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Montalegre World Rallycross: Bakkerud leads day one for Olsbergs

Norwegian Andreas Bakkerud heads the World Rallycross Championship field after the first day of competition at Montalegre in Portugal

The OlsbergsMSE Ford Fiesta driver was fastest in the first heat and second fastest in heat two to sit on top of the standings, ahead of Petter Solberg, who topped the second heat timesheets.

The pair had a close duel in their heat two encounter, Solberg initially winning the sprint to the first corner before Bakkerud snuck up the inside into Turn 1.

A lap later, Solberg returned the move on his compatriot to win the race and the heat.

Reigning champion Solberg was third fastest in heat one, just behind Bakkerud and Swede Timmy Hansen, who lies third overnight in the new Peugeot-Hansen 208.

Former World Rally driver PG Andersson is fourth overall, having won both of his heat races.

He was delayed in his first heat race by fellow Volkswagen Polo driver Johan Kristoffersson, who led but picked up a puncture.

Kristoffersson himself was third fastest in heat two and lies seventh overnight, behind new OMSE recruit Timur Timerzyanov and Marklund Motorsport driver Toomas Heikkinen.

Having been fastest in open practice, DTM racer Mattias Ekstrom was eighth quickest in heat one, and 10th in heat two after a close race with former WRC driver Manfred Stohl and Timerzyanov. He lies eighth overnight.

Ekstrom's new EKS team-mate Anton Marklund didn't have a good first day in his new squad, a roll in the joker lap in heat one was followed by first-lap retirement in heat two.

That left him only above Munnich Motorsport pairing Rene Munnich and Alx Danielsson in the standings - the Audi duo having had a torrid day one.

While Munnich missed heat one with mechanical issues, he was able to complete heat two.

Rallycross debutant Danielsson suffered left rear suspension failure in practice and wouldn't be seen again on track.

Reigning European champion Robin Larsson impressed in heat one with the fourth fastest time but spun at the first corner of his heat two race, demoting him to 15th in the intermediate classification.

Local driver Mario Barbosa makes his Supercar debut at Montalegre in the Citroen DS3 that Sebastien Loeb raced at Loheac in 2013.

He lies 14th after day one, just two places away from qualification to the semi-finals.

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