keep up their benefit.
“Everybody caught up on our pace from Saturday, and it was a a lot more durable day,” he admits. “I had a Semifinal battle with Conner Martell. He wouldn’t depart my door or my bumper, he was proper there. He didn’t do something nasty, he was honest and sq.. He was fast, and he would have deserved that podium. And I believe it could have been very tight with him.”
Martell completed third behind Bakkerud and Larsson on Saturday, just for a penalty for lacking the Joker to take the place away. It was set to be an analogous story on Sunday till he suffered an enormous crash meters from the road as he battled Larsson for second, to which Bakkerud says, “It’s so good to see that he’s okay after that gnarly crash simply earlier than the checkered.”
The repeat consequence over each days suggests DRR JC has a bonus – and with the final two titles and extra Group E wins than every other staff, together with three from 4 this season, it clearly does, however Bakkerud insists the fact isn’t as clear minimize.
“I don’t fairly perceive it, what we now have performed this weekend is large,” he says. “It’s not straightforward to be first and second, by any means.
“By Q3 you might have a lot monitor evolution, you might have one lap to set the quickest lap time. The extent is so excessive, and then you definately attempt to do effectively within the Heats and Semis. A lot stuff is happening and occurring, and for us to finish up pole and second once more is unimaginable.”
Competitors apart, Bakkerud has by no means lowered his confidence in his talents. There was a 568 day hole between his final win at Glen Helen Raceway two seasons in the past and Saturday’s breakthrough, however regardless of getting again to the place he belongs, he nonetheless needs extra.
Bakkerud’s Utah success ended a win drought that stretched again to Glen Helen two years in the past (above). Qnigan/Nitrocross
“To not be cocky however – and I used to be the primary one within the World Rallycross championship to do a clear sweep – once I’m on the movement, there’s no stopping me,” he insists. “It’s simply so simple as that.
“However I didn’t do the complete clear sweep, I haven’t gained Q3 but, and I attempted, I pushed.”
All that being stated, Bakkerud isn’t getting forward of himself. Subsequent up is Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona in November. The scene of a violent roll for him in 2022, and just one podium end in his 4 begins there, he’s maintaining his expectations in examine regardless of presently driving the crest of a mammoth wave.
“It’s been eternally. It was a very nice feeling to cross the road first, to have a win once more, as a result of it’s been so lengthy,” was his response after Saturday’s win. “I’ve simply been so pissed off and livid in so some ways, it’s good to go to mattress not in anger, however with pleased vibes and emotions.”
However wanting forward, he stresses, “Phoenix has a complete different ballgame. It’s a monitor I haven’t been very sturdy at prior to now. It’s been very a lot up and down, so I’m going carry on the mentality I’ve.
“If I can rating a fifth or higher, I’m high quality. I’m going to attempt to perceive why I had the doubts and check out to not be pissed off.”
