WorldRX – Reinis Nitiss defeats Petter Solberg in Norway

Reinis Nitiss made a strong impression at Hell in Norway, scene of the third round of the brand new world championship of rallycross. The Latvian, fielded in a Ford Fiesta Supercar from Team Olsbergs MSE, had already placed himself in the lead at the end of the first day and the two rounds run on Saturday. Still, Nitiss was not satisfied. “The car is perfect, but I'm not completely satisfied with my performance. I made several small mistakes, I braked too early, and I looked in the mirrors a lot. We will have to do better tomorrow” declared the young 18-year-old pilot. What was promised, what was due with a second day punctuated by a very first World Cup victory, beating local hero Petter Solberg and his Citroën DS3 Supercar. " It's fantastic, Nitiss admitted. My goal at the start of the season was to finish in the top 12, I couldn't imagine that I would win today. »

Still second in the championship, three points behind the weekend's winner, Petter Solberg did not however succeed in his bet to win at home. He is ahead of one of the great attractions of the weekend, the American Ken Block, who came to compete against the stars of the World Championship in his Hoonigan Racing Ford Fiesta. Always very spectacular, Block also found performance on Sunday by placing 3rd in the end and first in EuroRX. "I couldn't be happier, explains the Long Beach native. It was my first time on a real rallycross track and to finish on the podium alongside Nitiss and Solberg is incredible. However, I struggled a bit during the starts. »

Little disappointment in the clan Peugeot , since the Team Hansen cars of Timur Timerzyanov and Timmy Hansen, on the pace on Saturday, made poor tire choices on Sunday, using wet tires in the final, and finished 4th and 6th. At Albatec, Jacques Villeneuve, back in the World Cup, failed to reach the semi-finals.

The next round will take place in Finland at Kouvola on June 28 and 29.

Discover the report from the Norwegian round of WorldRX in the 1965 issue of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version on all platforms and on newsstands from Wednesday.