World RX – Kristoffersson surprises in Franciacorta

Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Polo) leads the Franciacorta event (Italy) after the first two qualifying rounds. The driver of the team of the same name won the second round and finished in second place in the first where Timmy Hansen (Peugeot 208) first stood out. The Swede from Team Peugeot-Hansen is in second place ahead of the Marklund Motorsport Polos of Anton Marklund and Toomas Heikkinen who must ensure that Petter Solberg (Citroën DS3) does not score eight more points to maintain his title chances.

However, the Championship leader had a complicated first day following an oil leak blocking him in seventh place in the provisional standings for the event, behind Reinis Nitiss (Ford Fiesta) and Robin Larsson (Audi A1). The Norwegian is ahead of Timur Timerzyanov (Peugeot 208) and Gigi Galli (Ford Fiesta) who is making his World RX debut with the Olsbergs MSE team.

Davy Jeanney (Citroën DS3) is in 11th position but his compatriot Jérôme Grosset-Janin (Renault Clio 3) is more delicate with 16th place. Jacques Villeneuve (Peugeot 208) encountered mechanical problems which dropped him to 27th place, behind the EKS Audi S1s driven by Pontus Tidemand and Edward Sandström who were strangely behind on this circuit. Andreas Bakkerud (Ford Fiesta) is in penultimate position after being penalized for an early start and excluded in the following round for exceeding the track limits.