Abbring claims first ever podium in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

PHOTO CREDIT: Kevin Abbring/UNKORRUPTED

Flying Dutchman Kevin Abbring claimed his and the teams' first-ever podium at round two of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Höljes. 

After showing a glimpse of speed in the first round of the championship last time out at Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona, Abbring had a very good start to the weekend finishing second in the practice sessions.  

Following a good start to the weekend in Q1, the 32-year-old was turned into the barrier by Enzo Ide on the inside line of the joker. He was able to restart the car and then proceeded to put the fastest lap times (42.897s) on the clock as he caught up to the pack, finishing in 4th with the 8th fastest time in the first qualifier.

Q2 saw Abbring avoid contact into the first corner slotting into third-place but lost time in traffic following the joker which saw him cross the line fourth. Placed eighth overnight, he admitted that there was more pace to come on the following day. 

PHOTO CREDIT: UNKORRUPTED.

A day later, Abbring posted the fastest time in the morning warm-up. Q3 saw the UNKORRUPTED driver get a good start slotting into second in the first corner, from there he jokered straight away. Having battled into the lead, he took the chequered flag to win the qualifier (heat), with another fastest lap time as well as the fastest time of the qualifier moving up in the standings to third overall.

On pole for Q4, Kevin took another first lap joker coming out in 4th. His pace allowed him to chase down the pack over the remaining laps, claiming two positions to cross the finish line in second, securing a spot on the first row of the semi-final.

Having started the final race from the second row of the grid, Abbring pushed ahead into the second before diving into the joker coming out in fifth. He used his pace to his advantage quickly chasing down those ahead (Rytkonen and Szabo). After a few laps, Kevin was right behind Rytkonen and Szabo quickly gaining positions when they took the joker lap, bagging his and UNKORRUPTED's first-ever rallycross podium. 

"I’m super pleased with this result - the team has been working so hard, it’s great to see us convert on the track and end up on the podium, really proud of everyone," Abbring said. "We started off the season showing promising pace and here in Holjes, kicked it up a notch again."

"We put down leading times in both the semi and the final, which gives the whole team such a boost ahead of the upcoming event in France. I absolutely loved this spectacular track here in Sweden, and it was great to race in front of fans to take my first podium in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. Now onto France, where I'm hoping for even better results."

Kevin Abbring leaves Sweden fourth in the championship standings on 37 points.