Andreas Bakkerud is leading after the first day of the fifth round of the WRX in Norway. Bakkerud stays top overnight in Hell with TQ classification.
Home driver Andreas Bakkerud is leading in Norway after two exceptional qualification performances. The young Hoonigan Racing Division driver was nearly a second faster than closest competitor Timur Timerzyanov in Q2 – and fastest time of the day.
The Russian World RX Team Austria driver had shown the quickest WRX pace in both Friday’s and this morning’s practice sessions. But with huge home support on his side, Andreas ‘Baby-Blue’ Bakkerud went out in Q1 to secure the fastest time.
World RX drivers during day one qualification in Hell. © JKR/ERC24
WRX Q1:
1. Andreas BAKKERUD
2. Timmy HANSEN
3. Timur TIMERZYANOV
4. Petter SOLBERG
5. Mattias EKSTRÖM
In Q2, it was Bakkerud who once again took the lead at the start of his race, and led throughout to set fastest time of Q2, and second of the day. “It’s the perfect way to end day one with a new P1 in Q2!! To be the overnight leader in Hell is amazing!”
Timerzyanov continued his fine pace in Q2, gaining second fastest to secure second fastest overall, following on from third fastest in Q1.
So far, Petter Solberg lies in fifth with Lydden Hill winner and WRX championship leader Mattias Ekstrom seventh. Perhaps the biggest action of the day came in Q2, with British JRM Racing driver Liam Doran rolling his Mini off the Lankebanen start-line into turn one.
Liam Doran on the brink of a big roll, as Ken Block twitches to cause domino effect into turn one. © JKR/ERC24
Doran experiencing the Hell ‘underworld’ mid-roll. © JKR/ERC24
Anton Marklund was another driver ‘under-fire’ in Hell. The Swede’s VW Polo bursting into flames following his race retirement in Q1. “I was on fire this morning with great pace in practice, unfortunately my car decided to have a small BBQ in Q1 and in Q2 I suffered with technical issues related to the fire. 12 points to reach the semis is a lot but I’ll do my best!”
Marklund under-fire. The Swede’s VW Polo on fire following Q1 race retirement. © JKR/ERC24
WRX Q2:
1. Andreas BAKKERUD
2. Timur TIMERZYANOV
3. Sébastien LOEB
4. Timmy HANSEN
5. Janis BAUMANIS