Niclas Grönholm set two fastest Supercar qualifying times at the RallyX Nordic Magic Weekend on Saturday afternoon to lead going into Sunday.
The GRX Taneco driver, son of double FIA World Rally champion Marcus, survived a hard hit in Q1 from Linus Westman to take a pair of fastest times. Westman would later be disqualified from Q1 as a result.
Grönholm nearest challenger was round one winner Robin Larsson, but the defending RallyX Nordic champion had to settle for two second places with two-time World Rallycross champion Johann Kristoffersson sitting third overnight, after a poor Q2 run.
2017 RallyX Nordic champion Thomas Bryntesson had to settle for a fourth place, although the Swede set a pair of impressive heat times. He’s ahead of Lukas Walfridson and Oliver Eriksson who round out the top six – Ericksson surviving a turn two scare in Q1 to make into Sunday.
Westman again was in trouble in Q2 after doing almost having excatly the same collison as in Q1, this time with Ben-Philip Gundersen, where again he was disqualifued as a result. Fraser McConnell is seventh, in his debut in a RX Supercar.
In the Supercar Lites category, Jesse Kallio returned after suffering a broken gear lever on Thursday to top the standings after a pair of fastest times.
Linus Östlund, a familiar name to Höljes and #YellowSquad’s new signing Henrik Krogstad completed the top three. Thursday’s season-opener winner Simon Olofsson sits fourth while Olsbergs MSE’s new driver Martin Enlund is fifth in the standings.
TCF Off Road RX Cup competitor Niklas Aneklev set a stunning Q1 time to put him in contention near the front of the field but would them spin in Q2 dropping him down the leaderboard.
The CrossCar/Crosskart class meanwhile sees Patrik Hallberg leading going into Sunday after round one winner Oskar Andersson had to retire in Q1 after a vehicle fire. Hyundai rally regular Thierry Neuville, making a one off appearance this weekend, suffered an engine failure although is expected to compete on Sunday in the class.
Alex Gustafsson continued his Crosskart Junior domination after taking the win on Thursday with a pair of fastest qualifying times.
The Magic Weekend continues on Sunday with the conclusion of the second round of the RallyX Nordic series, with the Legends class set to compete afterwards.
