The first two rounds of Qualifying for the 2018 World RX of France have been completed today and the overnight leader board sees Johan Kristoffersson leading the way.
The PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver was fastest in Q1 and second fastest in Q2, however his pace was enough to stay ahead of second placed Mattias Ekstrom.
Ekstrom is Kristoffersson’s closest challenger after the first day in France. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
The EKS Audi Sport driver was fastest in Q2 to show that the team have introduced a step forward to challenge both Volkswagen and Peugeot this weekend.
Andreas Bakkerud has looked good on his promise to take another podium finish and lies in third place overnight after winning his Q1 race. Petter Solberg occupies fourth place with Timmy Hansen the fastest of the Team Peugeot Total drivers in fifth place ahead of team-mate Sebastien Loeb who completes the top six.
Loeb is in sixth place overnight with work to do on Sunday. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
Niclas Gronholm upholds his honour of being the fastest of the non works entries this year and lies in seventh place ahead of Kevin Eriksson in the OMSE Ford Fiesta, enjoying his best event since Norway.
Kevin Hansen holds eighth place in the third Team Peugeot Total entry having won his Q2 race.
Doran is inside the top ten in France on his return to World RX action. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
Liam Doran is back in World RX with a bang and is giving the British fans a great show. After racing hard with Kristoffersson in Q1, the British Bomb pushed had to keep the GC Kompetition Megane inside the top twelve places and he is rewarded with tenth place overall.
Team-mate Guerlain Chicherit is in eleventh place with Timur Timerzyanov holding the vital twelfth place overnight in the second GRX Taneco Hyundai i20.
Jordan has shown good pace so far in his second World RX event this season. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
The other British drivers have had an interesting day with Andrew Jordan down in fourteenth place after contact with Gregoire Demoustier in Q2 saw the MJP Racing Team Austria driver fall down from twelfth place.
Oli Bennett scored his first ever qualifying race win by taking victory in his Q2 race to stay in eighteenth position whilst Ollie O’Donovan lies in twenty-first place.
