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| Petter Solberg flies over the jump in Qualifying on Sunday. Image Copyright: FIA World Rallycross |
On Saturday, the World RX drivers struggled in torrential down powers. But Petter aimed to survive throughout each qualifying session, but ended the day in the lead (and fastest of all). The sun arrived for Sunday and the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden drivers made the most of it, locking out the front row of the first semi-final. From pole, Petter drove the perfect race, twice posting a new fastest lap. Johan lost out at the first corner, but recovered to power past Andreas Bakkerud with a stunning joker lap.
Petter Solberg – made his 50th World RX start in Barcelona and was the fastest man throughout the weekend, but a collision at the first corner of the final left Solberg in the tyres and at the back of the pack once he had made it back on track.
The race director initiated an investigation into the incident and Mattias Ekström was subsequently disqualified.
With Johan taking maximum points from the final and Petter bringing his car home fifth, the pair gave the team plenty to excited about as they topped by the drivers’ and teams’ standings after the first of the season’s 12 rounds.
"It was a hard fight and a tough weekend, one with lots of hits. Starting out with the new car in those conditions [on Saturday] was quite tricky, the grip was so low across the whole lap. Like Petter said, it was a day to survive and having both the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polos in the top three was a good sign of the work the team has done through the winter", Kristoffersson said. "The semi-final went well and gave us a great result and a good position for the final. I’m sorry for what happened to Petter in that first corner. It’s been a tough weekend, but we come away with the points and that’s what counts at the end of the season."
Petter Solberg starting in pole position for the FINALS in his PSRX Volkswagen Sweden #11 was the quickest driver over the two days of racing. "What can I say? I am very sad for what happened in the final. Until that last race, everything was perfect for me. I’d had the perfect weekend", said Solberg. "What I am happy with is the way the team worked this weekend and the way the mechanics and all of the guys have come together to make this car so good. Johan gave us a great result, so I’m happy for him. Hey, we are one-two in the championship and leading the teams’ as well. We take our speed and we move on from here."
Source: PSRX Volkswagen Sweden
Image Copyright: FIA World Rallycross
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