It's been quite some time since I wrote an update on the FIA World Rallycross Championships, unfortunately I missed the Belgian and UK rounds as I was out and about but I made sure I didn't miss this round. This week the championship went to Hell, no not the one with the devil and lots of fire, the one in Norway. Since my last update Mattias Ekstrom has won back-to-back allowing him to lead the championship ahead of current champ Petter Solberg.
Bakkerud gains a clean sweep
The Hoonigan Racing Division haven't had the best season so far, the Ford Focus RS RX they are using is still very much in development so lessons are constantly being learnt. This is a car that come together in months with both Ken Block and Andreas Bakkerud having little opportunity to test it thoroughly before the season.
However it seems Bakkerud has found the car's groove as he completely dominated the qualifying sessions, winning all four heats. A very impressive drive by the Norwegian on his home turf, setting a new record in the process as he was the first ever driver to win all four qualifying sessions. Ken Block did not have the same luck sadly and was not able to make it to the semis following further trouble with his Focus RS RX.
Bakkerud wasn't the only Ford to do well in qualifying, Russian driver Timur Timerzyanov drove his Fiesta in great form to take pole position in the second semi-final. It wasn't smooth sailing for everyone though as Liam Doran picked up a few knocks after a big roll in Q2 yesterday and Anton Marklund's VW Polo caught fire causing him to retire in Q1.
Bakkerud or Timerzyanov?
The final looked to be a duel between Andreas Bakkerud and Timur Timerzyanov but in the end it didn't actually turn out that way as Timerzyanov struggled towards the end and finished the race in last place. Bakkerud certainly looked anxious when he was quickly interviewed before the race and I think the expectation to win on home soil was weighing on his mind. However, he made a good start and continued the fast pace he had set all weekend.
Sebastian Loeb and current world champion Petter Solberg started at the back of the grid with Timmy Hansen and current championship leader Mattias Ekstrom in front of them. Timur Timerzyanov struggled in the race and in the end finished last with a puncture, meaning that any serious competition to Bakkerud was Timmy Hansen and the pair remained close throughout the race. That was until the Swede took his Joker lap on lap five and was not able to get in front once Bakkerud had taken his on the last lap.
Bakkerud held on to get the win in what was a dream weekend for the Norwegian, not only did he clinch the record of the first driver to win every qualifying session but he was also first Norwegian to win at Hell. Needless to say this is not a weekend he will forget in a hurry and it was easy to see he joy as he grinned from ear to ear on the podium. Hansen finished below him in second whilst Mattias Ekstrom who had put in a solid race came in third meaning that he still tops the leaderboard.
Current champion Petter Solberg had to make do with fourth which keeps the Norwegian in second place overall. He may have made the podium if it wasn't for his misjudged Joker lap which saw him go from third place to fifth place but at least he was able to get a place back. That leaves Sebastian Loeb who finished second to last who never really looked like challenging for the podium.
The next round takes place at Holjes Motorstadion in Sweden and it cannot come quickly enough!