Loeb Wins X Games RallyCross Over Block, Deegan

Jul. 01, 2012 By Josh Burns

Sebastien Loeb earned X Games gold today in RallyCross.

Typically set in a more rural setting, Rallycross shifted gears and hit the streets of downtown Los Angeles for Summer X Games 2012. Sixteen of the world’s best rally racers hit the rally course built around Staples center and running on Pico and Figueroa to earn X Games gold.

The rally event started out rough, as Toomas Heikkinen crashed during practice on Friday as he shorted the jump and crashed hard into the other side.

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X Games officials then removed the large gap and turned the jump into a tabletop. Yet more drama unfolded yesterday during practice when Marcus Gronholm has a horrible crash during practice when he overshot the jump completely, crashing into a pole and requiring the Jaws of Life to pull him from his racecar. It left a number of racers unhappy and considering protest. In the end, X Games officials eased the minds of racers and things went ahead as scheduled.

Ken Block leads Sverre Isachsen and Liam Doran out of a turn in the early rounds.

Liam Doran stays in front of Stephan Verdier in the first LCQ.

There were sixteen racers vying to make the 10-car final field. After the first four rounds were run and the last-chance-qualifiers (LCQ), all the racers were set and ready to tackle the tight course. An accident required a restart before the first full lap was completed, and once they got up and running again it was Sebastian Loeb who jumped out to the early lead. He held off challengers to take the win.

“The X Games was a good experience, the track was good and I was excited to race at the X Games and win this competition,” Loeb said. “The most difficult point was that first corner because you lose everything if someone hits you.”

Sverre Isachsen leads Brian Deegan over the jump during a heat race.

Finishing in second place was Ken Block, who had some stiff competition from X Games veteran Brian Deegan. In the end, Block earned the silver and Deegan the final podium spot with the bronze.

Sebastian Loeb

X Games RallyCross Final Rank
1. Sebastian Loeb
2. Ken Block
3. Brian Deegan
4. Rhys Millen
5. Liam Doran
6. Tanner Foust
7. David Binks
8. David Higgins
9. Samuel Hubinette
10. Sverre Isachsen

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