Sports
FIA WORLD RALLY CROSS CHAMPIONSHIP 2015-HOCKENHEIM
PETTER SOLBERG WINS INAUGURAL RACE
(Source: © Fia World RallyCross)
Ford Olsbergs MSE driver Reinis Nitiss is second and Britain´s Liam Doran third inhis SDRX Citroen DS3. Doran was leading the World RX crews overnight after his heat two win but his team-mate Solberg clawed to the top of the Intermediate Classification by winning heats three and four. Round one winner Johan Kristoffersson iscurrently fourth despite losing time with two punctures in heat two and an impact with Team Peugeot-Hansen´s Davy Jeanney in today´s closing race.
“It´s been a fantastic day for us with two heat wins, a track record and 16 World Championship points,“ grinned Solberg, who put on a fantastic show for the thousands of fans who watched the thrilling RX action at the famed Sachs Arena inside the F1 venue.
“It´s been a fantastic day for us with two heat wins, a track record and 16 World Championship points,“ grinned Solberg, who put on a fantastic show for the thousands of fans who watched the thrilling RX action at the famed Sachs Arena inside the F1 venue.
“It didn´t get off to the best start for us yesterday but then everything has been getting better and better. I think we put on a
good show for the DTM fans too, they love the rallycross action and have been saying how exciting the racing is!“
Wildcard entrant Tanner Foust is currently fifth after the American Top Gear presenter set two top five heat times, while Team Peugeot-Hansen´s Davy Jeanney is sixth in the Peugeot 208 WRX Supercar.
good show for the DTM fans too, they love the rallycross action and have been saying how exciting the racing is!“
Wildcard entrant Tanner Foust is currently fifth after the American Top Gear presenter set two top five heat times, while Team Peugeot-Hansen´s Davy Jeanney is sixth in the Peugeot 208 WRX Supercar.
Joining the highly-acclaimed DTM series, World RX made its debut at the iconic F1 venue this weekend as a purpose-built rallycross circuit was constructed inside the famous Sachs Arena. SDRX had a strong weekend as Britain´s Liam Doran led after heat two, while Solberg went on to win heats three and four, the semi-final and the all-important final. He now leads the overall World RX Drivers´ Championship by 15 points. SDRX lead Ford Olsbergs MSE in the Teams´ Championship by three points and have a total of 74 points. Peugeot-Hansen lie third with 65 points.
“I love big fights and tough competitions and that´s why I love rallycross,“ confirmed Solberg who received a standing ovation alongside his fellow World RX finalists as the DTM fans showed their appreciation for the FIA´s newest World Championship. He was also awarded the Monster Energy Super Charge Award for his rapid start off the line and a Rebellion Timepieces Wraith Drive Rallycross watch for his win this weekend.
Solberg continued: “The fans seemed to love rallycross and it´s been great to be in Hockenheim alongside DTM this weekend, it´s been very well organised.
Solberg continued: “The fans seemed to love rallycross and it´s been great to be in Hockenheim alongside DTM this weekend, it´s been very well organised.
It´s not been an easy weekend: we had a bad start on Friday, there was little grip off the line and then I had a puncture in the semi-final. I had two choices going into Saturday: one was to go fast or the second was to go very fast ““ I went for the second option! I know everybody says this but my win is credit to the team. They are fantastic and I wouldn´t be here without them.“
Joining Solberg, Nitiss and Hansen in today´s final was Marklund Motorsport´s Topi Heikkinen, last year´s FIA European Rallycross Champion Robin Larsson and Ford Olsbergs MSE driver Andreas Bakkerud. Larsson got off to a promising start but dropped behind Hansen after taking the Joker on the final lap and making contact with Hansen and Heikkinen.
Joining Solberg, Nitiss and Hansen in today´s final was Marklund Motorsport´s Topi Heikkinen, last year´s FIA European Rallycross Champion Robin Larsson and Ford Olsbergs MSE driver Andreas Bakkerud. Larsson got off to a promising start but dropped behind Hansen after taking the Joker on the final lap and making contact with Hansen and Heikkinen.
He failed to finish while Heikkinen went on to take fourth place. Bakkerud retired on lap three after the Norwegian broke his car´s front suspension.
After two back-to-back events, the World RX crews will now have a short break before they prepare for round three at Mettet in Belgium from 23-24 May. The Belgian RX round will also formed the opening round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship and will see a total of 39 Supercars take part
After two back-to-back events, the World RX crews will now have a short break before they prepare for round three at Mettet in Belgium from 23-24 May. The Belgian RX round will also formed the opening round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship and will see a total of 39 Supercars take part
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