EKS Audi Sport prepare for a challenging weekend in Latvia

PHOTO CREDIT: EKS Audi Sport

EKS Audi Sport heads to round nine of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Latvia’s capital city of Riga, Andreas Bakkerud and Mattias Ekström will be supported by DTM star Nico Müller at the wheel of a third Audi S1 EKS RX quattro.

In 2017, Müller a rookie, qualified for the final in his second ever appearance in World RX. “In view of the guys competing there, repeating this will be anything but easy,” says Müller “But, obviously, I’ll give my best and am extremely excited about the event.”

Müller’s Audi S1 EKS RX quattro will sport the pink livery of BWT.

Mattias Ekström and Andreas Bakkerud will be on the grid sporting Red Bull’s colors as usual. In the previous World RX rounds at Riga, both drivers also made it into the finals. Ekström has finished runner-up twice to date and Bakkerud placed fourth on two occasions.

“Riga is one of the best organized events of the year,” says Ekström. “The track is fantastic to race on. I particularly like the big jump and the following hairpin turn – that’s where the stress level for us drivers is especially high. The only negative is that the weather in Riga can be really bad …”

Andreas Bakkerud is traveling to Riga with mixed feelings. “This is definitely one of the most exciting races of the year,” says  Bakkerud. “It’s cool that the track is so close to the center of the city and the fans from Riga are so enthusiastic. However, for me, personally, this race is the biggest challenge of the year. The track, which is really tricky, suited me neither in testing nor in the previous years."

"A participation in the final would already be like a small victory for me. As we’re battling for second place in the World Championship, this is a very important race.”