Almost 14 years after his first breakthrough victory in the European Rallycross Championship, Tanner Foust makes his return to competition on European soil this weekend at the same Montalegre circuit where it all began. A comeback that clearly stirs emotion in the American driver.
With a résumé as long as it is impressive, Tanner Foust’s career speaks for itself. A key figure in the North American motorsport scene before establishing himself as one of the world’s foremost Rallycross specialists, Foust has left a lasting impression on European fans ever since his first foray into the continent back in 2010.
“It’s crazy to think how long ago that was,” he reflects. “The 2011 race at Montalegre still stands out for me – it was my very first win in the European Rallycross Championship. Later that year I also won at Höljes in Sweden, which even then was the biggest race of the season. But what I really remember about Portugal is the passion of the fans. They’re incredibly enthusiastic, almost intense in their love of motorsport. To come back and soak up that atmosphere again – it is just fantastic.”
Welcomed like a legend, Foust quickly realized the enthusiasm hadn’t faded. RallyX celebrated his return with a full-scale parade of 30 cars through the streets of Montalegre. Locals and children lined the sidewalks, leaving work and school behind to greet the drivers, with autograph signings and spontaneous donuts around the town’s central roundabout.
“We paraded through town with 30 cars, the kids were out, and people literally stopped what they were doing to come see us… it was such a powerful moment,” Foust said. “I love how genuine the passion for motorsport is here in northern Portugal.”
While nostalgia is certainly part of the weekend, the spotlight is also on the next generation—young talents ready to write their own stories.
“I don’t know if Portuguese fans have really been waiting 14 years for me to come back, but either way, it’s amazing. Even though the weekend hasn’t really started yet, I’ve already had people come up to me and say they were here 14 years ago, back when I was driving the Rockstar Ford—and that they were thrilled to see me again. But today, there’s also a whole new generation of racers. In the FC2 category I’m competing in, there’s plenty of young talent. In fact, when we visited schools in the town on Friday to greet the kids, it was actually the teachers who were asking to take pictures with me—that tells you a lot about how big this sport is here.”
On a personal level, Foust is also enjoying a welcome change of pace.
“It’s nice to be able to soak in the surroundings a bit more this time. Fifteen years ago, I was doing 30 races a year—it was nonstop. Now, I’ve slowed things down a bit, and it feels good.”
Now behind the wheel of an FC2, Foust is discovering a new car with plenty of potential.
“In terms of power, the FC2 is pretty close to a Supercar. The lap times are probably similar, but the feel behind the wheel is different. It doesn’t have that manufacturer-developed precision I was used to with Volkswagen or Ford. That said, it costs less than half as much to run, and that’s a major step forward for Rallycross. Motorsport can get crazy expensive, so it’s fantastic to have this middle ground between Lites and Supercars. It makes the sport far more accessible.”
While competition is still in his DNA, Foust returns to Europe with a more measured ambition—but his passion remains undiminished.
“I know there are plenty of drivers with a lot more experience in these cars, so while I’m definitely motivated to be competitive—and I always want to be—I’m really here to put on a great show for the Portuguese fans.”