For the first time in series history, Red Bull Global Rallycross will crown a champion at the end of a doubleheader event. The Port of Los Angeles, one of the series’ most iconic host venues, will set the stage for an exciting Supercar finale.

Volkswagen may have locked up the Red Bull GRC Manufacturer’s Championship, but Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross teammates Tanner Foust (465 points) and Scott Speed (452) are only two of the drivers who remain mathematically eligible for the Driver’s Championship. Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Steve Arpin (399) and Brian Deegan (373), as well as Bryan Herta Rallysport’s Patrik Sandell (357), also have a shot at the crown.

Driver changes

Three drivers will make their Supercar debuts this weekend in Los Angeles. Toshihiro Arai, a multi-time PWRC champion, will trade stage rally for rallycross as he joins Subaru Rally Team USA as the series’ first-ever Japanese driver. Meanwhile, two drivers will graduate from GRC Lites this weekend: Tanner Whitten will fill in for Nelson Piquet Jr. at SH Rallycross/DRR, and Mitchell DeJong makes his debut with Honda Red Bull Olsbergs MSE.

Tanner Whitten and Mitchell DeJong will make their long-awaited Supercar debuts this weekend after accomplishing numerous successes in GRC Lites. Whitten, who earned a victory in the second Daytona final this June, becomes the first Lites race winner to earn an in-season promotion to a Supercar with SH Rallycross/DRR. DeJong, the 2014 class champion and single-season Lites record holder for victories (seven) and heat wins (15), rejoins Olsbergs MSE in a third Honda Civic Coupe.

Quotes

Mitchell DeJong, #24 Honda Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Civic Coupe: “I’m really excited being able to finally make my first Supercar start! This is kind of a home race for me, there’s nice weather, and I have a lot of friends and family coming out, so it’ll be a nice hometown crowd. It’ll be nice to finally race a Supercar—it’s been a long time, and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m just going to take it as a learning experience, do the best I can, not put too much pressure on myself, and see what we can do with it.”

Tanner Whitten, #07 SH Rallycross/DRR Ford Fiesta ST: “This is extremely special. It’s one of the moments that I’ve been looking forward to and praying about. I’ve been working for it ever since I had the opportunity to drive the Lites car back in 2012. It’s been great to have the opportunity—it’s the last event of the year and it’s been a big deal for the last couple days to get this program put together. I’m really excited for the finale in LA.”

Patrik Sandell, #18 Bryan Herta Rallysport Ford Fiesta ST: “The track with be very narrow and tight. The space is very limited, so qualifying will be super important. If we can work well before qualifying and then have good launches, that’s kind of 70 percent of the race. Everyone is so fast and within tenths of each other. If we can just get ahead in the start, it’s easier to keep that position, rather than passing.”

Global Rallycross