Mattias Ekström took victory at round nine of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Barcelona. By achieving the fourth win of the season, Ekström also regained the top spot in the World RX drivers’ standings.
With only three rounds remaining, the Swede is leading with ten points ahead of reigning champion Petter Solberg. EKS also increased its top spot in the teams’ standings, leading by 21 points over Team Peugeot Hansen now.
“What an incredible weekend. Barcelona RX was already one of my favourite events of the calendar, and now it is even more so. Not only because of the victory. This great bunch of guys did a superb job and we collected vital points for the standings. The fans went nuts at our place, during the signing sessions and also on the stands. To sum it up in one word: Jackpot! Tonight the team and me will celebrate flat out, but tomorrow I travel back home to my family. My son already told me that he is proud of me and is waiting to catch the big trophy.”
Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen celebrated an impressive recovery from his bad weekend in France. He was on his way to the fourth final of the season, but after a push by Andreas Bakkerud in his semi, he failed to book a spot in the last run of the weekend. “To be honest, I’m really, really disappointed at the moment. My Audi S1 EKS RX quattro was back in great shape and I had a good pace in the Qualifying runs. It would have been perfect to celebrate on the podium together with Mattias. Anyway, I will take a nip of champagne with the guys tonight and focus on the next round in Riga with the smile back on my face from tomorrow.”
Tomorrow EKS will travel back home nearly 2,800 kilometres to recharge batteries and give the cars a decent wash. The next stop will be a premiere in the calendar: Round ten of the FIA World Rallycross Championship will take place in Latvia, from 01–02 October.
What you should also know from Barcelona …
Audi Sport invited guests and members of the media from around the world to a special event in Barcelona. The visitors not only witnessed the victory clinched by Mattias at close range, but also test drove the Audi R8. In addition, they had the opportunity to sit in the passenger seats of Mattias and Topi to experience a lap in our 560-hp Audi S1 EKS RX quattro.
2016 World RX Rd 9, Barcelona – Result of Final
01 Mattias Ekström (S) 4m 55.251s
02 Timmy Hansen (S) +0.0821s
03 Timur Timerzyanov (RUS) +03.404s
04 Janis Baumanis (LV) +04.121s
05 Robin Larsson (S) +2 Laps
06 Johan Kristoffersson (S) EXC
2016 World RX Drivers’ standings (after 9 of 12 rounds)
01 Mattias Ekström (S) 204 Pts.
02 Petter Solberg (N) 194 Pts.
03 Johan Kristoffersson (S) 178 Pts.
04 Andreas Bakkerud (N) 170 Pts.
05 Sébastien Loeb (F) 154 Pts.
06 Timmy Hansen (S) 143 Pts.
07 Toomas Heikkinen (FIN) 114 Pts.
08 Robin Larsson (S) 85 Pts.
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