Barcelona World Rallycross: Solberg leads into semis, Loeb out
Petter Solberg completed qualifying for the World Rallycross Championship season-opener at Barcelona on top, as his fellow World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb had very different fortunes
Solberg continued his Saturday form into the final day by setting the fastest time in Q3.
Track conditions improved throughout under baking sunshine, meaning Solberg's winning time from the final heat was 10.621 seconds up on the previous best time set by Niclas Gronholm in the third race.
Solberg then led the final race of Q4 before narrowly missing out on victory to Timmy Hansen's superior joker-lap strategy, with second-fastest time giving the PSRX Volkswagen driver top spot overall heading into the semi-finals.
For the second year in succession at Barcelona, Loeb's difficult opening day continued into Q3 on day two.
Loeb was beaten to Turn 1 in his Q3 race by Kevin Eriksson, who then ran wide at Turn 2. As Loeb tried to repass on the inside, his Peugeot's left-rear wheel made contact with Eriksson's OlsbergsMSE Ford - breaking the suspension and putting him out.
The pair met again in the first race of Q4 but despite finishing first and second on track, and eighth and 10th in the overall Q4 times, neither made the semi-final cut in 13th and 14th in the combined rankings from all qualifying heats.
Reigning champion Johan Kristoffersson and Andreas Bakkerud came together in both the Q3 and Q4 races on Sunday morning - with Hansen and Solberg also caught up in the latter incident but escaping unscathed.
Kristoffersson still ended qualifying third overall behind team-mate Solberg and Hansen.
Audi driver Mattias Ekstrom finished second to a rejuvenated Gronholm in their Q3 race, with Gronholm ending qualifying sixth overall on the debut for his father Marcus's GRX team's WRC-derived Hyundai i20 Supercar.
Ekstrom and new EKS team-mate Bakkerud were fourth and fifth in the Intermediate standings ahead of Gronholm.
On the debut of the GCK team's Prodrive-built Renault Megane RS RX, both Jerome Grosset-Janin and Guerlain Chicherit made it into the semi-finals in 10th and 11th.
SPEEDMACHINE - The British round of the WRX comes to Silverstone on May 25-27. To book your tickets visit www.speedmachine.com. For a limited time only get discounts on adult tickets using the codes SMW10 for weekends, SSMSAT10 for Saturday and SMSUN for Sunday
World RX Spain: PSRX driver Solberg heads the order on first day
World RX Spain: Kristoffersson wins, Ekstrom out for Solberg crash
WRX Portugal: Gronholm claims second victory of 2021
WRX Portugal: Gronholm claims second victory of 2021 WRX Portugal: Gronholm claims second victory of 2021
Portugal WRX: Hansen leads Gronholm after Saturday's running
Portugal WRX: Hansen leads Gronholm after Saturday's running Portugal WRX: Hansen leads Gronholm after Saturday's running
The addictive experience of racing a rallycross Supercar
The addictive experience of racing a rallycross Supercar The addictive experience of racing a rallycross Supercar
Loeb: "No plan at the moment" for WRC return in 2023
Loeb: "No plan at the moment" for WRC return in 2023 Loeb: "No plan at the moment" for WRC return in 2023
How a WRC legend is still making people sit up and take notice
How a WRC legend is still making people sit up and take notice How a WRC legend is still making people sit up and take notice
Why Loeb v Ogier duel gave the WRC's new hybrid era the ideal start
Why Loeb v Ogier duel gave the WRC's new hybrid era the ideal start Why Loeb v Ogier duel gave the WRC's new hybrid era the ideal start
How Indian heritage props up MotoGP's leading championship contenders
How Indian heritage props up MotoGP's leading championship contenders How Indian heritage props up MotoGP's leading championship contenders
First EA SPORTS WRC gameplay showcases expansive locations
First EA SPORTS WRC gameplay showcases expansive locations First EA SPORTS WRC gameplay showcases expansive locations
Hyderabad set to drop from Formula E calendar in 2024
Hyderabad set to drop from Formula E calendar in 2024 Hyderabad set to drop from Formula E calendar in 2024
Why Denny Hamlin has embraced becoming NASCAR's villain
Why Denny Hamlin has embraced becoming NASCAR's villain Why Denny Hamlin has embraced becoming NASCAR's villain
From Lebanon to cross-category world titles - a rally legend's top 10
From Lebanon to cross-category world titles - a rally legend's top 10 From Lebanon to cross-category world titles - a rally legend's top 10
How to make an F1 venue fit for World RX
How to make an F1 venue fit for World RX How to make an F1 venue fit for World RX
Volkswagen hasn't disappeared completely
Volkswagen hasn't disappeared completely Volkswagen hasn't disappeared completely
Why rallycross is becoming irresistible
Why rallycross is becoming irresistible Why rallycross is becoming irresistible
How good is World Rallycross?
How good is World Rallycross? How good is World Rallycross?
New rallycross golden age comes to Britain
New rallycross golden age comes to Britain New rallycross golden age comes to Britain
Solberg: why rallycross is my future
Solberg: why rallycross is my future Solberg: why rallycross is my future
Solberg: back to school
Solberg: back to school Solberg: back to school
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.