Albatec Racing’s Jérôme Grosset-Janin is leading the first day of the opening round of the 2016 European Rallycross Championship in Belgium – ahead of Rajala and Linnerud.

Jérôme Grosset-Janin has taken a clean sweep of the first day of the opening ERX round in Mettet, Belgium. Grosset-Janin recorded a 02:48.236 in Q1 and a 02:47.789 in Q2 – both distinctly faster than the rest of the European pack.

Jerome Grosset-Janin leading the ERX pack with two wins in Q1 and Q2. © JKR/ERC24

Teammates Grosset-Janin and reigning champion Tommy Rustad took the first qualifying session. Rustad finished ahead of Eklund Motorpsort driver Joni-Pekka Rajala. Tord Linnerud took fourth- with the Hungarian Tamas-Pal Kiss taking the fifth fastest having set the fastest laps in the earlier practice session. Perhaps the most action took place in the fifth race of Q1, involving a turn one incident with Kevin Hansen, Rajala, Ohman and Takho: “I had a great start, and went down into the first corner – and then somebody hit my rear wheel and I found myself spinning – Rajala hit my first wheel and broke my drive shaft, and of course a DNF in Q1, ” said Hansen.

First turn carnage. Kevin Hansen mid spin in Q1 race 5. © JKR/ERC24

Q1 Results:

1. Jérôme Grosset-Janin
2. Tommy Rustad
3. Joni-Pekka Rajala
4. Tord Linnerud
5. Tamas-Pal Kiss

Hansen was out again in Q2 – setting a hugely impressive race time which placed him as second in the session. Despite his best efforts, Hansen lied in 11th after two sessions. Grosset-Janin built in his Q1 momentum with a final Q2 time of 02:47.789 – just over three seconds faster than closest competitor Hansen.

Q2 Results:

1. Jérôme Grosset-Janin
2. Kevin Hansen
3. Tamás Karai
4. Joni-Pekka Rajala
5. Tord Linnerud

Results after two heats:

1. Jérôme Grosset-Janin
2. Joni-Pekka Rajala
3. Tord Linnerud
4. Tommy Rustad
5. Tamas-Pal Kiss

Q3 begins at 10.00 tomorrow