Ekström disqualified from win in Barcelona, victory for Kristoffersson

Johan Kristoffersson (PSRX Volkswagen Sweden) has won the Catalunya RX at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the opening round of the 2018 World Rallycross Championship. Mattias Ekström was the provisional winner of the event but he was disqualified because of the Turn 1 incident in the final race in which Petter Solberg lost a chance to fight for the victory.

Sebastien Loeb (Team Peugeot Total) took the second place after Ekström’s disqualification, Andreas Bakkerud (EKS Audi Sport) completed a podium. Niclas Gronholm (GRX Taneco) was fourth.

Mattias Ekström has been stripped off from the victory

Prior to the final race, Ekström and Solberg took Semi final victories, securing places in the front row for the final start of the weekend. Solberg was the most successful driver after four qualifying heats, winning two times and finishing second in two qualifying rounds.

It’s interesting that Sebastien Loeb was just 13th in the Intermediate standings after qualifying but he proceeds to the Semi final after Kevin Hansen’s withdrawal.

Seventeen drivers participated in the opening round of the 2018 World RX season. It was also the first round of the European Rallycross Championship in which Reiniss Nitiss took the victory. The next event is the World RX of Portugal at Montalegre, scheduled for April 28-29.