Timmy Hansen is leading after the first day of the ninth round of the WRX at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Ekstrom and Bakkerud finish second and third fastest. In the Euro RX Kevin Hansen continues his dominance.

Peugeot-Hansen driver Timmy Hansen took first and second fastest in Qs 1 and 2 at the ninth round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Barcelona to end the first day as the top classified driver.

As the title challenge continues to hot up, it’s Mattias Ekstrom who has drawn first blood. The Swede gains the overnight advantage on rival Solberg, having finished second after day one. But it was something of a comeback performance for the Swede. Following his sixth place finish in Q1, Ekstrom bounced back set the fastest time in Q2.

Elsewhere, the Norwegian Hoonigan driver Andreas Bakkerud continues to challenge the top two, having finished building on a second fastest racetime in the days first qualifying session. Bakkerud sits third overall. Reigning champion Petter Solberg lies in fourth position, and will remain very confident heading into day two. So will the Frenchman Sebastien Loeb. Loeb was classified as fifth fastest, buoyed with confidence following his last round podium finish in Loheac. EKS driver Toomas Heikkinen finished sixth.

In the Euro RX, Kevin Hansen continues to dominate. Hansen set the fastest times in Q1 and Q2 – and leads overnight from Fredrik Salsten and Tord Linnerud. Hungarian Tamás Pál Kiss and Alexander Hvaal make up the top five.

Reigning ERX champion Tommy Rustad flipping out of his Q2 race. © JKR/ERC24

Day two will hold the remaining qualifying heats, semi-finals and finals.