World RX: Heikkinen at the top after the first day

Perfect start for Audi and EKS in the FIA World Rallycross Championship season opener in Barcelona. Toomas Heikkinen leads after two of four qualifyings. The Finn coped best with the ever changing conditions around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and, at the wheel of his Audi S1 EKS RX quattro, set the best time in second qualifying of all the 21 starters. “On the whole we can be satisfied with the result, but there is still a long way to go,” said Heikkinen. “We still have room to improve and must work hard to be at the top of the podium on Sunday. Obviously this is our goal.” Defending Rallycross World Champion Mattias Ekström had to battle against heavy rain in his second race. At the end of the first day, the Swede lies eleventh on the overall standings, one place behind the third EKS driver Reinis Nitišs.