Track description: World RX of France, Lohéac (F)

Date: September 02–03
Track: Circuit de Lohéac, 30 km south of Rennes in Britanny
Track length: 1.070 km (Joker lap: 1.090 km)
Surface: 33% tarmac, 67% gravel
Turns: 2 left, 5 right
Top speed: approx. 163 km/h
Lap record: Sébastien Loeb (F), 36.095s (2017)
Average speed: approx. 106,72 km/h
Winner 2017: Johan Kristoffersson (S), 4m 08.408s

The review
Mattias Ekström is back on the road to success in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. At the ninth round in Lohéac, the reigning World Champion finished third – the first podium result since his victory in Hockenheim last May. In front of 75,000 spectators, the Swede was only beaten in the final by his countryman Johan Kristoffersson and local matador Sébastien Loeb.

Following heavy rain, the final race in Brittany became a mud festival featuring many overtaking moves. “Saturday sun and Sunday rather more swimming and sliding, a varied weekend,” confirmed Ekström. “I’m actually quite satisfied with my third place, but I’m a little annoyed because we weren’t so far from the front. In the dry and in the rain we were just missing a tiny bit, but we can certainly build on the performance.”

In Lohéac, Ekström’s team mates Reinis Nitišs and Toomas Heikkinen once again made the semi-final races for the twelve fastest drivers, but drew the short straw at this stage. “After contact with Andreas Bakkerud my wipers stopped working, from there on I was running blind,” summarized Nitišs and added: “I’m disappointed with the result because it doesn’t show our real performance.” Heikkinen missed the final after a collision with Ken Block. “I initially had problems with the pace, but at least made the semi-final, but after skating through the gravel bed that was it.”