Monday 2 July 2018

Andreas Bakkerud claims fifth podium in succession at Höljes

PHOTO CREDIT: Audi Sport
EKS Audi Sport driver Andreas Bakkerud clinched second place on a "Magic Weekend" in Höljes, Sweden. Bakkerud has also moved into second position in the FIA World Rallycross Championship drivers' standings with the podium finish in Sweden. 

After a strong home round for EKS Audi Sport, the team moved into second position in the teams' standings ahead of Team Peugeot Total. 
“It was a fantastic weekend with gripping races and a fantastic final in front of my large number of Bakkerud-Blue fans,” said Bakkerud. “Thank you to EKS Audi Sport that gave me such a good car. I’m proud of this result.”

Bakkerud was in fourth place after the qualification races. Following a victory in the semi-finals, he started from the front row in the final. Right from the start the Norwegian was following the subsequent winner, Johan Kristoffersson. The position was briefly in jeopardy on the final lap when Bakkerud did his “Joker Lap” and dropped behind the Peugeot of Timmy Hansen. However, Bakkerud immediately reclaimed the lost spot.
Andreas Bakkerud celebrating with his Bakkerud Blue fans.
PHOTO CREDIT: Audi Sport 

The duel between Bakkerud and Hansen indirectly meant trouble for Mattias Ekström who was immediately behind these two and overtook the Peugeot shortly before the finish. There was contact between Ekström and Hansen which meant the end of Hansen’s race. Consequently, Ekström was handed a penalty demoting him from third to sixth place.

“In the qualifying races, we were unlucky with our grid positions,” said Ekström. “This slowed us down somewhat throughout the weekend. We were also lacking speed. In the final, my car was the fastest, but from fifth on the grid it’s difficult to move forward. The last lap was a real challenge. Andreas was directly in front of me when Timmy apparently had a problem. I tried to overtake him as well. Our tires touched, but I managed to stay on track. Still, the weekend was okay. Andreas did a great job with second place and we’ll continue to fight.”

EKS Audi Sport are second in the teams' standings with 239 points (45 points points behind the leaders.) Andreas Bakkerud and Mattias Ekström are second and sixth in the drivers' championship standings. 

The first half of the World RX championship has drawn to a close, and the second half will get underway on August 4/5 at Trois-Rivières in Canada. 

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