Date: May 13–14
Track:
Circuit Jules Tacheny, 80 km southeast of Brussels in Wallonia
Track length:
1.031 km (Joker lap: 1.102 km)
Surface:
61% tarmac, 39% gravel
Turns:
6 left, 6 right
Top speed:
approx. 171 km/h
Lap record:
Johan Kristoffersson (S), 38.074s (2017)
Average speed:
approx. 97.48 km/h
Winner 2017:
Johan Kristoffersson (S), 4m 02.316s

The review
Mattias Ekström suffered a minor setback in round four of 2017 World RX. At Mettet in an all-Scandinavian final, the reigning world champion finished in position four but, for the first time this season, had to yield to the competition on podium.

Initially, events at the Circuit Jules Tacheny seemed to be a repetition of the most recent rounds. Ekström and his teammates, Toomas Heikkinen and Reinis Nitišs, were struggling to keep pace with the front runners in the first sessions. “Saturday was rough,” says Ekström, who after two of four qualifying rounds was only ranked in position seven. “Q3 and Q4 were highs and lows then – a really good result and a really bad one after we suffered suspension damage in Q4. That cost us a better grid position in the semi-final.” There, Ekström took position three and, as a result, qualified for the final of the top six drivers. “From the third row, I tried everything, but overtaking here is near-impossible. Fourth place was the best I could do.”

His teammate Heikkinen for the fourth time this season qualified for the semi-final where he fought a number of fierce position battles and was ultimately eliminated in sixth place. “This is not the result I was hoping for. I’ve won twice before in Belgium, but this weekend I was lacking that little bit of fortune you need in rallycross.” Nitišs was in a similar situation. In the third Audi S1 EKS RX quattro, he won two of his four qualifying rounds, but in position 13 barely missed the opportunity to compete in the semi-final. “Absolutely disappointing.”