Flying Finn dominates day one at Lydden Hill

Tommi Hallman did not let his lack of experience in the FIA RX2e Championship hold him back at Lydden Hill today (22 July), as he dominated the opening two heats to take an early lead in round three of the series’ 2023 campaign.

Hallman might be a newcomer in RX2e, but his reputation precedes him, having established himself as the benchmark in rallycross’ Supercar Lites category in recent years. After setting the pace in qualifying practice in Britain, the flying Finn then produced a flawless performance to win heat one – but he had to work rather harder in heat two.

With rain transforming the track surface and leaving a water splash just after the landing from the jump, competitors faced a very different challenge from earlier on and from pole position, Hallman found himself shuffled back to fourth position at the start.

Unleashing a scintillating turn of speed, however, the 22-year-old deployed an early joker strategy to perfection and fought his way back to the front of the field to complete a clean sweep and top the overnight standings.

Defending champion Viktor Vranckx sits second, unable to live with Hallman’s prodigious pace but keeping himself firmly in the hunt as he targets his first victory of the season. Kristoffersson Motorsport protégé Nils Andersson – who came out of the blocks quickest in free practice – is just behind in third, with Höljes winner Ole Henry Steinsholt fourth and championship leader Isak Sjökvist rounding out the top five for Hansen Motorsport junior outfit #YellowSquad.

The RX2e action at Lydden Hill continues tomorrow (Sunday, 23 July) with the remaining two heats, semi-finals and points-paying final. All of the racing will be broadcast live on RX+.