World RX – Ekström takes the right path in Estering

Mattias Ekström (Audi S1) got off to a good start to his weekend in Estering (Germany) where the penultimate event of the World RX season is taking place. The Championship leader is in the lead after the first two qualifying rounds after setting the second fastest time in Q1 and winning Q2.

The Swede could obtain the coronation at the end of the round if he wins a maximum of points with the intermediate classification and victory in the semi-final and final, while his direct rival Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Polo) only scores 'in sixth position.

Janis Baumanis (Ford Fiesta) occupies a surprising second place after winning the first qualifying heat. The World RX Team Austria resident precedes Davy Jeanney (Peugeot 208), winner of the event in 2015. The top five is completed by Andreas Bakkerud (Ford Focus RS) and Toomas Heikkinen (Audi S1).

Only 12th in Q1 after fighting with the Peugeots of Timmy Hansen and Sébastien Loeb, the two-time reigning world champion won his race in Q2 to move up to seventh place ahead of the nine-time world champion WRC, while the Swede from the Franco-Swedish team completes the top ten behind Kevin Eriksson (Fiesta) ahead of his brother Kevin (Peugeot) and Ken Block (Focus RS).

Tanner Foust (Volkswagen Polo) had a difficult start to the weekend. The American encountered a turbo problem in testing and only took 17th place in Q1 before breaking his suspension in the following round.

World RX results in Estering