Petter Solberg is leading after the first day of the fourth round of the WRX in Great Britain. Solberg stays top overnight ahead of Mattias Ekström and Hoonigan driver Bakkerud.
With Q1 and Q2 complete the opening day of the fourth round of the WRX is done. 2015 round winner Petter Solberg has continued his domination at Lydden hill.
Mattias Ekstrom finsihes P2 afer day one. © JKR/ERC24
Solberg: “It has been a great first day. We have changed a lot of things in two weeks, we tested all this up in Silverstone and tried some different things. Its all about traction and speed and braking. So I can break later now, the balance of the car is different. I was happy before but when somebody like Ekstrom is going so quick every week – then you have to do something.”
Ekstrom:“It is a tough place to race, this track is very aggressive on the tires. But I have to say after two good heats we are just thinking in terms of how to stay in the top positions. For sure its nice to be in front – but of course there are good days and bad days – I think you should be humble and say that we have done a good job today.”
Bakkerud: “So far the performance of the car has been very nice. It’s good to be back in the top after the last heat. I’m really happy with the whole group coming back from Belgium. I was so pissed off in that last heat – I felt I was going so much quicker than Mattias. Kristoffersson was everywhere, so I tried to avoid him. And then Mattias got in front so we were fighting all the way to the finish line – then to see Petter waving to the crown at least 100m’s in front of me – I was like shit! But I was very happy.”
Round four got underway with some insightful practice sessions. Mattias Ekstrom looked to be back on the pace taking the first free session, whilst 2014 winner Bakkerud proved his pace by taking the fastest lap by the time the free sessions had finished.
Bakkerud chases Kristoffersson during Q2. © JKR/ERC24
Supercar Q1 races got under way with a three car race and VW Team Sweden driver Anton Marklund setting a very quick time, eventually finishing ahead of Janis Baumanis. A jump-start by local driver Liam Doran in Q1 R2 meant that the JRM driver was forced into two joker-laps and an already difficult start to day one. Solberg capitalised on this poor start, and despite a tussle with Nitiss was able to get ahead early to set the fastest time of Q1.
Perhaps the biggest action came in Q1 R4, with British driver Julian Godfrey being involved in a heavy flip leading into ‘Chessons drift’. Ekstrom was able to avoid any contact and set what was to be the second fastest time of Q2.
The final race of first qualifying saw Sebastien Loeb pushing early with a quick joker-lap. Loeb led, but then pulled aside due to technical failure. This left the door open for Andreas Bakkerud to battle for top spot with Kristoffersson. The former coming out on top. Heikkinen crossed the line behind the Swede Kristoffersson.
Bakkerud edges ahead, and finishes third after day one. © JKR/ERC24
A tightly fought second qualifying session saw much the same from the Norwegian Petter Solberg. The reigning champion took the final race from pole, managing to hold off closest challengers Mattias Ekstrom and Andreas Bakkerud.
Race three saw Niclas Gronholm turn into Nitiss in the rough section, with Timmy Hansen passing them both to find clean air and take the race win from Kevin Eriksson and the American Tanner Foust.
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