Hansen gains on Solberg with Rallycross win

Peugeot-Hansen driver Timmy Hansen claimed his third World Rallycross Championship win of the season at Istanbul Park in Turkey.

The Swede qualified second to compatriot Mattias Ekstrom following the heats. He then managed to win the second semi-final, despite losing the lead at the first corner to Reinis Nitiss and Robin Larsson, having to fight through the race with an exhaust leak and having a half spin while fighting for the lead with Johan Kristoffersson and Larsson.

Andreas Bakkerud beat Ekstrom to victory in the first semi-final and lined up next to Hansen on the front row of the final. Starting on the inside, Hansen made the best start and took the advantage into the first corner, followed by Bakkerud and Ekstrom.

At the circuit's second hairpin, Davy Jeanney -- who had scraped through to the final from semi-final two when Larsson spun amid last-lap contact -- and EKS teammates Anton Marklund and Ekstrom came together, with Ekstrom and Jeanney spinning while Marklund was forced to retire.

Up front, Bakkerud took his joker on the second lap while Hansen waited until the final opportunity. Although Bakkerud began to hunt down Hansen, the Peugeot driver had done enough to return to the main cpurse just ahead, using his circuit racing experience to cover his line and protect the lead.

Kristoffersson claimed another podium in third, while Ekstrom recovered to pass Jeanney claim fourth at the finish.

Championship leader Petter Solberg's difficult weekend continued in the semi-final stages. A driveshaft problem caused him to drop to the back of the pack from the start and he finished sixth, missing out on the final.

Hansen's win and a strong points haul cut Solberg's championship lead to 19 points with two rounds of the season to go.

FINAL RESULT - SIX LAPS:

Originally on Autosport.com