Andreas Bakkerud (Ford Fiesta Mk7 ST) won Round 2 of the 2026 FIA European Rallycross Championship at Nyirád in Hungary on Sunday (May 31). Being the Top Qualifier, winning his Quarter-Final, his Semi-Final and ultimately the Final delivered him not only the event win but also the lead in the championship after two events. In the Euro RX1 Final Bakkerud, beat Set Promotion drivers Juha Rytkönen (Hyundai i20) and Joni Turpeinen (Ford Fiesta Mk7 ST). In Euro RX3 and Euro RX4, respectively, Julien Meunier (Audi A1) and Filip Melon (Peugeot 208) were victorious.
Overnight leader in RX1 Andreas Bakkerud set the fastest time on Sunday morning in the remaining qualifying session, beating both KMS drivers. In doing so, he confirmed his top spot in the ranking and became the Top Qualifier. Second in the ranking was Johan Kristoffersson, ahead of Joni Turpeinen and Juha Rytkönen. This meant Bakkerud, Kristoffersson, Turpeinen and Rytkönen were placed in separate Quarter-Finals and were allowed to start from pole.
Top Qualifier Bakkerud shared the front row of the first Quarter-Final with Ulrik Linnemann (VW Polo Mk5), who was fifth overall after the qualifying sessions. Bakkerud had an excellent start and led from start to finish. Casper Jansson (Peugeot 208) moved from the second row into second place and kept up with Bakkerud’s pace. Johannes Rafoss (Ford Fiesta Mk8 ST) finished third and was the other qualifier for the Semi-Final. Linnemann unfortunately hit the wall at some point and was forced to retire.
The second Quarter-Final had the KMS drivers on the front row. When the green lights came on, Patrick O’Donovan (Peugeot 208) made a strong start, splitting the KMS drivers, with Kristoffersson taking the lead. They finished in the same order after five laps, and all three were through to the Semi-FInals.
Turpeinen, joined by Fabien Pailler (Renault Mégane Mk4) on the front row, lined up in the third Quarter-Final. Both finished first and second and were joined by Paulius Pleskovas (Škoda Fabia Mk3) as Semi-Final qualifiers. In the final Quarter-Final, Rytkönen shared the front row with Damian Litwinowicz (Audi S1). He won the race ahead of Andor Trepák (Renault Mégane Mk4) and Litwinowicz.
In the first Semi-Final Bakkerud and Turpeinen occupied the front row, while Jansson and Pailler were on the second row. Bakkerud won the start and led ahead of Turpeinen and Jansson. The top three then waited until the final lap to pass through the joker lap section, all maintaining their positions at the merge and securing qualification for the Final.
In the second Semi-Final, Kristoffersson and Rytkönen started from the front row, with O’Donovan and Trepák on the second row. Kristoffersson won the start, while O’Donovan and Rytkönen battled for second place, with the Finn ultimately coming out on top. O’Donovan took the joker lap on the second lap, making contact with Veiby at the merge and damaging his rear suspension. From then on, Hungarian driver Andor Trepák ran in third place and in a qualifying position for the Final. Rytkönen jokered on the third lap and rejoined the main track behind Trepák in third place, ahead of Veiby. Kristoffersson took his joker on the fourth lap, while Trepák waited until the last lap. Veiby then moved into third and qualified for the Final alongside Kristoffersson and Rytkönen.
In the all-decisive Final, with Bakkerud and Kristoffersson on the front row, Kristoffersson hit the wall after Turn 1 and dropped back to sixth place. Bakkerud led the race ahead of the Set Promotion drivers. Turpeinen and Veiby opted for the joker lap on the opening lap, with Turpeinen rejoining ahead of Kristoffersson. Meanwhile, Bakkerud led Rytkönen and Jansson. Kristoffersson then dropped back to sixth after taking his joker lap. Next to joker was Jansson, who rejoined in fifth place between the two KMS drivers. Rytkönen retained second place when he passed through the joker lap section on the fifth lap. That left only Bakkerud to take his joker, which he did on the final lap before crossing the finish line ahead of Rytkönen and Turpeinen, leaving both KMS drivers off the podium. For Turpeinen, it was his second podium finish in as many events. The victory also gave Bakkerud the championship lead with 65 points, one point ahead of Kristoffersson on 64.
