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World RX - Solberg leads in Canada overnight

07.08.16
World RX - 2016 Rallycross of Canada - Day 1 Report
FIA, Motorsport, Mobility, Road Safety, F1, WRC, WEC, WTCC, World RX

Petter Solberg continued his Q1 form into Q2 at Trois-Rivieres to finish as Top Qualifier at the end of the first day in Canada. 

Second in the FIA World Rallycross Championship heading into the event, Solberg took inspiration from his son Oliver, who is racing in Norway this weekend. “It’s been a long wait to be back at the front on day one. I got big motivation from my son today; he called me at 5am when I was sleeping. He was driving in Norway and broke his gearbox, but they managed to fix it and he won both his races,” said Solberg. “Then I broke my gearbox, but we managed to win Q1. Timur is driving clean and nice, he will be fast tomorrow and Ekstrom is coming fast from behind.”

Russia’s Timur Timerzyanov was second fastest again in Q2, repeating his form from the Norwegian round of World RX in Hell, with Norway’s Andreas Bakkerud third at the end of day one.

France’s Sebastien Loeb was third quickest in Q2 and is fourth overall, with Sweden’s Johan Kristoffersson fifth and Topi Heikkinen sixth. Championship leader Mattias Ekstrom fought back from his Q1 puncture to win his race in Q2 and set fourth fastest time, he is seventh with Anton Marklund eighth, Kevin Eriksson ninth and Ken Block tenth. Latvia’s Janis Baumanis and Finland’s Niclas Gronholm round out the drivers currently inside the semi-final positions. Timmy Hansen retired from Q2 after breaking his suspension.