RX1 Final | Euro RX of France 2026

He gave us a great start backwards, maybe slightly better, Christophsen moves across on Sebastien Loeb, contact from Christophsen sideways, Loeb on the outside, but it is Payer who gets into the lead. Ah, sideways again, contact there, that's Christophsen getting mugged by Rutgen, and Rutgen on the inside, Andreas Bachmann is in P2, and Loeb down the outside on the brakes, trying to come around the outside here, and Vachuska, is he going to go choker? No, Vachuska goes in. Christophsen came storming through on the inside of Turn 1, nearly made it work around the outside, Loeb got force wide, and this is not where Christophsen wants to be at the back of this pack. Vachuska has had good pace this weekend, he's now in that free air to close on the back of Loeb. Loeb's there as well, we know though that Loeb hasn't been that happy with the car in the conditions, but I've got my eyes on two people, Payer for the dream home win, and Bachmann, how he's looking to take some points off Johan, and at the minute he's going to. Bachmann gave a lot of space, didn't he, to Payer in the first corner, Loeb being dropped here by the leading pack, Christophsen can't joke at the moment because he'll fall into that Loeb window. Yeah, 0.8 of a second, Payer going very quickly out front on Friday. Johan was sitting at the top of the timesheet, he was some 8 tenths up the road, and we were looking and thinking, wow, this is going to be a tough weekend, then a couple of people slotted in, I think it was Ruttgenen who was only 0.4 off him, and then Payer popped up how less than, I think there's like a tenth or something behind. He's taken another tenth out of Andreas Bachmann on that previous lap. Christophsen is 2.2, so what is he, 1.3 off the back of Bachmann, he's got to do something if he wants to try and get it. He's stalled, he's in that joker-stalled period where he can't do anything at the moment. And Loeb's maybe not going to go, because Pachuska's going to gobble him up if he does, so there's not a lot Loeb can do, and he needs to keep the window shut. Another tenth for Payer in Sector 1, another tenth for Payer in Sector 2, he's pulling away! Push from Christophsen, look at Ruttgenen, twice he's just letting him know, I'm here, I'm here, put the pressure on, he needs a mistake from Ruttgenen. I think he's out there, but it's about Backwood versus Christophsen for championship points. 1.3 seconds the gap between Christophsen and Loeb, I think Christophsen might risk it now, because he's got to do something, hasn't he? Yeah, he's got to change it up, and Ruttgenen almost parked it, he does! The points lead is just seven, which was a big commitment. Don't forget how Backwood took a point off him in the semi-finals as well, sideways. Loeb's got him, he's gone down a position the gambler's not paid off. Loeb has got him, he will go backwards when he goes to his jokes, but this is going to stall him up even more. Send Backwood now, I would, cover him off. Payer's taken nearly a second out of Andreas Backwood on that previous lap. Fabian Payer is absolutely flying at the front of the order here. What a drive by him, is Backwood going to go to cover him? He doesn't, so Backwood's going to stall, you're on board now with Payer. He's had an absolutely horrible season, so horrible that he's in the minus points. Double engine changes, something like minus ten in the championship standings, he is nowhere, he's missed starting events, Loeb's gone joking, Christophsen's up, Payer's been nowhere, and now he's everywhere, he's out front, he's killing it. Christophsen's not pulling away from Rokas Bakhuska either. Has he used his tyres up at this stage, trying to stay in the fight? He told me a brand new one for the semi-finals, you need to watch for Backwood now. Let's see Backwood as he goes into the joker lap. Payer goes in, Backwood goes in, we're watching the two of them, Fabian Payer. The crowd are making so much noise here already. Payer smoothly through the joker lap, Runkonen is going to try and get in front of Christophsen, Christophsen will want that extra point, but he's not going to get there. All eyes though, everybody's on their feet, hands in the air. Fabian Payer wins in France in the European Rallycross Championship. Biggest win of his career for me against this field, against the odds when he's had a shocker of a season. Fabian Payer, what a drive, and Backwood gets P2 with Christophsen in fourth. That will close the tyre fight down to a matter of one hand in terms of points. Fabian Payer though the winner here in Lowiak, incredible. Jean-Luc Payer won the FIA European Rallycross Championship in 1993 with the very team that runs his son Fabian today. But this result will be right up there with the best they have ever achieved. This man does not show much emotion, multiple French champion. Look what it means to win not only in front of this crowd, but against this level of opposition. Killed it, like I said, for me the best result of his career. I know he's had, he's been at the top of this series, but to win Loeb was in the, good to see Loeb in the final, and Batshuska, but what a drive. Look at the fans. He doesn't know what to do, Andrew. I wouldn't know what to do. In his wildest dreams, look back at his results. Oh, we're hearing Backwood has taken the lead in the championship by one point as we go to Portugal. There's one point in it for a doubleheader. Incredible! Confirmation of the result here in France. Fabian Payet takes his first win of the year. It's the first time he's had any kind of a good weekend, and he's won here, and he's doing half a donut down behind me. Andreas Backwood P2, Rutgenen P3, Christophersen P4, Batshuska, and Sebastian Loeb, the legend in the final. We're going to go down to Hull Ridge with Andreas Backwood, the leader of the FIA European Rallycross Championship. How does it feel to win at home here in front of this insane crowd in Lowiak? I cannot believe it. It's by far the best victory of my career. I won here like in French Championship 13 years ago, but now against the best drivers in the world at home in Brotown in front of our partner, of the family, in front of my son also. It's an amazing feeling. I would not even have dared to dream about this. You battled with Andreas Backwood for the European title in 2021, but to share the grid here with Sebastian Loeb, Jan Christophersen, Andreas, and to beat them in a fair and square fight must be absolutely incredible. After the semifinal, I even told the team that I didn't think it was physically possible to beat you on, and I couldn't believe that we did it, honestly. But now I think everyone sees the pace there is in this car because at no moment I felt like I was in danger in the car. It felt really safe on a good rhythm, and it was magical, definitely. I understand your father, Jean-Luc, 1993 European champion, was pretty emotional when you went quickest yesterday in a qualifying session. How good is tonight going to be, celebrating with your family and friends here? I bet he must be crying now, I'm pretty sure, but I'm not sure I'm going to go into the office tomorrow. Championship standings then after Round 5, two rounds to go, and Andreas Bakkerud has turned around a seven-point deficit to a one-point lead here in France. Christophersen P2, Vaby P3, we then got Rukkanen, Topainen, Caffey-Janssen, Patrick O'Donovan, and Fabien Payet with the win here moves into 8th in the standings. That's absolutely brilliant.