Solberg doubles up in World Rallycross

One event was the rallycross focus in the last seven days, the fourth round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill, where 2014 champion Petter Solberg (Citroen DS3) won his second event of the season.

Solberg had headed the order at the end of day one and despite a fuel pump problem on day two, qualified on pole for the first semi-final and was then unbeaten, earning another maximum points haul. Swede Mattias Ekstrom (Audi S1) made his Lydden Hill debut and finished second in a dramatic final. Joining Solberg on the front row, the pair split their strategies and took the joker on the first and last laps respectively, Solberg just coming out on top at the joker exit. Johan Kristoffersson (VW Polo) continued his impressive first full World RX season with third, having found out before morning warm up that he had become a father for the first time to a baby boy. Ford OlsbergsMSE pair Andreas Bakkerud (Ford Fiesta) and Reinis Nitiss (Ford Fiesta) again made it to the final, while Guy Wilks (Mini RX) shone on his World RX debut, making it to the final in the JRM Racing Mini. He picked up a puncture on the first lap and retired. British Touring Car Championship driver Andrew Jordan (Peugeot 208) made his World RX return at Lydden and set fastest time in the third heat. He made it to the semi-finals. Alx Danielsson (Audi S3) was having his best event of the season for Munnich Motorsport but rolled the car in Sunday morning warm up and was forced to withdraw.

Kevin Hansen won the RX Lites Cup, ahead of championship rival Kevin Eriksson and podium debutant Thomas Bryntesson. Fredrik Salsten (Citroen DS3) led for the duration of the TouringCar final to claim victory, ahead of Ben-Philip Gundersen (Ford Fiesta) and Camilla Antonsen (Ford Fiesta). The British Retro Rallycross Challenge displayed Group B cars in the paddock and ran demonstration races on track at Lydden. Rob Gibson (MG Metreo 6R4) won the final, while 1992 FIA European Rallycross Champion Will Gollop was given a passenger ride around Lydden Hill to wave to the crowds in a 6R4 formerly built by his G-Tech team.

The third round of the French Rallycross Championship takes place this weekend, where Herve Knapick and Alexander Theuil are expected to make their returns. Super1600 star Cyril Raymond will make his Supercar debut, racing a Peugeot 208 for the Pailler Competition team.

The opening round of the Global Rallycross Championship will be run at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where 12 cars will take to the start in the Supercar category. Reigning champion Joni Wiman (Ford Fiesta) will be joined by Sebastien Eriksson (Ford Fiesta) in the OlsbergsMSE squad while the Chip Ganassi and Bryan Herta teams will make their first appearances in the series.

[portfolio_slideshow]