Moving ahead in Mettet: Ekström is leading after the first day of the third round of the WRX in Belgium. Ekström ahead of Loeb, with a three way fight for third.

With Q1 and Q2 complete the opening day of the third round of the WRX is done. Ekström has continued his domination of this season’s qualifying with second and first fastest – and leads proceedings overnight in Belgium.

Round one got underway with some insightful practice sessions. Volkswagen RX Team Sweden driver Johan Kristoffersson took both practice session – and looked to have mastered the Mettet track. “My feeling is that the track here is very good – they have made some changes from last year, but the car suits this track very well!” Said Kristoffersson.

Johan Kristoffersson, having set two fastest lap times in this mornings practice sessions. © JKR/ERC24

Supercar Q1 races got underway again in good conditions.  Sébastien Loeb took the fastest time, having come out during the final race of Q1. Loeb narrowly beat Ekstrom – (1st. 02:47.47 // 2nd. 02:47.494) only fractions of seconds separated the two, as Ekstrom continues his fine for this season in qualifying.

Petter Solberg was on hand to bag the third fastest time – with fourth and fifth being secured by the two Volkswagen Sweden drivers: Kristoffersson and Marklund.

Loeb leading the pack. Loeb won Q1, and lies second overnight. © JKR/ERC24

World RX wildcard entry – the home driver Francois Duval drove a sixth fastest time, with Timur Timerzyanov securing a seventh fastest drive.

A tightly fought second qualifying session saw much the same from the Swedish EKSRX driver. Ekstrom was once again marginally faster – with the Russian driver Timerzyanov reasserting his position back in the Supercar top positions. Johan Kristoffersson moved up to third, narrowly beating the Norwegian Petter Solberg and Peugeot-Hansen driver Timmy Hansen.

Back in the frame. World RX Austria driver Timerzyanov lies third after two. © JKR/ERC24

Day One Results:

1. Mattias Ekström
2. Sébastien Loeb
3. Timur Timerzyanov *
4. Johan Kristoffersson *
5. Petter Solberg *