World RX - Canada: Heartbreaking victory for Timmy Hansen

Timmy Hansen (Team Peugeot-Hansen) scores his first victory of the season today at Circuit Trois-Rivieres in Quebec, in the seventh round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. Hansen became the winner of the Canada RX in the exciting final race which he started from the back of the six-car grid. He was not even among finalists after the Semifinals finished, but Timur Timerzyanov was excluded and that opened the place for Timmy.

Petter Solberg (Citroen DS3), who had first starting position, dropped to the back of the field during the opening lap. Andreas Bakkerud (Hoonigan Ford Focus) was in the lead until the penultimate lap, when he lost the victory at the exit from the Joker lap. Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Polo) finished third, ahead of Toomas Heikkinen (EKS Audi S1).

Petter Solberg took fifth place at the end, leaving only Anton Marklund (Volkswagen Polo) behind. Marklund crashed into Solberg’s car after crossing the finish line. Both cars were badly damaged and Solberg was taken to hospital for precautionary checks due to back pain.

Petter Solberg took the lead in the championship standings

Solberg was dominant in the qualifying

In five runs before final Petter Solberg won four times, including three wins in the qualifying heats and victory in the Semifinal 1. In the first SF group, Solberg dominantly took the win, ahead of two Volkswagen drivers Johan Kristoffersson and Anton Marklund. Sebastien Loeb was fourth in the first Semifinal group. Ken Block, who had a chance to pass into the finals, broke the suspension on he last lap and stopped. The last in the SF1 was Nicklas Gronholm, who also stopped with broken suspension.

In the Semifinal 2, Mattias Ekstrom was in the lead after the opening lap but puncture slowed him down and he lost any chance to fight for the finals. Andreas Bakkerud took the lead and remained in front until Lap 6, to secure SF2 victory and front row start in the Final. Timur Timerzyanov and Toomas Heikkinen finished second and third, but the Russian driver was penalized after the race, so Timmy Hansen was promoted to the finals.

Check the full results of the Canada RX event

Petter Solberg is the new championship leader after Canadian round. He has 161 points, four more than Ekstrom. Bakkerud (132 points) is third, just three points ahead of Kristoffersson. Peugeot drivers Loeb and Hansen are fifth and sixth.

Video : Canada RX Supercar Final Highlights

Photo: fiaworldrallycross.com