Sandell delivers Bryan Herta Rallysport team’s 1st Red Bull GRC Win

Patrik Sandell and his Ford Fiesta

After dominating almost every heat and semi-feature since Daytona, Patrik Sandell and the Bryan Herta Rallysport Kobalt Tools Ford Fiesta team finally changed their luck in the feature events and stood upon the top step of the podium. It is Sandell's first win of 2015 and the first for Bryan Herta Rallysport.

The Kobalt Tools team began the weekend in dominating fashion. After starting the Saturday heat races on points, Sandell moved to the lead and won. In the Semi-Final, Herta made a brilliant strategic call to move Sandell from 5th to 1st with a late Kobalt Tools Joker Lap for the win. Sandell rocketed into the lead of the feature, and appeared headed for victory until the driveshaft broke with a lap and a half to go.

After a late Saturday night using their Kobalt Tools, the BHR team had the #18 ready for battle. Sandell qualified third, but took the lead of the heat race and won over the #43. Starting on the pole for the Semi-Feature, Sandell repeated and won that for the second day in a row.

Starting on pole for the final, Sandell jumped into the lead but was speared from behind by the #43; a third car was involved and stopped on the track bringing out the red flag and a complete restart. On the restart, Sandell jumped into the lead immediately took the Kobalt Tools Joker Lap and won easily by over two-seconds.

Patrik Sandell on Winning in Detroit:
"Today, Bryan Herta, the guys, and Kobalt Tools put everything together for me, and I'm so happy for them. This victory goes to them. I've been the victim of the red flags a few times, but now it was on my side – that's a part of the sport, I'm just happy everyone was okay and we could do a complete restart. The field was very close in speed this weekend, we were just a bit faster and it paid off today."

Bryan Herta on BHR's first win:
"This means a lot to our team. I'm so happy for Patrik, the team, and Kobalt Tools, and to give Ford a win in Detroit. Everyone on the team has worked so hard this year, we've had our share of bad luck, and now it's all come together. I'm also so proud of Austin as he has moved into a solid 3rd place in the Championship Standings, and Collete has earned her best result to date, so overall it has been a great weekend for the entire team."