In Euro RX3, Julien Meunier was the Top Qualifier, with Rytis Gurklys (Audi A1), quickest in Q4, second. Both drivers were placed in separate Semi-Finals, where they were joined on the front row by Hungarian drivers Levente Kacor (Suzuki Swift) and Sámuel Kovács (Škoda Fabia Mk3), respectively third and fourth after qualifying. In the first Semi-Final, Meunier made the better start, with Markus Røsrud (Škoda Fabia Mk2) moving into second from the second row. Meunier gradually extended his advantage and eventually won the race. Røsrud finished second, while Dylan Dufas (VW Polo Mk6) claimed the final qualifying spot after Kacor blew the engine in his Suzuki. The second Semi-Final saw a dramatic start, but in the end the front-row starters Gurklys and Kovács advanced together with Libor Teješ (Audi A1).
In the Final, Meunier and Gurklys ran side by side towards Turn 1, with Meunier eventually taking the lead ahead of Gurklys and Kovács. Kovács secured a podium position shortly after mid-race with passing through the joker lap section on the fourth lap and rejoining in third place ahead of Teješ. With Gurklys taking the joker on the penultimate lap and Meunier on the final lap, the positions remained unchanged despite a close merge. Meunier therefore claimed his second Euro RX3 victory of the season.
Filip Melon set another fastest time in Euro RX4 in Q4 to become the Top Qualifier with maximum points. Euro RX4 featured direct final after qualifying. Melon started from pole, with Ivo Gabrāns (Renault Clio Mk5) alongside him on the front row. Andréa Bénézet (Renault Clio Mk5) qualified third and lined up on the second row.
Melon won the start, with Bénézet moving into second place. The pair ran first and second throughout the six laps and both took the joker lap on the final lap. Albert Kokk (Renault Clio Mk5), who had been running third, also joked on the final lap but was passed by Thomas Quincé (Renault Clio Mk5) and Gabrāns, with Quincé claiming the final podium spot. Bénézet remains in the championship lead with 49 points, 11 points ahead of today’s winner Filip Melon (38 points).
The next round of the 2026 FIA European Rallycross Championship is scheduled for the first weekend of July at Höljes in Sweden.
Results
Euro RX1 – Final: 1. Andreas Bakkerud (N), Ford Fiesta Mk7 ST; 2. Juha Rytkönen (FIN), Hyundai i20; 3. Joni Turpeinen (FIN), Ford Fiesta Mk7 ST; 4. Ole Christian Veiby (N), VW Polo Mk6; 5. Johan Kristoffersson (S), VW Polo Mk6; 6. Casper Jansson (S), Peugeot 208.
Euro RX3 – Final: 1. Julien Meunier (F), Audi A1; 2. Rytis Gurklys (LT), Audi A1; 3. Sámuel Kovács (H), Škoda Fabia Mk3; 4. Libor Teješ (CZ), Audi A1; 5. Dylan Dufas (F), VW Polo Mk6; 6. Markus Røsrud (N), Škoda Fabia Mk2.
Euro RX4 – Final: 1. Filip Melon (PL), Peugeot 208; 2. Andréa Bénézet (F), Renault Clio Mk5; 3. Thomas Quincé (F), Renault Clio Mk5; 4. Ivo Gabrāns (LV), Renault Clio Mk5; 5. Albert Ako Kokk (PL), Renault Clio Mk5; 6. Haotian Deng (CHN), Renault Clio Mk5.
Euro RX5 – Final: 1. Valentin Comte (F); 2. Ádám Gere (H); 3. Martin Juga (EST); 4. Armin Raag (EST); 5. Marko Muru (EST); 6. Tim Braumüller (D).
Standings
Euro RX1 (2/6): 1. Andreas Bakkerud (N), 65; 2. Johan Kristoffersson (S), 64; 3. Ole Christian Veiby (N), 54; 4. Joni Turpeinen (FIN), 53; 5. Juha Rytkönen (FIN), 48; 6. Patrick O’Donovan (IRL), 26; etc.
Euro RX3 (2/6): 1. Julien Meunier (F), 68; 2. Rytis Gurklys (LT), 54; 3. Nicolas Geleyns (B), 22; 4. Sámuel Kovács (H), 22; 5. Libor Teješ (CZ), 21; 6. Markus Røsrud (N), 19; etc.
Euro RX4 (2/6): 1. Andréa Bénézet (F), 49; 2. Filip Melon (PL), 38; 3. Thomas Quincé (F), 34; 4. Albert Ako Kokk (EST), 33; 5. Haotian Deng (CHN), 20; 6. Ivo Gabrāns (LV), 20; etc.
Euro RX5 (2/6): 1. Martin Juga (EST), 46; 2. Armin Raag (EST), 44; 3. Tim Braumüller (D), 43; 4. Valentin Comte (F), 34; 5. Marko Muru (EST), 30; 6. Ádám Kelő Gere (H), 27; etc.