Global Rallycross Sensation Topi Heikkinen Preparing for GRC Comeback

PASADENA, Calif., Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of his heart-stopping crash at X Games 2012 in Los Angeles back in June, Global Rallycross standout Toomas "Topi" Heikkinen is gearing up to take the track by storm September 29 during the fifth round of the 2012 Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In his first track appearance since recovering from the crash that left him with a severely broken ankle, internal injuries and totaled his car, Topi plans to debut his new Bluebeam^® Software-sponsored 2012 OMSE Ford Fiesta and move up the leaderboard against fellow racing superstars Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan and Travis Pastrana.

Known for his no-limits, extreme racing style, the 21-year-old's aggressive approach recently earned him a black flag disqualification at GRC's Charlotte, NC event in May, despite being the third driver to cross the finish line. At Dallas in early June, Topi battled closely with GRC points-leader Foust during the qualifying heat, only to be shut out of the A final for another disqualification due to a rules violation. But, the 2010 Finnish rallycross champion who finished sixth in the 2011 European championships is poised to make an even stronger statement in Las Vegas.

"There is no question—I plan to post the fastest time and take home the win," Topi said. "The crash was a minor set-back, but I'm fully recovered now, and thanks to the support of my team at OMSE and my sponsor, Bluebeam Software, I am ready to get back on the track and show what this new car can do."

Topi will have plenty of throttle to get the job done. Under the hood of his 2012 Ford Fiesta, is a 600-horsepower Ford Duratech 2.0 liter engine with Garrett Turbo that will deliver 650 foot-pounds of torque at the wheels and is capable of going 0-60 in less than two seconds. The car has been assembled in just two short months to get Topi back on the track before the close of GRC season.

"Topi's fearless, no limits approach to racing embodies everything that Bluebeam Software represents.  We're thrilled to see how well he's bounced back and look forward to his much anticipated comeback," said Bluebeam CEO Richard Lee. "There is no doubt in our minds that he will blow the doors off the competition in Las Vegas and wish him all the best for a fast—and safe—finish."

Fans can learn more about Topi's road to recovery by clicking here to watch an exclusive video that details his new Bluebeam-sponsored Ford Fiesta, which provides a behind the scenes look at the building of the car and includes an interview with Topi's manager, Andreas Eriksson, regarding his thoughts on the crash and the new car. Fans can also follow Topi's comeback on his official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/toomastopiheikkinen.

Topi is set to test-drive the new car in the LA area on September 25 and 26 with his comeback race scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 29 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

About Toomas Heikkinen

Known for his fierce and aggressive style of driving, Toomas "Topi" Heikkinen is a young, up and coming rally race car driver currently competing in his first season of the Global RallyCross Championship (GRC). Originally from Joensuu, Finland, Topi began his rally racing career in 2010 before becoming a Finnish Rally Champion, ranking sixth in the European Rally Championship (ERC) in 2011. Topi made his move to the U.S. based GRC competition after signing with Olsbergs Motor Sport Evolution just before the start of the 2012 season. To learn more about Topi, visit www.toomasheikkinen.com.

About Bluebeam Software, Inc.

Not your typical software company, Bluebeam Software makes smart, simple collaboration solutions for paperless workflows based on the PDF format. Founded in 2002 in Pasadena, California, Bluebeam's award-winning collaboration technology is used today by the world's top architectural, engineering, construction and oil and gas firms, as well as government agencies, accountants and even attorneys, as an intuitive, easy-to-use, PDF-based solution that enables users to work without limits. Bluebeam has been involved in rally since 2010 and is proudly sponsoring GRC sensation Topi Heikkennen's debut season in the US. For more information, visit www.bluebeam.com.

SOURCE Bluebeam Software, Inc.