World RX – Ekström: “We started from nothing”

Mattias Ekström only needed a fifth place during the World RX final in Estering (Germany) to win his first world title. After finishing first in the qualifying heats, the Swede earned himself other valuable points by winning his semi-final.

This is a great achievement for the two-time champion of DTM who was able to miss the final of the German Touring Car Championship at Hockenheim to try his luck in Rallycross where he built his program with his own EKS team where Toomas Heikkinen also competes on the Audi S1 ​​Quattro.

“This is perhaps the happiest day of my career, declared Petter Solberg's successor. I've had many great moments with Audi Sport in the DTM, but this one is really special. We started from nothing three years ago. In October 2013, there was nothing. Few people can imagine what my team and I have achieved since then. »

“I am very grateful to my employer, Audi Sport, was keen to highlight Mattias Ekström, replaced in DTM by Mike Rockenfeller (himself replaced by René Rast). My bosses gave me permission to race at Estering to optimize my title chances… I hope I will make them smile by winning this trophy. »

Mattias Ekström has ended a streak of 177 consecutive DTM starts to focus on his quest for the World RX title, inspired by his father Bengt who raced in Rallycross in the 1980s and 1990s.

“I always went to events when I was a child, but I couldn't get passionate about this discipline. Rallycross always seemed too dirty for me. I prefer things clean and orderly. I finished second (in 2013 in Höljes, Sweden, as part of the European Championship) and I was taken by the atmosphere. I thought about coming back in 2014 to play for victory. I then started with my friends, my partners and my long-time companions”, explained Mattias Ekström who won his first victory in 2014 in his national event.

EKS will still have one objective for the final of the season played on November 26 and 27 in Rosario (Argentina) by aiming for the Team title. Mattias Ekström's structure is 17 points ahead of the Team Peugeot Hansen.

World RX results in Estering

Discover the report of the World RX in Estering in issue 2085 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from Wednesday on newsstands.