Sebastien Loeb enjoyed another successful weekend in the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship as he took third place overall at the 2017 World RX of Sweden.
The nine time FIA World Rally Champion started his weekend off well by going fastest in Q1 and finishing in second place overnight after the first days action. Loeb went on to finish behind the two PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden drivers after Qualifying to see himself into Semi-Final One with team-mate Timmy Hansen.
Loeb took his third podium finish of the season at Holjes. Credit: Paulo Maria / DPPI
Loeb kept his cool as he came home in second place behind pace-setter Johan Kristoffersson, meaning that he would secure a place in the Supercar Final. An early joker during the Final meant that the Team Peugeot-Hansen driver would pick off his rivals as he progressed back up the order to claim third place.
Loeb was happy with his weekend’s work.
“It was pretty good weekend on the whole where we have succeeded in closing the gap to Volkswagen, especially when grip is good. My car ran well and I found a good set-up which meant we were on the pace.”
“I won Q1 and was then second in my semi-final, which suggests we are progressing in the right direction. We just lack a little outright performance.”
Loeb took an early joker to secure his podium place at Holjes. Credit: Paulo Maria / DPPI
With Hansen coming home in fourth place, Team Principal Kenneth Hansen was happy to see the points gap grow to rivals EKSRX.
“It was another special weekend at Höljes where the atmosphere was really superb,” explained Hansen.
“We knew it would be close because the championship’s current leader is very fast, but we proved a real threat, as illustrated by Sébastien’s victory in the opening qualifying session.”
Sebastien Loeb in action at the 2017 World RX of Sweden. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
However Hansen also knows there is more to come from the Peugeot’s performance.
“We have improved our starts and we gave it our best shot, so there is every reason to feel pleased with the third and fourth places we scored in the final.”
“We would obviously have preferred to have won but we haven’t given up hope of notching up a victory very soon. The points scored by our two drivers have strengthened our hold on second place in the championship.”
