The world champion on rally-cross the last year and this season's leader Petter Solberg once again faced with a problem — on the Turkish stage World RX Norway failed to reach the final. Now his lead in the standings was reduced to dangerous.
It — Well, he overcame a difficult period, coped with the fate of the villain-and ready for new challenges. But there it was — a victory in Spain was only a temporary respite. Turkish stage fortune again turned away from Solberg.
At the beginning of the season Petter won two stages of the four starting — the result is not one hundred percent, but it is quite successful. But then something went wrong. After the victory in the end of May at the stage of the legendary Liddy Hill next success Solberg fans had to wait four long months! And just all happy for the Norwegian as he once again in trouble.
From the beginning stage in Turkish for Petter Solberg, as they say, is not specified. The third time in the first session of qualifying races, the fourth — in the second, the tenth — in the third and the second — in the fourth. Call it a failure is impossible, but «hits» without a single victory — it is not the level of the current World Champion and series leader.
However, the Norwegian went into semi-finals, where he took his seat in the second row of the grid of the first semifinal of arrival. Turns off red light, start and... Citroen DS3 World Championship leader slowly and sadly went into battle. What happened?
This time Petter summed own technique. Initial spurt led to the breakdown of one of the drive and all-wheel drive car of the time was «nedoprivodnym.» In this embodiment, to talk about a fight was impossible. Solberg got to finish the race at the last place, losing 35 seconds to the winner — by the standards of the abyss rallycross.
And as luck would — from Petter Solberg case to hell, and his main rival in the fight for the world title in rally-cross 2015 Timmy Hansen's all wonderful! Swede spent the whole weekend in the leading group, won a victory in the preliminary races, won his semi-final and in the final did not leave opponents no chance on something to prevent him win a third victory of the season. By the way, this indicator Timmy is now on par with Petter!
However, despite the great pace, which shows Hansen in the second half of the season, his victory in Turkey was still a surprise. Why is that? Yes, because it waited another Swede — Mattias Ekström.
Combining performances in the World Championship in rally-cross with a ring in the racing series Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) Matthias went to the success of the course of the Turkish stage — this is testified confidently won three qualifying session «hits.» Second place in the first semifinal race no one regarded as the alarm bell — well, think Andreas Bakkerud better start, took the lead and went into the lead, taking advantage of the fact that Mattias Ekström over the entire arrival «pecking» Timur Timerzyanov and Tord Linnerud not allowed Swede a fight to the leader. Home — Ekström finished in the top three, and then passed to the final.
In addition to the two favorites Hansen and Ekström in the final round broke their teammate Davi Jeanne (Peugeot-Hansen) and Anton Marklund (EKS RX), the winner of the first semifinal Bakkerud Andreas and Johan Kristofferson.
Beyond the finals proved to Reinis Nitishs Rene Munnich, Timur Timerzyanov, Tord Linnerud, Petter Solberg and Robin Larsson.
Any of the drivers did not get into the final, of course, was not happy this fact. But it was all the more offensive last — Robin Larsson did everything right. Not enough stars in the sky strong middle peasant in the first semifinal jumped higher than his head — after Reinis Nitishsom he was ahead at the start of one of the main contenders for victory Mattias Ekström and sped forward. Then Nitishs suddenly dropped the pace and Larsson came in first place.
On the last lap, Robin stopped at the «joker» and after leaving it turned out the board in the board with Timmy Hansen — it was a battle for the first or second place. It would seem, why fight for the victory in the semifinals, after the final pass three riders of the five? But why Larsson decided to attack — aggressive, tough as the last time.
First, it has led to the fact that both of them beat Johan Kristofferson and the distance of the attack approached Jeanne Davie. Then he has counterattacked Johan Hansen, but it launched, it hit Larsson and Jeanne...
The result of all this commotion began to turn and stop the unfortunate Robin Larsson. He managed to continue the race, but it's been the last lap to overtake rivals, and he certainly could not and did not pass to the finals.
Once again, the final race lost by intrigue and intensity of struggle semifinal heats. In fact, everything was decided on the first lap, when before to leave the «joker» Mattias Ekström and Davie Jeanne was suddenly slowed down Anton Marklund. Swede and a Frenchman went from a collision at the cost of time — lost two chances not only to win but to get into the «top three.»
Left forward Timmy Hansen, Andreas Bakkerud and Johan Kristofferson in the order passed by the final race start to finish without any struggle.
And the culprit is the failure of Extrema — his own comrade in arms Anton Marklund — quietly came down at the end of the first lap, parked his Audi at the side of the road...
