Petter Solberg is leading the seventh round of the World Rallycross Championship in Canada. The Russian Timur Timerzyanov, Norwegian Andreas Bakkerud and Frenchman Sebastien Loeb make up the top four.

Petter Solberg is ahead in Canada after two qualification wins, and an overnight TQ classification. The Trois-Rivieres circuit saw the Norwegian take the Q1 win having won the fourth and final race of the first qualifying session. Solberg was pitted against Sebastien Loeb, Reinis Nitiss, Timmy Hansen and Niclas Gronholm. The Norwegian set the standard very high winning, and heading into Q2 with growing confidence having won in Trois-Rivieres in 2014.

Timur Timerzyanov has continued to impress for World RX Team Austria, driving smooth and very clean lap times. Second fastest in Q1 and again second fastest in Q2 ensured second fastest overall.

Former teammate Andreas Bakkerud continues to pile pressure on the championship leaders Solberg and Ekstrom. The Hoonigan Racing driver drove in third fastest in Q1 and fifth in Q2, but looked at home on the tough Trois-Rivieres street circuit.

Team Peugeot Hansen star Sebastien Loeb was third quickest in Q2 and lies fourth overall, fellow teammate Timmy Hansen drove in tenth fastest in Q1, and his luck turned from bad to worse in Q2 after he was forced to retired from Q2 after breaking his suspension.

The current Championship leader Mattias Ekstrom fought back with traditional ‘Ekstrom-style’ determination. Hampered by a puncture in Q1, he returned to win his race in Q2 and set fourth fastest time.

Consistency has so proved key in Canada, with the tight circuit allowing no room for error, with very few passing opportunities. The event remains delicately poised as we head into Sunday’s two final rounds of qualifying and finals.

The World RX drivers during Friday night’s parade on the local streets in Trois-Rivières. © JKR/ERC24