The 2018 World RX of Canada has held true to form as the game changing weekend of the 2018 FIA World Rallycross Championship with Sebastien Loeb leading the overnight standings.
The Team Peugeot Total driver was fastest in both of his Q1 and Q2 races to take the lead and his closest pursuer is another World RX driver in need of a good weekend: Mattias Ekstrom. The EKS Audi Sport driver was second fastest in the first two sessions and the testing in the summer break looks to have paid off.
Ekstrom lies in second place overnight and is best placed to challenge Loeb so far in Canada. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
Petter Solberg was third fastest overall and the fastest PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver so far whilst Timmy Hansen and Kevin Hansen complete the top five in the remaining Team Peugeot Total entries.
Niclas Gronholm is once again taking the fight to the works teams and lies in sixth place overnight in the GRX Taneco Hyundai whilst Andreas Bakkerud is seventh overall. The EKS Audi Sport driver was involved in some contact in Q1 with Johan Kristoffersson which slowed his time.
Gronholm is in Giant killing form in Canada and looking good for a Semi-Final place. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
Kevin Eriksson again showed the impressive pace of the OMSE Ford Fiesta after a careful joker strategy in Q1 helped the Swedish driver to take eigtht place whilst Championship leader Kristoffersson is down in ninth place. Janis Baumanis in the STARD Racing Ford Fiesta completes the top ten.
Robin Larsson and Timur Timerzyanov complete the top twelve, however the Russian driver suffered from several instances of contact with more pace to come from the Hyundai on Sunday with Q3 and Q4 to take place.
Larsson is on the cusp of the top twelve in Canada and will be aiming for the Semi-Finals. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
With the fifteen car entry in Canada meaning that the Semi-Final places are all the more important, the two GC Kompetition Renault Megane drivers of Jerome Grosset-Janin and Guerlain Chicherit will be hoping for a better Sunday. Gregoire Demoustier completes the fifteen drivers in the Sebastien Loeb Racing Peugeot.
