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Hell Euro RX: Petter Solberg leads after day one at home

Petter Solberg delighted his home fans by setting the fastest time in both for the first two heats of the Norwegian round of the European Rallycross Championship at Hell

Solberg did not make the best start in heat one, opting to take the joker at the first opportunity.

He returned to the main circuit in second position, from where he hunted down fellow Norwegian Alexander Hvaal until he too took his joker lap.

Heat two was more straightforward for Solberg, leading from lights to flag.

While Solberg was expected to do well, reigning Super1600 champion Andreas Bakkerud is also having a great event to hold second place behind his countryman overnight.

A brilliant start propelled Bakkerud to the first corner in front in race one, from where he left his competitors to take victory on track by a considerable margin, before finishing third in his heat two race behind Solberg and Timur Timerzyanov, who sits one place behind Bakkerud overnight in third.

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British driver Liam Doran has had good pace, winning both of his races on the road.

However, a missed joker-lap in heat one, and the 30-second penalty that it brings hampered help his cause.

"It was a big rookie mistake," he said. "I've got no excuses. We would have been third or fourth. I have done all I can for now in heat two, we will try again tomorrow."

Timmy Hansen had a race-long battle with local favourite Knut Ove Borseth in heat one that ultimately slowed the pair, before getting a puncture in heat two to compound his day, and lies 19th overnight, one place ahead of Henning Solberg, who has also picked up a puncture in heat two.

Former circuit racing star Tommy Rustad is making is return to driving a rallycross supercar this weekend, and lies fifth overnight, despite having to drive the last lap of heat two with collapsed front right suspension.

Heats three and four take place on Sunday morning, with the semi-finals and finals being following in the afternoon.

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