Nelson Piquet Jr. earns first GRC win

In his 21st career start, Nelson Piquet Jr. has won his first Global Rallycross race, beating out Patrik Sandell and Ken Block in the final.

After winning both his heat and semi, the Brazilian started from the front row and jumped out in front of the pack immediately. Sandell harassed Piquet the entire race and could smell blood in the water as the left rear fender started to rub the tire on the leading Ford Fiesta.

It wouldn't be enough though as Piquet scored his third podium of the season and as previously mentioned, his first win in a main event. Block was able to extend his championship lead with a third-place finish.

"It's a very special day for me," said Piquet. "There are less than two months since I won a world title in London and now I'm delighted to get on top of the podium in Washington.

"I thank the whole team for the car they gave me here. I'm very honored to win an event against so many strong and experienced rallycross competitors. It’s been a really long and hard week but a driver’s place is on the track and there’s no better reward than a victory.”

Piquet has had a very busy week leading up to this triumph. He started it out testing a Formula E car for NEXTEV TCR at Donington Park in the UK. He comes into the second season as the reigning series champion.

On Thursday, he was in Sonoma testing a Team Penske IndyCar usually driven by Juan Pablo Montoya. He then flew back across the country to Washington D.C. for the seventh GRC round of 2015.