World Rallycross: Kristoffersson heads first day in Italy

Swede Johan Kristoffersson heads the order after two heats of round 10 of the World Rallycross Championship in Italy. The VW Polo driver was second fastest in heat one behind Timmy Hansen and fastest in heat two to be top ahead of Hansen, who was second fastest in heat two. Another Swede, Anton Marklund, sits in third position.

The drama of the day was left to championship leader Petter Solberg, who had an oil leak in heat one. His team worked hard to complete a repair in time for heat two, where Solberg was able to set the ninth best time, equaling his heat one time to lie seventh overnight. The team will change the engine tonight back to a previously used unit and will not incur any points penalties.

Solberg can still win the championship this weekend, but needs to finish eight points ahead of Toomas Heikkinen and nine ahead of Reinis Nitiss to secure the crown. Heikkinen and Nitiss are fifth and fourth, respectively, at the end of day one.

Former WRC star Gigi Galli made his rallycross debut at his home event in an OlsbergsMSE Ford Fiesta. Despite not having any real previous experience he is eighth overnight, ahead of reigning European Champion Timur Timerzyanov, fellow former WRC driver Henning Solberg and Solberg's team-mate Davy Jeanney.

Jacques Villeneuve, returning to World Rallycross after missing the previous two rounds in France and Germany, had a two-lap battle with Petter Solberg in heat one. Albatec Racing teammate Andy Scott passed the Canadian over the jump at the start of heat two, but Villeneuve was later slowed with a problem and is 27th. Scott lies 21st.

The EKSRX squad had a tough first day, both Pontus Tidemand and Edward Sandstrom suffering problems, the pair 23rd and 26th.

Nobody had a worse day than Andreas Bakkerud, however. He jumped the start in race one, forcing him to do two joker laps as a penalty, and also picked up a puncture in the restarted race. He won his heat two race, but was later excluded for exceeding the track limits.

Originally on Autosport.com