Podium result in RX final

In the thrilling final of the 2018 World Rallycross Championship in Cape Town, a podium finish for EKS Audi Sport’s Mattias Ekström, has clinched the runner up position in the Drivers’ standings.

His teammate, Andreas Bakkerud, was knocked out of the final after an accident, but his points tally throughout the year was still enough to see him clinch third place in the drivers’ title and in doing so completed the double podium for EKS Audi Sport in the World Championship.

In the final race of the event, Ekström started from the back row, but still managed to fight his way through the pack to finish the race in second position. It was a demonstration of exciting driving that showed again why the Swede is one of the best in the world. During his stirring drive he overtook nine-time Rally World Champion Sébastien Loeb in a Peugeot on the opening lap. Shortly after, he also caught and passed two-time Rallycross World Champion in a Volkswagen.

His result this year brings his tally from the last three seasons to World Champion in 2016 and runner-up both last year and again in 2018.

“We actually came to Cape Town to win the race,” said Ekström. “We were fast throughout the entire weekend, but somehow didn’t get into the right rhythm. In the finale things finally fell into place. Second is a fantastic result and a good end to a long season, in which Johan (Kristoffersson) was always a small step ahead. Even so, I’m extremely proud of the entire team: We extracted the maximum from our resources. It was also a fabulous year with Andreas (Bakkerud). We had a lot of fun together and have something to celebrate this evening.”

However, in the Swedish team, which had previously secured second place in the teams’ classification, it was not only tears of joy that flowed after the emotional end to the season. “That was probably the last race for EKS Audi Sport as a factory-supported team in the World Rallycross Championship,” said Mattias Ekström. “After five amazing years it’s a very emotional moment for all of us. But I think we concluded this fantastic chapter with style today.”  

Drivers’ standings FIA World Rallycross Championship 2018 (final standings after 12 races)

1 Johan Kristoffersson (S) Volkswagen 341 points

2 Mattias Ekström (S) Audi 248 points

3 Andreas Bakkerud (N) Audi 237 points

4 Sébastien Loeb (F) Peugeot 229 points

5 Petter Solberg (N) Volkswagen 227 points

Team standings FIA World Rallycross Championship 2018 (final standings after 12 races)

1 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden 568 points

2 EKS Audi Sport 485 points

3 Team Peugeot Total 421 points