TitansRX previewed at hugely successful test event in Fuglau

The TitansRX field braved the cold and wind in the Austrian hills last weekend as the new series finally broke cover with a hugely successful official test event.

Timmy Hansen starred over the weekend at the MJP Arena, topping the series’ first group test session on Saturday, before running Toomas Heikkinen close during the final of Sunday’s trial race event.

Heikkinen, who ran the event in an MJP Team Austria’s Ford Fiesta ST Lion RX3 Supercar for validation and benchmark purposes, was pressured by Hansen in TitansRX’s new Pantera RX6 throughout the test event’s final race but held on to narrowly defeat the recent World RX event winner.

Behind Heikkinen and Hansen was Hungarian star Lukacs ‘Csucsu’ Kornel, who beat Tamara Molinaro to the final podium spot. TitansRX’s only full-time female competitor was driving in her first-ever rallycross event held her own against the more seasoned competitors, gaining confidence and speed over the course of the weekend.

Rounding out the runners in the final was Ronny ‘C. Rock’ Wechselberger and Reini Sampl, who drove a specially-developed hand-operated car. Kevin Hansen also drove during the event (in a Lion RX3 Supercar) but had to sit out of the final due to a minor technical issue.

„Seeing TitansRX Europe come together at the MJP arena was truly fantastic despite the freezing cold weather and rain,“ said TitansRX founder and CEO Max Pucher. „I need to thank the teams of MJP Promotions for the well-working organisation including the TV production team and the engineers and mechanics of MJP Racing who delivered a set of exciting Panteras that all drivers and spectators enjoyed immensely.“

„We could see that performance, durability and serviceability of the Pantera met all designed in criteria, which gives us a lot of satisfaction and high expectations for a good season,“ he added. „Most of all it was good to see that the LionRX3 FIA Supercars and the PanteraRX6, which raced side by side, delivered close-up racing action at similar performance. The LionRX3 has 5 years of World RX level development under the hood and the Pantera is just a few months after the first prototype.“

„We also received the FIA technical sign-off with very positive comments about the safety and overall technical quality of the Pantera. All-in-all we can now look forward to the first TitansRX race in France.“

Pantera delivers on its promise

Prior to the full run through of TitansRX’s race format, a full day of intensive testing was completed on Saturday, which was the first time drivers had a chance to participate in a group session at the wheel of the car.

Right away the car’s aim to bring close, competitive racing was delivered, with the top four being covered by just seven tenths of a second.

Timmy Hansen was the early Pantera RX6 pacesetter, beating Ronny ‘C. Rock’ by just under three tenths of a second in the afternoon practice session on Saturday, which took place in cool, but dry conditions.

Csucsu was third fastest, a further tenth back, while Molinaro was fourth fastest. Sampl set the fifth-fastest time, clocking a best lap of 41.682 around the 1.025 kilometre track.

The Pantera RX6 is still in its development phase but was only a few tenths off the fastest supercar time on Saturday morning. However, it got closer and closer over the course of the weekend to the point where there was little to choose between both cars by the end of Sunday.