Johan Kristoffersson takes Top Qualifier in Finland after a clean sweep in qualifying.
Round three of the 2020 FIA World Rallycross Championship takes place in Kouvola, Finland, the first time the event has been held in six years. It is the second weekend with a double-header.
Kristoffersson recorded the fastest times across the three qualifying sessions to take the TQ going into today’s semi-finals.
Here’s what happened across the three sessions.
Qualifying 1
The first of the four races saw the defending champion, Timmy Hansen taking the win after passing Niclas Gronholm who had made a mistake. Gronholm would hold onto second from Kevin Hansen and Jere Kalliokoski.
An uneventful second race meant that Mattias Ekstrom put in a quick time to take the race win ahead of Andreas Bakkerud and Liam Doran and Timur Timerzyanov. Whilst Rene Munnich retired from the race.
Kristoffersson recorded the fastest time of the session in race three. Timo Scheider held onto second from Robin Larsson. Guerlain Chicherit was fourth ahead of Atro Maatta who had picked up damage on the front of his car.
Race four saw Juha Rytkonen take the win from the outside of the grid and recording the fourth fastest time of the session. Anton Marklaund was second in the race ahead of Kevin Abbring, replacing Rokas Baciuska in the Unkorrupted Clio, and Jani Paasonen and Tamas Karai.
At the end of the session Kristoffersson was fastest ahead of Ekstrom, Timmy Hansen, Rytkonen, Gronholm and Bakekrud.
Qualifying 2
It was fastest first in the second round of qualifying on a freshly watered track.
Kristoffersson took the win in race one ahead of Ekstrom, Timmy Hansen, Gronholm and Rytkonen.
A chaotic start to race two saw Bakkerud who was slow off the line take the lead, going on to win the race ahead of Scheider. Kevin Hansen was third ahead of Larsson. Doran retired from the race after picking up damage from nudging the barrier avoiding Hansen after the jump.
Race three saw Paasonen send it round the outside at turn one. Marklund was stuck behind Paasonen in the opening laps, slowing his time, but would take the win. Timerzyanov was second ahead of Paasonen, Kalliokoski and Abbring.
Karai took the win in race four ahead of Chicherit, Munnich and Maatta.
Kristoffersson was fastest in the session. Ekstrom was second ahead of Bakkerud, Timmy Hansen, Gronholm and Rytkonen.
Qualifying 3
In reverse order, Doran sent it round the outside of turn one, on the cusp of the semi-finals, he needed a good time to secure his place. Contact on his rear right saw him retire from the race immediately. Kalliokoski took the win from Maatta, with Abbring also retiring from the race on the opening lap.
There was contact between Timerzyanov and Karai at turn one but Timerzyanov took the lead and the race win. Karai finished second ahead of Chicherit, Munnich and Paasonen.
Larsson also went round the outside, this time paying off, but there was contact with Scheider, who picked up damage. Larsson took the win ahead of Kevin Hansen and Rytkonen. Marklund also picked up a problem, he and Scheider nursed the cars home to complete the race.
Kristoffersson once again took the lead of the race at turn one and went on to win with the sessions fastest time. Ekstrom was nudged at turn one which saw him drop to the back. Timmy Hansen finished the race second ahead on Gronholm who picked up a puncture on the last lap. Ekstrom was fourth getting the jump on Bakkerud through the joker laps.
Behind Kristoffersson in the session standings was Larsson and Kevin Hansen.
Joining Kristoffersson in semi-final one is Timmy Hansen, Gronholm, Bakkerud, Timerzyanov and Marklund. Semi-final two will see Ekstrom, Rytkonen, Larsson, Kevin Hansen, Scheider and Kalliokoski.
Feature image credit: FIAWorldRallycross.com
