A weekend of ups and downs for GRX despite Timerzyanov's podium finish.

Timur Timerzyanov taking the lead with a very faster launch.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World RX Media.

GRX Taneco departs Canada with highs and lows. Timur Timerzyanov secured a third-place finish for the Finnish squad, while team-mate Niclas Gronhölm missed out on a spot in the final.

Niclas Gronhölm claimed the top qualifiers position after winning Q2 and Q4. His teammate Timur Timerzyanov was the third-fastest after the four qualifying rounds. 

Despite the unfortunate events in Q2 and Q4 that impacted Timerzyanov’s point score, both drivers secured the front row start for Semi-final 1, which the Russian would eventually win and his teammate would not progress any further. 

“This weekend has been with its highs and lows," he said. "Especially the Final, where I was in a position to fight for a win but made a crucial mistake that put me way back in the standings. But then it all turned around when other drivers also fell under the pressure and I was able to regain positions and finish on the podium."

Gronhölm, who had set the early race weekend pace, looked set to challenge for overall victory Canada. However, he paid the price for a costly joker strategy in semi-final one where he finished fourth and failed to progress to the final.

“After finishing the Qualifying sessions as the leader of the pack, the expectations were high, but all it took was one non-perfect start in the Semi-final to have a relatively disappointing ending of the weekend," he said. 

"We had the pace and the car felt really good, but… that’s how it goes sometimes. We need to analyze this race, draw our conclusions and move forward."

Despite the disappointment of missing out on the final in Canada, the Finn targets strong results in the three remaining rounds of the championship. "There are three more races to do and three more possibilities to clinch the top step of the podium," he adds.

TEXT - Junaid Samodien