EKSRX driver Mattias Ekstrom continues relentless pace, with consistency proving key for the Swede as he takes win in Q4 and third in Q3 to head into finals.
Ekstrom will start on the front row alongside Johan Kristoffersson in Semi-Final 1. Petter Solberg joins Andreas Bakkerud on the front row in Semi-Final 2.
Ekstrom will start on the front row alongside Johan Kristoffersson in Semi-Final 1. © JKR/ERC24
Conditions improve in Montalgre, Portugal – as Ekstrom continues is unrelenting campaign through Sunday’s qualifying rounds.
Day two of the first round of the 2016 Bompiso World RX of Portugal began this morning alongside much improved weather and track conditions. Q3 was underway just after 10.30 – with Timerzyanov out first. The former European Champion took the win in the first race of Q3 from JRM driver Liam Doran.
Jeanney took the next race from Hansen and Reinis Nitiss, but it was Solberg who stole the show. The two time World Champion had had a poor first day and was in a tough position entering the second day. Solberg stormed to a race 3 Q3 win – beating Robin Larsson and Kevin Eriksson but also setting the fastest time in Q3. With the win Solberg was able to climbing to fourth overall, and put himself into a great position heading into Q4.
Petter Solberg’s great Q3 win and Q4 2nd mean a top semi-final position in Montalgre. © JKR/ERC24
The final race of Q3 saw Hoonigan Racing driver Andreas Bakkerud continue his excellent form with a win from Mattias Ekstrom and Sebastien Loeb.
Esktrom’s consistency meant that he continued his lead at the top after Q3
After Q3, the Supercar Results were as follows:
1) Mattias Ekstrom
2) Johan Kristofferson
3) Andreas Bakkerud
4)Petter Soberg
5) Toomas Heikkinen
Heading into the final round of the weekend’s qualifiying, OMSE newbie Niclas Gronholm took the first race from Janis Bauminus and Ken Block. Race two saw a sensational win from JRM driver Liam Doran (who battled hard with EKSRX campaigner Heikkinen), and cements semi-final progression for Doran. Doran made the point yesterday that he already felt: “very comfortable in the MINI RX.”
Timmy Hansen took the penultimate race, winning race 3 from Johan Kristoffersson and Kevin Eriksson.
Timmy Hansen ahead following his Q4 Race 3 win. © JKR/ERC24
The final race saw Petter Solberg lead the pack following early joker laps from Andreas Bakkerud and Mattias Ekstrom. An all Scandinavian battler eventually saw Mattias Ekstrom cross the line ahead of the current Champion Petter Solberg and Andreas Bakkerud.
Andreas Bakkerud won his Q3 race and came third in his Q4 race. to start 4th in the Semi-Final. © JKR/ERC24
After four rounds of Qualifying:
1) Mattias Ekstrom
2) Petter Solberg
3) Johan Kristoffersson
4) Andreas Bakkerud
5) Robin Larsson
6) Toomas Heikkinen
7) Sebastien Loeb
8) Kevin Eriksson
9) Timmy Hansen
10) Davvy Jeanney
11) Liam Doran
12) Anton Marklund
Final and Semi-finals to follow…